GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further review of his claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, finding that there is no direct evidence linking the condition to his military service and insufficient evidence supporting a secondary service connection based on bronchitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis warrants a 10 percent rating, but not higher. The claim for service connection for GERD is granted as secondary to medications taken for his service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and acid reflux, finding insufficient evidence to support the claimed in-service stressors.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying stressors related to PTSD. The veteran will also be scheduled for examinations to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss, GERD with gastric ulcer, and hemorrhoids.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hammertoes, an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia patella status post fracture of the right knee.

The veteran's service connection claim for gastrointestinal, joint pain, night sweats, and obstructive sleep apnea has been granted. The conditions are considered to be directly related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's gastritis is found to be secondary to his service-connected avascular necrosis. His claims for GERD, hiatal hernia, and an increased rating for fibromyalgia are denied. The earlier effective date claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current gastroesophageal disorder is related to her period of military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral foot pain, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal reflux disease, erectile dysfunction, chronic sinusitis, lipomatous lesion of the left shoulder, benign prostatic hypertrophy, tinnitus, depressive disorder, and hypertension, have been evaluated. The veteran does not meet the criteria for a combined 100 percent schedular rating under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Therefore, his claim for permanent and total disability rating for VA non-service-connected pension purposes has been denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to clarify the nature and extent of his service-connected gastrointestinal and respiratory disabilities, including whether certain symptoms are associated with his already service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches, tinnitus, gastroesophageal disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome, chest pain, a low back disorder, and PTSD.

The veteran's appeal for initial compensable evaluations for service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and duodenal ulcer with gastroesophageal reflux disease is being remanded to the RO for additional VA examinations, as well as further development of her claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for her left knee, low back, bilateral feet, and respiratory disabilities. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by her active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's medical care provided at the Southwest Washington Medical Center from May 15, 2005 through May 20, 2005 was for a continued medical emergency of such a nature that the veteran could not have been safely discharged or transferred to a VA or other Federal facility. The criteria for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses have therefore been met.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of service connection for GERD, finding no competent evidence or opinion that relates his current GERD to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly fibromyalgia, render him unable to tend to the basic functions of self-care without regular assistance from another person and make him vulnerable to the hazards and dangers incident to his environment. The criteria for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance have been met.