GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2007

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for emphysema and throat cancer for accrued benefit purposes, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within a year post-service.,The veteran died from complications related to COPD, which was not found to be caused by VA medical treatment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or secondary to another service-connected condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for seborrheic dermatitis and GERD, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.,There was no medical evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's disabilities and assigned initial ratings. The veteran is seeking higher initial ratings, but the evidence does not support such increases.

The veteran's claims for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for PTSD and GERD, both alleged to be caused by an assault at a VA hospital, are denied due to the prohibition on compensating for disabilities acquired outside the scope of VA care.

The veteran's disabilities do not render him so helpless as to be unable to care for himself and perform tasks incident to daily living, nor does he require the regular aid and attendance of another person or qualify as housebound. Therefore, his claim for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach condition, finding that there is no competent evidence linking any current stomach conditions to his period of active duty.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities as well as a compensable evaluation for GERD. The appellant did not meet the criteria for any of these conditions.

The veteran is seeking service connection for esophageal stricture on a secondary basis due to his duodenal ulcer. The Board has determined that the issue of gastroesophageal reflux disease should also be adjudicated as it is related to the esophageal stricture and/or duodenal ulcer.

The veteran's GERD is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for his GERD.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any identified disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a local RO hearing before a Veteran's Law Judge in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The veteran's claims for hearing loss of the right ear, chronic low back disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic right ankle disability, and chronic left ankle disability were denied. The veteran was granted service connection for status-post open reduction with internal fixation, right (minor) elbow fracture and dislocation, with excision of radial head with Silastic implant, but only an initial 10 percent evaluation was assigned.

The Board has determined that the veteran's GERD and alcoholism are not related to his service-connected PTSD, and thus denied these secondary service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for status post fundoplication surgery for hiatal hernia with scarring and history of GERD, finding that the veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms had their onset during service.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease and peripheral vascular disease, both secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, need further development before a decision can be made.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against granting service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to lack of exposure to Agent Orange during service. The veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, hemorrhoids, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and impingement syndrome with history of tendonitis of the left shoulder are currently rated as 10 percent each.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and thus grants a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, alcohol dependence secondary to PTSD, and skin disorder are related to his service. However, there is no evidence of a gastrointestinal disability other than duodenal ulcer and GERD during service or at any time since service.