GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2008

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's left knee disability, GERD with hiatal hernia, and chronic open angle glaucoma. The initial evaluations assigned were 10 percent each.

The veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for his service-connected conditions has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by the veteran or his representative.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, a right shoulder disability, an eye disability manifested by diplopia, and a chronic upper gastrointestinal disability (to include GERD). The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent disability rating.

The veteran's GERD is not shown to be manifested by persistently recurrent gastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substantial arm or shoulder pain, productive of considerable impairment of health.,The veteran does not have a medically supportable diagnosis of PTSD due to a verified stressor or other potentially verifiable event or incident of his period of active service.,By extending the benefit of the doubt to the veteran, his disability manifested by an anxiety disorder is due to disease that was incurred in active service.,The veteran does not have a current disability manifesting cervical spine pain due to any event or incident of his active service.,The veteran's lumbosacral spine pain is not shown to be due to an injury or other event or incident of the veteran's period of military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected gastritis with GERD, finding that the objective and probative medical evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a medical opinion assessing his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the veteran's low back disability and gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia are not related to his active service or any incident therein.

The Board has determined that the current record is insufficient to constitute a basis to award service connection for GERD, as there is no confirmed treatment for this condition since 2003. The veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also remanded due to inadequate examination results.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability and eye disability have been granted. The low back disability is presumed to be incurred in service, while the eye disability was not incurred but is considered as preexisting.

The veteran's GERD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all found to be related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's tinnitus to his active service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for GERD and Sleep Disorder, finding that the evidence did not demonstrate a direct link to service or service-connected PTSD.,Service connection was also denied as there is no separate diagnosis of a sleep disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA gastroenterology examination and additional evidence collection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis, hepatitis B and C, back injury residuals, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), asthma, and bronchitis. The claim for tinnitus was granted with a 10 percent evaluation.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for hiatal hernia with GERD, status-post gallbladder removal and IBS, as well as bilateral plantar fasciitis, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and benign prostate hypertrophy with urinary dysfunction, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for duodenal ulcer disease with hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease, as well as his claim for a higher rating for residuals of a left ankle strain with degenerative arthritis. The maximum schedular ratings were not met.

The veteran's service connection claims for irritable bowel syndrome, anemia, and a great toe disorder (exostosis) have been granted. The veteran also has service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, left heel spur with plantar fasciitis, gastrointestinal reflux disease, and hemorrhoids. His right ear hearing loss is rated as compensable.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation due to new evidence and the need for a new VA examination.