GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2005

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding no competent and probative medical evidence linking them to active service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current gastrointestinal disorder, GERD, was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and is unrelated to any incident of active service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues developed for appellate consideration.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected anxiety reaction with PTSD was granted, and he is now rated at 30 percent prior to May 22, 2000. Service connection has also been established for heart disorder with hypertension as secondary to the service-connected anxiety reaction with PTSD, and gastroesophageal reflux disease with dyspepsia as secondary to the service-connected anxiety reaction with PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including acne and alopecia. The veteran's claims were not well-grounded at the time of the April 2000 decision.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of gastroesophageal reflux disease was denied as there was no indication that he had previously filed a claim for this condition prior to November 21, 2000.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disorder and GERD are being remanded. His claim for service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to treatment of migraine headaches, is also being remanded due to procedural deficiencies in the VCAA notification.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for right ankle and low back disabilities have been dismissed due to the veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's GERD is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected INH-induced hepatitis and gastroesophageal reflux with duodenitis do not warrant a higher disability rating, as their manifestations are primarily mild and well-managed.

The veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred as a result of herbicide exposure during service in the Republic of Vietnam. His obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and dental problems are not shown to be related to service.

The veteran's hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux and Barrett's esophagus has been granted a 30 percent evaluation since August 9, 1999.

The VA has granted an increased evaluation of 50 percent for dysthymic disorder and a separate 30 percent evaluation for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but denied the request for an increased evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board found no evidence of gastrointestinal problems during the veteran's active duty service and denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent, and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural defects and new evidence received since the last decision.

The Board has determined that a timely notice of disagreement was not submitted within one year following the July 2000 rating decision, and thus the claim is dismissed.

The veteran's service-connected chronic coccydynia and allergic rhinitis have been granted ratings of 10 percent effective August 16, 2002. The veteran's limitation of motion of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent effective August 16, 2002.,The veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disorder has not been granted a compensable rating.