GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2008

The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for chondromalacia of the left knee and denied increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, duodenal ulcer with gastroesophageal reflux disease, and scar of the left ankle.

The veteran's service-connected GERD is not manifested by persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal or arm or shoulder pain, and is not productive of considerable health impairment. The veteran's claimed right ventricular conduction relay was not incurred during active service. Bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss were also not incurred during active service.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral vascular disease, right lower extremity; peripheral vascular disease, left lower extremity; lead poisoning; and hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux, and peptic ulcer disease as there was no evidence of these conditions during or shortly after service, and the veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence linking them to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, alcohol abuse disorder, gastrointestinal disability, and headaches were denied as there was no evidence of a relationship to his period of military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support higher disability ratings or establish a link between his current disabilities and military service.

The appeal as to claims for higher initial ratings for the veteran's service-connected disabilities was denied on jurisdictional grounds due to a lack of timely substantive appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's gastrointestinal disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran was granted an initial 10 percent rating for his service-connected GERD, as the condition is productive of a disability picture that more closely approximates recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis or regurgitation, accompanied by substantial arm or shoulder pain.

The veteran seeks service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease, which he claims is related to his active service. The VA has requested a remand due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and ulcers, as well as his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between the veteran's current right ear hearing loss and his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural defects in VCAA notice and additional development is required.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD, fibromyalgia, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), and carpal tunnel syndrome, right. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD and that the veteran did not have a link between his current psychiatric disability and his service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development of the evidence and due process development, including obtaining a supplemental statement from Dr. Ramrakhiani regarding whether it is at least as likely as not that the veteran's inservice complaints of chest pain were early manifestations of her subsequently-diagnosed GERD.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue, degenerative joint disease of multiple joints (claimed as multiple joint pain), gastrointestinal disorder to include erosive gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, skin disorder to include right elbow rash, depression, tension headaches, memory loss, genetic alopecia (claimed as hair loss), and PTSD. The Board found new and material evidence for these claims.

The veteran's appeal was granted, with a 20% disability rating for post-operative residuals of temporomandibular joint dysfunction from August 18, 2004. The other claims were either denied or not addressed in the decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hypertriglyceridemia, low back disability as secondary to HIV, and GERD. The evidence did not support a finding of a current disability resulting from these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lumbar muscle strain, finding that the veteran initially manifested this condition during active service. The other issues of service connection are not addressed as they have been remanded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for GERD, malignant neoplasm of the brain, multiple lipoma chest and legs, and depression. The reasons are provided in the decision.

The veteran is seeking service connection for acid reflux, which he claims was aggravated by his active duty service in Iraq. The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an examination.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension by reason of being in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound.