GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2008

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the claims have been dismissed.

The Board found that the veteran did not file a claim for service connection for GERD prior to July 26, 1999 and thus denied an earlier effective date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue, gastrointestinal disorder, and respiratory disorder as there was no evidence of chronicity since service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for obesity, low back pain, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The examiner is needed to determine if the diabetes caused or aggravated the obesity.

The veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board found no evidence of peptic ulcer disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease during service and denied the veteran's claims for these conditions.

The veteran seeks service connection for GERD, which he claims first developed during his period of active duty from 1967 to 1969. The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board granted a higher disability evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's low back disability and a 10 percent evaluation for his GERD, both under the criteria for direct service connection.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. The Board found that the left wrist disability warranted a 10 percent rating, and his gastrointestinal issues were not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal disability, including GERD and IBS, does not warrant an initial rating higher than the current 10 percent.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for nodular cystic acne, which is the highest schedular rating available. The veteran's service-connected nodular cystic acne covers more than 40 percent of his entire body during flare-ups.

The Board finds that the veteran's cause of death, metastatic gastroesophageal carcinoma, was not caused or contributed to by his military service, including his inservice exposure to herbicides. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is denied.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected residuals of an injury to the neck with loss of upper esophageal barrier to acid reflux was denied. The VA determined that there were no new or material issues presented, and thus did not warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's cardiovascular disorder is service-connected due to exposure to chemical agents in service.,There is no evidence linking the veteran's hiatal hernia to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, and somatoform disorder are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for xerosis and other conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, vertigo, chronic fatigue syndrome, folliculitis, right ankle disability, aphthous ulcers, sinus tachycardia, rhinosinusitis, hypertension, migraine headaches, and bilateral hearing loss. The psychiatric condition is also service connected.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and other issues.

The Board found no evidence of a digestive disorder during service and concluded that the current condition is not related to any gastrointestinal symptoms in active service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic gastrointestinal disorder, claimed as peptic ulcer disease and/or gastroesophageal reflux disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee pain and hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease are service-connected due to their connection to his military service, specifically his deployment in Iraq. The Board found that these conditions meet the criteria for a 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 5003.