GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2000

The veteran's claim for service connection for hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux, claimed as secondary to a service-connected disability, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and notification.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims of service connection for muscle spasms and PLMS/myoclonus as an undiagnosed neurological illness, GERD, and tinea versicolor. The decision also indicates that further clarification is needed regarding the environmental hazards to which the appellant was exposed during his tour in the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, headaches, and sleeping difficulty. The noncompensable rating assigned for his atypical chest pain was also denied.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux, and has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for hypercholesterolemia.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depression and somatoform disorder, IBS, GERD, headaches, and hemorrhoids, are found to be of such severity as to preclude her from obtaining or retaining a substantially gainful occupation. The combined rating for these conditions meets the criteria for TDIU.

The veteran's headaches are found to be secondary to PTSD. His skin condition is considered to have been incurred during service, and his stomach disorder is determined to be related to PTSD. The veteran's PTSD remains at a 30 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peptic ulcer disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease, as well as his claim for increased evaluations of his knee disabilities. The psychiatric disability was granted but with some limitation due to its secondary nature to the knee conditions.

The Board granted the veteran's request for an effective date prior to February 2, 1995 for a 30 percent evaluation of his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to multiple physical disabilities, including degenerative intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine, traumatic arthritis of the right ankle joint, reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the right leg and foot, mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for GERD and service connection for a chronic lung disorder as secondary to GERD was denied by the RO. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent. The appeal for service connection for hemorrhoids and gastroesophageal reflux disease remains pending as additional evidence is required.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) and dyspepsia, as well as his claim for an undiagnosed illness manifested by diarrhea and abdominal pain. The RO is instructed to schedule another gastrointestinal examination and issue a statement of the case on the issues of service connection for migraine headaches, including loss of left eye vision, fatigue, and joint pain.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected gastroesophageal reflux with reflux esophagitis, finding that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected plantar warts have been rated as noncompensable.,The veteran's service-connected residuals of right inguinal herniorrhaphy and laparoscopic surgery in the left inguinal area do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,The veteran's service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations. The issues are about service connection for PTSD and disagreement with the initial rating assigned for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and spastic colitis, a duodenal ulcer, and gastroesophageal reflux due to his failure to report for a VA examination without good cause.

The Board has determined that the veteran's digestive system disability, which includes a small hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease, is currently manifested by epigastric distress with dysphagia when he is not on medication. The evidence does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for GERD and determined that new evidence supports a finding of causation related to military service. The hearing loss claim is not addressed as it was not adjudicated by the RO.

The Board has found that the veteran's arthritis of multiple joints is not related to her period of active service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for swollen throat glands, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The veteran's claim for swollen throat glands was reopened based on new evidence. Service connection for the condition was not established.,Hypertension was not shown during active duty or within one year post-service, and there is no current disability to support a service connection claim.