GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic rib cage disability, hiatal hernia, and GERD have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence of current disabilities or any link to military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his gastrointestinal symptoms and their relationship to his service-connected peptic ulcer disease.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, hypertension (due to lung disability), GERD, and residuals of pneumonia. The effective date is set at June 18, 1999, the day following the grant of a 100% rating for the veteran's lung disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach disability, including esophageal ulcer with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sliding hiatal hernia.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, a bladder disorder, GERD, and Erectile Dysfunction. The veteran's claims were not reopened regarding his previously denied claim of epidermophytosis and calluses of the feet.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The evidence did not show that the veteran met the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7346.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for GERD secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The veteran's GERD was initially manifested in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for a specific evaluation of his gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia from August 16, 2001 is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

The veteran was granted service connection for frostbite residuals of the hands and feet effective April 30, 2001.,Service connection for hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux was granted effective October 18, 2000.

The veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease was granted a 20% evaluation effective September 23, 2002. The left heel spurs and GERD with IBS were both granted initial evaluations.

The veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development of his service connection claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected due to lack of evidence supporting a direct link between his military service and these conditions.

The veteran's headaches and undiagnosed illnesses were granted service connection. The issues of GERD, basal cell carcinoma residuals, and allergic rhinorrhea are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service diagnosis of borderline hypertension. Service connection was not granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to insufficient evidence.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for earlier effective date, increased rating, and reopening of a claim for ulcers. The remaining issues are related to knee disabilities, pes planus, and skin conditions.

The veteran's GERD and allergic rhinitis with seasonal sinusitis have not been shown to meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under their respective diagnostic codes.,VA has determined that the veteran does not have any service-connected conditions requiring an extraschedular consideration.

The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and bilateral bunions were denied. Service connection was granted for hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claim for increased rating of hypertensive cardiovascular disease is pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's GERD, kidney disorder, and venous insufficiency of the lower extremities are all service-connected. The veteran served in the Navy from January 1953 to February 1973.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for sinusitis and hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The veteran was not granted a compensable rating for his sinusitis, as there were no incapacitating episodes. For his hiatal hernia with GERD, he received a 10 percent disability rating effective from October 2001.