GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or at the housebound rate due to her multiple conditions, including right arm lymphedema, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus as secondary to GERD, both for purposes of accrued benefits. Service connection was denied for hiatal hernia.,The veteran's adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is believed to have developed from his long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and leg cramps, as well as his claim for a higher disability rating for lumbosacral strain. The veteran's current disabilities are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for renal calculi and a compensable rating for GERD. The veteran was granted service connection for GERD, but with a non-compensable rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection for stomach cancer and prostate cancer have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence of these conditions. The veteran has diagnoses of GERD, esophageal ulcers, and BPH which are not related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease, as well as a TDIU rating, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a foot disability, gastroesophageal cancer, and diabetes mellitus as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The veteran's National Guard service was not shown to be related to any current disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, residuals of a fractured left great toe with DJD, and GERD with hiatal hernia. The veteran's service-connected conditions were found to be productive of no more than moderate impairment in the case of the left great toe and primarily manifested by pyrosis and regurgitation in the case of GERD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service combat-related acoustic trauma and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome and digestive disorder were found to be related to service. The pelvic disorder is presumed to have developed as a result of the veteran's in-service motor vehicle accident.,Service connection was granted for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and early degenerative joint disease of the hips.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's in-service gastrointestinal disorder and his current hiatal hernia, peptic ulcer disease, and gastroesophageal reflux dystrophy. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD and a retroactive effective date for service connection were denied. The Board found that the December 1997 decision denying retroactive benefits was not appealed, and there is no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in the August 15, 1947, rating decision or November 1966 RO action.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for depression and menometrorrhagia were denied as the evidence did not show that either condition warranted a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is not related to his military service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, fatigue (including chronic fatigue syndrome), hair loss, skin rashes, right shoulder pain, psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and sinusitis. The decision was based on a finding that there is no medical evidence indicating the veteran has these conditions or their symptoms.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with sciatic neuropathy, acid reflux, and chronic migraine headaches, are not related to his active military service. The veteran was granted service connection for chronic migraine headaches but denied for the other two conditions.

The Board denied a higher rating for hiatal hernia with GERD and found that the veteran's service-connected disability does not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection of GERD as secondary to his service-connected body dysmorphic disorder and granted a 30 percent rating for his scar on the back of the scalp due to acne keloidalis.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claims for service connection. The tinea pedis was rated as noncompensable under the old criteria.

The veteran's left knee disorder, GERD and gastric polyps, skin disorder, right leg tumor, back disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the hands and shoulders were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,There is no competent medical evidence linking any of these conditions to his military service.