GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2007

The veteran's claimed conditions are not shown to be related to his military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for tuberculosis, high cholesterol, or costochondritis. However, the appellant's GERD was established as a current disability and linked to service.

The Board found that the veteran's gastrointestinal disabilities are not pronounced, resulting in symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, tenesmus, rectal bleeding, cramps, bloating, weakness, indigestion, weight loss, heartburn, acid reflux, and epigastric pain. The disability does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a digestive system disorder, including GERD and PUD, has been reopened. However, the evidence does not establish that his current psychiatric disorder is related to service.,Service connection cannot be established for diabetes mellitus as there was no in-service exposure to Agent Orange. The low back condition and bilateral knee condition have also not been shown to be related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an adjustment disorder and a compensable rating for GERD, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The claim for increased rating for lumbar strain was also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension.,Service connection was denied for migraine headaches, a psychiatric disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease, trigger thumb, hearing loss, loss of eyesight, and stuttering as these conditions were not shown during or after service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues related to service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right hip internal snapping hip syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's current gastrointestinal disability, GERD, was not incurred or aggravated by active service. The veteran's stomach problems in service were not related to his diagnosed appendicitis and no residual gastrointestinal disability as a result of the 1992 appendectomy was shown.

The veteran is not eligible for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance due to his mobility, but meets the qualifications for a housebound rate given his age and disability rating.

The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding that the veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) first manifested during active military service overseas, and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected GERD/irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by right-sided chest and right arm pain, productive of considerable impairment of health. The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling the veteran for VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for dental disability and a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD. The veteran's dental issues were not found to be related to his service-connected GERD.

The veteran's service connection claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), to include as secondary to service-connected sarcoidosis, was denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that the current GERD is related to active service or service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic heart disorder, an initial compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis, and evaluations in excess of 10 percent for GERD/diverticulosis and major depression. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left knee disability and for TDIU, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU.

The veteran's hearing acuity is rated at Level II in the right ear and Level IV in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.,The veteran's service-connected GERD with esophagitis does not meet the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation due to less severe symptoms such as pain, vomiting, material weight loss, hematemesis or melena, and moderate anemia.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical services received at Florida Hospital East due to lack of a continuing medical emergency, and thus did not meet the criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis was denied. The claims for increased ratings of major depressive disorder, GERD, and bilateral hearing loss were granted. Service connection for contact dermatitis is not addressed in the decision.