The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to obtain a medical opinion that considers accurate facts regarding in-service symptoms and any potential link to service-connected conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea.
The deciding factor: The evidence of record is insufficient to resolve this claim due to inadequate medical opinions and the need to address an expressly raised theory of entitlement related to GERD being secondary to service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.
- Claimed conditions
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 13, 2025
- Citation
- A25042694
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 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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and a right hip disability, and granted a 30 percent rating for ureterolithiasis. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, while other claims were remanded.
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