GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, hysterectomy, sinus disorder, back disorder, GERD, and allergies. The veteran was not shown to have a current disability related to these conditions that developed in or was aggravated by her military service.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and chronic back disability, as well as his requests for increased ratings for GERD and headaches. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The veteran's claims for service connection for multiple conditions, including stomach/digestive disorder (claimed as GERD and dyspepsia), migraine headaches, TMJ syndrome, lower urinary tract disorder, erectile dysfunction, malignant melanoma, and obstructive sleep apnea have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions being related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records, and the veteran's claim for service connection for hiatal hernia and GERD is pending further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and has granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for anxiety neurosis with somatization and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with esophageal stricture and irritable syndrome, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including HIV-related illness, hammertoes of the left foot, hypertension, GERD, hearing loss, eczema, hordeolum (eye condition), herpes (HSV-2), and condyloma. The appeals are dismissed.

The veteran's service-connected hiatal hernia with GERD has been rated as noncompensable since its grant of service connection. The Board finds that the current evidence does not support a higher initial compensable evaluation.,For his bilateral inguinal hernia, status-post surgical repair times three, the veteran is currently assigned a noncompensable rating. The Board notes that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7338.

The Board denied the veteran's increased rating claim for postoperative residuals involving an injury to the left sixth rib with associated adhesive pleurisy and his TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support a higher rating based on pulmonary function test findings, and the preponderance of the medical evidence indicated that the veteran was unemployable due to age and other factors unrelated to his service-connected conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with hiatal hernia is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, peptic ulcer disease with gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, an eye disability, and a disability exhibited by an abnormal electrocardiogram.

The Board determined that recoupment of the veteran's separation pay in the amount of $24,039.94 is proper for his awards of disability compensation for bilateral hearing loss and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Board denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and denied an earlier effective date for hearing loss in the left ear. The veteran's claims for increased ratings were also denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between his claimed conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease are not service-connected, but his PTSD is established as a result of combat experiences in Vietnam.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for GERD with Barrett's esophagus, hemorrhoids, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and tinea versicolor as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD and GERD are not at issue. The Board denied the claims for increased ratings for these conditions. Service connection for a low back disorder, skin disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, respiratory disorder, and fevers were all denied as they were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for acid reflux has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and a low back disorder. The veteran's appeal was not about service connection at all.