Service connection for GERD is granted and a 10% rating for hypertension is granted.,Disfiguring scars of the face secondary to chloracne are granted with a 30% rating from August 6, 2020. A separate 20% rating for painful scars of the face secondary to chloracne is granted. From June 19, 2025, a higher rating for disfiguring scars of the face and painful scars of the right groin secondary to chloracne are denied.,An increased 20% rating for chloracne is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's GERD was diagnosed during service and continues to cause symptoms, meeting the criteria for service connection under VA regulations.,Hypertension manifested with diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, warranting a 10% rating. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher 20% rating.,Disfiguring scars of the face secondary to chloracne are rated based on their characteristics and severity, resulting in a 30% rating from August 6, 2020. A separate 20% rating is granted for painful scars of the face secondary to chloracne.,The Veteran's scars do not meet the criteria for higher ratings as they are not more severe than currently assigned.,Chloracne was granted service connection and a 20% rating is granted.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Hypertension, Chloracne
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 14, 2026
- Citation
- A26034529
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 A26034529.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- 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 Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
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