The Board denied service connection for GERD, a low testosterone condition including erectile dysfunction, and obstructive sleep apnea as these conditions were not incurred in or caused by active-duty service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that there was no nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his in-service toxic exposure due to burn pits, and that these conditions are not chronic diseases listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.320 for presumptive service connection based on Persian Gulf War service.
- Claimed conditions
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), low testosterone condition, to include erectile dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25023199
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
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) based on the Veteran's exposure to in-service chemical agents.
- 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).
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