GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2008

The Board has granted service connection for right knee chondromalacia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as both conditions were first diagnosed during active duty military service.

The Board has granted service connection for aggravation of a preexisting personality disorder and service connection for GERD. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, increased ratings for left knee arthritis and gastroesophageal reflux with hiatal hernia, and remanded his claim for increased rating for medial collateral ligament strain of the left knee.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the claimed conditions, including arthritis of the cervical spine and hands/wrists, a right shoulder disorder, an eye disorder (including glaucoma), bilateral hearing loss, bronchiectasis, COPD with asthma, hypertension, stomach ulcers, liver sclerosis, GERD/hiatal hernia, prostate disorder, or any other condition. The veteran's claims are denied.

The veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD and Barrett's esophagitis is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum available rating. The allergic rhinitis, IBS, and hemorrhoids are each rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the veteran's GERD is related to her service, and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's GERD, which is the maximum available under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, while the GERD claim will be remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for costochondritis, right knee disability, and left knee disability have been denied as his conditions do not warrant higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and found that the veteran's hemorrhoids were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The case is being remanded to obtain VA examinations for erectile dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux, and any psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acid reflux disease, left shoulder condition/rotator cuff, lung problems/bronchial, neuropathy of feet/neuralgia, prostate condition, and sleep disorder were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.,There is no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and his time in active duty.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the veteran has a current diagnosis of GERD that began during or as the result of his active service. Therefore, service connection for GERD is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for ulcer disease and lung disease, finding that there was no direct or secondary relationship to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and missing Social Security Administration records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sleep disorder, dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, and GERD are not at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. As a result, these claims for secondary service connection have been denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for IBS and GERD, finding no evidence to support these conditions as related to his active duty service. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD was also denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for GERD and did not reopen the claim of service connection for residuals of a right clavicle fracture.

The veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal before the Board.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for joint pains and acid peptic disease (GERD). The evidence submitted since the last final denial in April 2000 includes diagnoses of arthritis, myositis, osteoarthritis, nonspecific arthritis, mild carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, tendinitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which were not previously considered.,The Board has determined that the veteran's joint pains are service-connected as an undiagnosed illness. The evidence supports this finding with multiple possible diagnoses of arthritis and myositis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for her gastro-duodenitis and irritable bowel syndrome with antral ulcer, hiatal hernia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, status post Nissen fundoplication, finding that her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.