The Board granted service connection for GERD and IBS based on aggravation by the Veteran's service-connected hypertension. The claims for peripheral neuropathy in both upper and lower extremities were remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.
The deciding factor: The private medical opinions provided significant probative weight, supporting a positive nexus between the Veteran's GERD and IBS and his service-connected hypertension based on aggravation. For the peripheral neuropathy claims, the Board found that the AOJ erred in satisfying VA's duty to assist by not providing adequate secondary service connection medical opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Right Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Left Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Right Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Left Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 3, 2025
- Citation
- A25057657
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of September 2, 2020, for the grant of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but denied a higher initial rating and TDIU.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as there was no competent or credible evidence of a current diagnosis during the appellate period.
- Granted
The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for the Veteran's GERD, finding that his condition is productive of daily medications to control dysphagia and is otherwise asymptomatic.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD, granted an earlier effective date of August 14, 2024, for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD, and denied other claims including entitlement to an effective date prior to April 3, 2025, for the grant of a 100 percent rating evaluation for CAD.
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