The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for left and right foot heel spurs, and an initial compensable disability rating for GERD and hiatal hernia due to inadequate VA examinations.
The deciding factor: The December 2019 VA examination failed to consider lay statements of record when assessing the severity of the Veteran's condition, and did not adequately address flare-ups or additional functional loss. The August 2022 colonoscopy results were also not interpreted in light of the appropriate rating criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hiatal hernia, left foot heel spur, right foot heel spur
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 18, 2025
- Citation
- 25005325
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,893 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 25005325.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left foot heel spur was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for left great toe hallux valgus as there was no legal basis to consider these issues.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's right upper extremity nerve damage and denied an increased rating for left upper extremity nerve damage. Other issues were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for left and right long finger strains, a right ankle strain, and GERD with hiatal hernia. The appeal seeking increased ratings for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, allergic rhinitis, and scars was dismissed due to severance of service connection.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.