The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and remanded the claim for right ear hearing loss due to an inadequate medical opinion.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorders were found less likely than not related to service, as they are structural in nature with clear etiologies and pathophysiologies. The evidence does not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and service or any toxic exposure risk activities during service.
- Claimed conditions
- gastrointestinal disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 27, 2025
- Citation
- 25008511
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Board granted service connection for TBI, vertigo, left ear hearing loss, sinusitis, and a gastrointestinal disorder. The claims for right ear hearing loss and left knee strain were denied. Service connection was also granted for adjustment disorder with an initial rating of 70 percent, but no higher, and for headaches with an initial rating of 30 percent, but no higher.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection and a higher initial rating due to an error in providing notice of the right to a hearing.
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