The Board remands the case to correct a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the August 2023 rating decision.
The deciding factor: The June 2021 VA examination did not adequately consider all of the appellant's symptomology associated with his disabilities, and a retrospective opinion is needed on the severity of the appellant's service-connected digestive system disabilities prior to May 8, 2023.
- Claimed conditions
- duodenal ulcer, chronic active gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with Barrett's esophagus, intestinal metaplasia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 14, 2025
- Citation
- A25034150
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 60 percent from January 27, 2016 to July 7, 2022 for the Veteran's duodenal ulcer, duodenitis, gastritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- Granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for the Veteran's service-connected gastritis and duodenal ulcer.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with Barrett's esophagus to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the severity of these conditions without the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death and entitlement to DIC benefits due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his death.
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