The Veteran's claims for GERD, obstructive sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and vertigo have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,Claims for service connection of a headache disorder, left shoulder disorder, left ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right elbow disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder) are also being remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims for GERD, obstructive sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and vertigo have not been substantiated by the provided evidence.,Claims for service connection of a headache disorder, left shoulder disorder, left ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right elbow disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder) are also being remanded due to insufficient evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- Left lower extremity medial tibial stress fracture, Right lower extremity medial tibial stress fracture, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Obstructive sleep apnea, Right ear hearing loss, Left ear hearing loss, Vertigo
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 31, 2026
- Citation
- A26029269
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 A26029269.
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.
- 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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