Citation Nr: 21077073 Decision Date: 12/28/21 Archive Date: 12/28/21 DOCKET NO. 18-00 569 DATE: December 28, 2021 REMANDED Entitlement to a compensable rating for gastroenteritis (claimed as a stomach disability). REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active service from June 1985 to June 1989. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA or Board) from an August 2016 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). The Veteran requested a hearing before the Board. The requested hearing was conducted in August 2021 by the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. A transcript is associated with the claims file. Entitlement to a compensable rating for gastroenteritis (claimed as a stomach disability). The Veteran seeks entitlement to a compensable rating for her service-connected gastroenteritis. She asserts that she continues to experience symptoms such as pain, daily bloating, light headedness, and passing out. Of note, the Veteran has not been afforded a VA examination since March 2017, more than 4 years ago, at which time the VA examiner noted that there was no medical evidence within the prior 2 years of a gastrointestinal condition. Similarly, at the previous VA examination in February 2016, the VA examiner opined that the Veteran's gastroenteritis had likely resolved, and the etiology of her current complaints was unknown. Treatment records indicate the Veteran continues to seek treatment post service for the same symptoms she experienced during service. The Board notes that the Veteran originally applied for service connection for a stomach disability, noting on her application that she had in-service treatment for "upper abdominal pain and fullness." See June 1998 VA Form 21-526. Service treatment records are replete with the symptoms she asserts she continues to currently experience, including, nausea, fainting, bloating, abdominal pain, and intestinal gas. The RO granted service connection for gastroenteritis in a February 1999 rating decision, citing to service treatment records that indicate she was diagnosed with gastroenteritis on several occasions; however, the Board notes that service treatment records also indicate her symptoms may have been due to her diet, possible gallbladder problems or stress, gastritis, and dyspepsia. Post service, records indicate that the Veteran has been assessed with various diagnoses, including gastritis/gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophagitis, a functional disorder such as functional dyspepsia vs. fructose/lactose intolerance vs. underlying constipation. The Board finds a remand is necessary to afford the Veteran a VA examination to clarify her diagnosis and to determine the current severity of her symptoms. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain and associate with the claims file all updated treatment records. 2. Afford the Veteran a VA examination to determine the current severity of her service-connected gastroenteritis. a) Upon review of the Veteran's medical records and examination of the Veteran, the examiner should clarify the diagnosis of the service-connected disability that is currently classified as "gastroenteritis." *In so doing, the examiner's attention is directed to the Veteran's service treatment records, which indicate her symptoms may have been due to her diet (August 1992), possible gallbladder problems or stress (May 1990), an ulcer (May 1989), gastritis (April 1990), and/or dyspepsia (April 1990). *Additionally, the examiner should consider post-service treatment records wherein the Veteran reported similar symptoms to those experienced during service, including nausea, fainting, bloating, abdominal pain, and intestinal gas, and has received diagnoses of gastritis/gastroesophageal reflux disease (August 2021 Certificate to Return to Work), esophagitis (January 2018 EGD report), a functional disorder such as functional dyspepsia vs. fructose/lactose intolerance vs. underlying constipation (January 2018 EGD addendum). b) After clarification of the proper diagnosis, the examiner should identify and completely describe all current symptomatology. The examiner should provide a detailed review of the Veteran's current complaints, as well as findings as to the nature, extent, and severity of symptoms caused by the Veteran's disability. c) If the Veteran is diagnosed with a disorder(s) that is separate and distinct from her currently service-connected gastroenteritis and does not represent a progression or correction of her currently service-connected gastroenteritis, the examiner should opine whether the diagnosed disorder(s) at least as likely as not had an onset during service or is causally or etiologically due to service, to include the documented symptoms during service. d) If the examiner determines that any currently diagnosed disorder did NOT have an onset during service or is less likely than not due to service, the examiner is requested to identify the symptomatology that is attributable solely to the Veteran's service-connected disability, as opposed to any nonservice-connected disorder. If any symptomatology or functional impairment associated with the Veteran's service-connected disability cannot be differentiated from that associated with any nonservice-connected disorder, the examiner should provide a detailed explanation as to why. The examiner must provide clear conclusions and a thorough and well-reasoned medical explanation supporting any opinion. 3. The RO should then readjudicate the Veteran's increased rating claim, to include whether the Veteran's service-connected gastroenteritis should be reclassified and/or service connection is warranted for any additionally diagnosed disorders. TANYA SMITH Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board L. Andersen, Counsel The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.