The Veteran's GI disorders are related to his service, but the AOJ needs to determine which specific deployments and activities caused these conditions. The case is being remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The AOJ failed to develop for TERAs during the Veteran's service, a pre-decisional duty to assist error requiring remand.
- Claimed conditions
- gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), eosinophilic esophagitis, esophageal stricture
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 10, 2026
- Citation
- A26033473
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 A26033473.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's gastritis and esophageal stricture are granted as service-connected.
- Granted
The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia is rated at a 30 percent disability rating, effective March 12, 2021.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for esophageal disability, including hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stricture of the esophagus, gastritis, and eosinophilic esophagitis. The decision finds that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service and have continued since then.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) due to secondary service connection. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions as being related to his service-connected allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and status post-lumbar laminectomy.
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