The Veteran's appeals for service connection for fatigue, right foot pes planus, and higher ratings for thoracolumbar strain with levoscoliosis are being remanded. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for thoracolumbar strain with levoscoliosis, left shoulder strain, and GERD remain denied.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for fatigue, right foot pes planus, and higher ratings for thoracolumbar strain with levoscoliosis are being remanded. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for thoracolumbar strain with levoscoliosis, left shoulder strain, and GERD remain denied.
The deciding factor: The Board is unable to establish an earlier effective date due to the Veteran's active duty status at the time he submitted his claim.,The Board is unable to establish an earlier effective date due to the Veteran's active duty status at the time he submitted his claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Thoracolumbar strain with levoscoliosis, Left shoulder strain, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 26, 2026
- Citation
- A26006791
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26006791.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, right hand, and GERD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities during service.
- Denied
The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back condition and sinusitis, respectively.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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