GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including duodenal ulcer, GERD, and Barrett's esophagitis, does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent assigned.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with cholecystectomy, and allergic rhinitis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnoses of diverticulitis with acid reflux and a hiatal hernia are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining service department certification and private medical records.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for duodenal peptic disease, tinea versicolor, and entrapment of the right testicle were denied. The RO confirmed noncompensable evaluations for the latter condition.

The Board finds that the veteran's residuals of a shrapnel wound to the stomach area are service-connected. The issue regarding gastroesophageal reflux disease, hiatal hernia, esophageal ulceration and peptic ulcer disease as secondary to taking aspirin for the service-connected left shoulder condition is REMANDED.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected GERD with duodenitis is well-controlled and not productive of symptoms warranting a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have GERD that is related to military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability, GERD, and COPD as secondary to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for peripheral neuropathy is pending, and obesity does not meet VA criteria for an injury.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, residuals of head injury, and scar of the neck as there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right and left ankle sprains, as well as his irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria warranting a higher rating.

The Board has granted a 20% evaluation for the veteran's service-connected hiatal hernia and GERD, finding that his symptoms are moderate.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right knee disability is rated as 30 percent disabling, with a separate 10 percent rating for arthritis. The dermatological disorder is rated as noncompensably disabling.

The Board denied the veteran's increased evaluation claims for hiatal hernia with GERD and hemorrhoids, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete notification and the need for additional evidence regarding unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private facility on April 3, 2005. Other service connection claims are referred to the RO.

The veteran's initial evaluations for cervical spine degenerative spondylosis and gastroesophageal reflux disease were granted, but the ratings remain at 10 percent. The post-operative bunionectomy of both great toes are each assigned a non-compensable rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, hypertension, skin rash, stomach ulcers, and colon problems due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluation are being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to missing service medical records and incomplete notice.

The veteran's sarcoidosis was rated at 60 percent from June 21, 2002 to September 9, 2002. From that date forward, the veteran is entitled to a 30 percent rating for his sarcoidosis. The veteran's GERD has been rated as noncompensably disabling since the effective date of service connection. Pseudofolliculitis barbae and dermatofibroma of the legs have not met criteria for compensable ratings.