GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2003

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to recent invalidated regulations and incomplete evidence.

The Board finds that the veteran's stomach disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for his stomach disorders.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric, gastrointestinal, or cardiovascular conditions to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder is not considered service-connected due to lack of medical evidence connecting it to service. Residuals from colon cancer surgery and irritable bowel syndrome are also not linked to service. Hypertension was not shown to be related to service either.

The Board has determined that the veteran's disability manifested by left arm and left hand discomfort had its onset during her period of active duty, granting service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for acid reflux is remanded to the RO.

The VA has granted the veteran a disability rating of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease and denied his request for a compensable rating for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability, cervical spine injury, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and gastroesophageal reflux disease with headaches have been granted. The veteran is now rated at the maximum available rating for his low back disability as of September 19, 2001.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease, finding that the veteran's symptoms were not due to undiagnosed illness. Service connection was granted for headaches with a 50% evaluation effective from October 2, 2002.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected gastrointestinal disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to a lack of timely filing of a substantive appeal regarding the ratings assigned for low back, hiatal hernia, and hemorrhoidial disorders.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected Crohn's disease with gastroesophageal reflux and pseudodiverticulum does not warrant a higher initial rating than 10 percent.

The veteran is seeking service connection for essential hypertension and gastroesopahgeal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to PTSD, and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The case must be remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has determined that GERD was incurred in active service and granted the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease, diverticulosis, status post subtotal colectomy with fecal sparing of colocolic anastomosis and a history of hyperchlorhydria with constipation was evaluated as 60 percent disabling prior to September 20, 2001.,From September 20, 2001, the veteran's service-connected hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease, diverticulosis, status post subtotal colectomy with fecal sparing of colocolic anastomosis and a history of hyperchlorhydria with constipation was evaluated as 30 percent disabling.

The veteran's GERD has been rated at 30 percent since June 20, 1997. The RO found that his symptoms have persisted and supported this rating.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including additional evidence collection. The appeal is currently pending and will be remanded for further action.

The Board denied service connection for high blood pressure, a stomach condition, and diabetes with impotence as the conditions are not related to service.

The Board finds that the veteran's hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (claimed as a stomach disorder) is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected chronic low back pain disability, including the use of medications necessary to control his back pain.

The Board found that the appellant's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current gastrointestinal disorder, right shoulder disorder, or right elbow disorder related to service. The veteran's claims for these conditions have been denied.