GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a head injury, including cognitive disorders and memory dysfunction, are service-connected. The mental disorder to include PTSD is not service-connected. Asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux disease, hypertension, and fibromyalgia are also not service-connected as secondary to any service-connected condition.

The veteran's gastrointestinal disorders, including constipation and GERD, as well as hemorrhoids and polyps, were not incurred during active service or due to an undiagnosed illness. The Board denied these claims.

The Board denied service connection for GERD and asthmatic bronchitis, finding that these conditions are not related to the veteran's period of active duty or his service-connected psychogenic gastrointestinal disturbance.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the appropriate disability evaluations for his service-connected GERD with hiatal hernia and residuals of fractures to his right fingers.

The veteran is seeking service connection for bipolar disorder and gastroesophageal reflux disorder. The Board has determined that further development, including obtaining VA medical opinions, is needed before the claims can be decided.

The veteran was granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 30 percent rating effective from March 1, 2002. The RO also denied service connection for high cholesterol, depression, stomach disorder (Gastroesophageal reflux disease), headaches, sinus disorder (other than deviated nasal septum), residuals of cold injury, and heart disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU due to lack of evidence supporting his allegations or diagnoses.

The veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, hypertension, COPD, gastroesophageal reflux, sarcoidosis cyst of the left adrenal gland, splenic cystic lesion, kidney cystic lesion, organomegaly, spinal cord tumor, spinal injury, foot drop, claw foot, hammertoes, gunshot wound residuals, and nephritis. The appeal is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for a testicular disorder and increased ratings for right knee, costochondritis, GERD, and IBS. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current stomach disorders, including GERD, IBS with constipation, and diverticulosis, are related to his period of active duty service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for further examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claimed psychiatric, right leg, gastrointestinal, and back disorders are not service-connected.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected post-operative duodenal ulcer with hypertrophic gastritis, hiatal hernia and GERD secondary to a vagotomy. The case has been remanded for further development including obtaining medical records and scheduling the veteran for a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a stomach disability, dysplasia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sinusitis, hypertension, and mastalgia. The evidence presented since the December 2000 rating decision is not new and material to reopen any of these claims.

The Board found that no earlier effective date prior to March 8, 2001 for the 10 percent evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux disorder is warranted based on the evidence of record. The veteran's claim was not factually ascertainable before this date.

The Board denied service connection for respiratory impairment, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and colon polyps due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's active military service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have an employment handicap and is already suitably employed, thus denying his claim for vocational rehabilitation training.