The Board remands the case for a new VA examination to determine the nature, onset, and etiology of any current gastrointestinal conditions, including whether they are related to service or secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The December 2018 and October 2021 opinions did not adequately address the pertinent lay and medical evidence of record regarding the cause of the Veteran's claimed condition. A new examination is needed to provide a complete rationale for any opinion given.
- Claimed conditions
- gastrointestinal disability (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 20, 2025
- Citation
- A25026168
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for the service-connected lumbosacral strain, effective May 1, 2023. The other claims were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for GERD, sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea as the probative evidence did not demonstrate a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a gastrointestinal disability as secondary to medication used to treat the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability, but denied higher ratings for the left ankle and right shoulder disabilities, and denied a higher rating for tinnitus.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for right lower extremity sciatica associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, but remanded claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep apnea.
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