GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2009

The Board found no evidence linking gastroesophageal reflux to service and denied the claim. The case was also remanded for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's heart disorder, hypertension, and GERD are all rated at the minimum level of disability. The Veteran is granted initial ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim to reopen a cervical spine disability was granted, but the secondary service connection claims for GERD and migraines were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified. The other issues remain pending.

The Board found no evidence of a current hiatal hernia or GERD, and the medical evidence does not etiologically link these conditions to service. The Veteran's claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from November 2000 to August 2001 is granted as he meets the schedular criteria and there is probative evidence of his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for arthrosis and tendonitis of the left shoulder, but denied service connection for hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's tightness in the chest is attributed to GERD, a diagnosed condition. The Board finds service connection for this disability is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current GERD is not related to her military service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is denied as the condition did not manifest in or was not related to his active duty. The special monthly pension based on aid and attendance of another person is also denied due to lack of need.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD, status post hiatal hernia repair, is rated at 30 percent, which is the next higher rating available under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for heart disease, but denied secondary service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease. The case is remanded to the RO.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed back disorder, as well as the current level of severity of her service-connected GERD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including providing notice on how to substantiate claims for secondary service connection and an increased rating for GERD.

The Veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal disability is manifested by gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia with symptoms of substernal pain and occasional epigastric distress with pyrosis, but not by persistently recurrent epigastric distress, dysphagia, pyrosis or regurgitation. Therefore, an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for gastrointestinal disability is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected IBS and GERD are manifested by symptoms productive of severe impairment of health, warranting a 60 percent disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and acid reflux, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for depression/anxiety, GERD, or a low back disability.