GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, a sinus disability, skin rash of the face and extremities, and a psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are granted for various conditions, including fibromyalgia, musculoskeletal chest pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, bloody stools and bowel incontinence, headaches, agitation, forgetfulness, borderline violence, major depression and dysthymic disorder, loss of bladder control, itching, hives, rash, duodenal ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), partial complex seizures, blackouts, photophobia and lightheadedness, shrinkage in height from 71 inches to 67 1/2 inches, and lumbar spine disorder with instability of the legs. These conditions are presumed due to service in the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right knee as secondary to service-connected disabilities and GERD as aggravated by medications used for service-connected conditions. Service connection for polycythemia vera is denied, and an increased rating for lumbosacral strain and left knee arthritis residuals is remanded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), as well as his requests for increased evaluations and earlier effective dates. The appeals were not granted due to lack of evidence associating these conditions with military service.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative disc/joint disease of the lumbar spine, Hepatitis C, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were all granted. The initial evaluations for these conditions are as follows: Degenerative disc/joint disease of the lumbar spine rated at 10 percent; Hepatitis C rated at 30 percent; GERD rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being returned to the Board for further review due to her request for a Travel Board hearing. The case will be remanded to schedule this hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hearing loss of the left ear.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of GERD, finding that the March 2, 1994 claim was a reopened claim after final disallowance. The veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, including gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for GERD is granted, and the issues of kidney stones, IBS, hypertension, and familial tremor are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to adjudicate the secondary service connection claims for partial paralysis of the left hemidiaphragm and other residuals of a thoracotomy, as well as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and esophagitis. The veteran's chest area disability may be related to his September 1999 fall during a seizure disorder, but further medical opinion is needed. GERD and/or esophagitis are also being evaluated for potential secondary relationship with service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are granted, with a 10 percent rating assigned for the upper gastrointestinal disability (GERD).

The veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been granted initial compensable evaluations of 10 percent each.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional VCAA notification.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a disability manifested by peptic ulcer disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board found that the veteran's peptic ulcer with GERD is not more than 10 percent disabling according to the schedular criteria.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining service medical records and personnel records from the veteran's military service. The veteran is also asked to provide any additional evidence he may have.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for diminished sex drive, gastroesophageal reflex disorder (GERD), aching joints, ulcers, COPD, hypertension, conjunctivitis, sleep apnea, melanoma, and dermatitis. The claim for PTSD remains pending.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of hyper-pigmented lesions on the legs, and the lumbar spine disability was rated as severe but not pronounced intervertebral disc syndrome without incapacitating episodes. The thoracic spine fracture residuals were rated at 10 percent, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease did not meet criteria for higher evaluations.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for the service-connected GERD, but denied a higher rating for migraine headaches. The veteran's GERD is currently rated as noncompensable.