The Board remands the matter for a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease, including whether it is related to service or secondary to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: A pre-decisional duty-to-assist error occurred as the RO did not provide an opinion on the Veteran's GERD claim despite a scheduled examination.
- Claimed conditions
- gastroesophageal reflux disease
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25058611
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 service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease but denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome. The Board also denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric condition.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for prostate cancer status post radical prostatectomy, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected headaches were granted a rating of 50 percent, and she was also granted TDIU, DEA, and SMC for the period from March 27, 2017, to August 20, 2017.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease has been withdrawn by the Veteran.
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