GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2007

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including depressive disorder, vision disorders, headaches, and stomach disorders. The veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer with deformed bulb and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is characterized by heartburn, stomach discomfort, frequent hiccups, chronic nausea, dyspepsia, esophageal narrowing with dilation, dysphagia, aspiration, and post-operative esophagopleurocutaneous fistula. The Board finds that a 50 percent rating is warranted for severe stricture of the esophagus.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sinusitis or Barrett's esophagus with GERD, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.,There is no evidence showing that the veteran had any complaints or findings related to sinusitis or Barrett's esophagus during his period of active service. The Board also finds that there is insufficient medical evidence to support a finding that either condition was incurred in service.

The Board found that the veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board also determined that it is less likely as not related to his service-connected hypothyroidism, status post total thyroidectomy.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and issuing a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) on the issue of an increased rating for schizoaffective disorder.

The Board denied service connection for hiatal hernia and the evaluation of the service-connected uveitis of the right eye. The veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The VA has requested additional medical records to support his claim and will schedule a VA examination if necessary. If the examination confirms GERD, it will determine whether this condition is related to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, prostate disability, and skin disability are denied due to lack of a confirmed stressor or diagnosis. The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of gonorrhea is denied as there is no medical evidence linking the condition to service. The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, GERD, left ankle disability, neck disability, and Tietze's syndrome are denied due to lack of a current diagnosis or competent medical evidence linking the conditions to service.

The veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is productive of no more than a small hernia with some regurgitation; dysphagia, pyrosis, accompanied by substernal or arm or shoulder pain, or small nodular lesions have not been shown. Therefore, an initial compensable rating for GERD is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's GERD was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. The Board finds that the evidence does not support service connection for aspergillosis.

The Board has withdrawn all issues related to service connection due to the veteran's withdrawal of his appeals. The veteran's peripheral neuropathy is rated at 10% for both lower extremities.

The veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension purposes was denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating.

For the period from June 13, 2001 to June 1, 2005, a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD was not warranted.,Since June 2, 2005, a 30 percent rating is warranted for GERD.,From March 6, 2000 through October 16, 2006, a compensable rating for bilateral athlete's foot was not warranted. Since October 17, 2006, the schedular requirements for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral athlete's foot have not been met.,There is no legal basis for the assignment of a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus since March 6, 2000.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected GERD, hiatal hernia, duodenal ulcer, esophageal polyp, removal of esophageal polyp, status post Nissen fundoplication does not warrant an initial evaluation higher than 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and development due to insufficient evidence on whether the veteran's GERD is related to service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for GERD that he believes is related to his service-connected pancreatitis with gastritis and duodenitis. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the veteran's GERD and his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease and initial increased disability ratings for his right foot injury, degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine, and adjustment disorder with a mixed mood. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for tension headaches, recurrent epididymitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with erosive gastritis as there was no evidence of frequent or severe prostrating attacks warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral knee disability and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.