GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2007

The veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of increased evaluation for depressive reaction, service connection for salmonella enteritis, postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome as secondary to salmonella enteritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease as secondary to salmonella enteritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hiatal hernia or GERD, and his left knee disability is not shown to result in recurrent subluxation or lateral instability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a digestive disorder claimed as GERD. The veteran's testimony indicates he had symptoms during service, and post-service medical records show he was hospitalized in 1973 for treatment of gastritis.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and gastrointestinal disorders, but denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease. The veteran's symptoms of sinusitis were noted during service and have continued since then.

The Board found that the veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was not incurred during his period of active duty service and denied the claim.

The Board denied a claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with Barrett's esophagus, finding that the veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with hiatal hernia and Barrett's esophagus, status-post Nissen fundoplication. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active military service or any other service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, including residuals of duodenal ulcer and GERD. The veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating to 50 percent effective October 27, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals from a total gastrectomy warrant a 40 percent disability rating, effective as of the date of the decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The veteran's combined rating is 50%, which does not meet the requirements for a permanent and total disability rating on an extraschedular basis due to his age, education, and occupational background. The Board finds that he is not unemployable by reason of his disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a review of his medical history in the VA claims folder.

The Board denied service connection for a stomach disorder, finding that there was no chronic stomach disorder during or immediately following service and insufficient medical evidence to establish continuity of symptomatology after service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of the hips, and his service-connected degenerative disc disease is manifested by mild intervertebral disc syndrome with no incapacitating episodes. The GERD is manifested by regurgitation requiring daily medication. Therefore, the claims for increased ratings are denied.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his lumbosacral spine and cervical spine conditions, as well as GERD, were granted. The veteran now receives a 40 percent evaluation for his degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine since January 13, 2004, and a 30 percent evaluation for his degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of the cervical spine since January 13, 2004. The veteran's GERD is rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate disorder, acquired psychiatric disorders (PTSD, depression, anxiety, OCD), gastrointestinal disorder, hypertension, skin condition, and hearing loss disability have all been denied. The veteran requested withdrawal of the claim for prostate disorder.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for a right arm skin graft scar.

The veteran's service-connected GERD, peptic ulcer disease, and IBS are rated at 10 percent. The right inguinal hernia is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for peptic ulcer disease with gastroesophageal reflux disease, but denied the claim on its merits due to lack of medical evidence linking in-service H. pylori infection to current PUD and GERD.

The Board has ordered additional development for the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and GERD due to a lack of information regarding his claimed in-service stressors. The case is being remanded to comply with VA procedures.