The Board reopened the claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, to include irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, diverticulitis, Barrett's esophagus, constipation, and GERD, as new and material evidence was received.
The deciding factor: The evidence submitted raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim by indicating that the use of Diclofenac may cause gastrointestinal side effects related to pain medication used for service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- gastrointestinal disability, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, diverticulitis, Barrett's esophagus, constipation, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2025
- Citation
- 25006962
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 withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Denied
The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as the appellant does not have a documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture(s).
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for an initial compensable disability rating for right inguinal hernia surgery and service connection for a low back disability, as well as remanded the claims for service connection for GERD and entitlement to an increased rating for hypertension.
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