GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2009

The Board finds that the appellant does not have service connection for any of his claimed conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease with carotid stenosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD), and renal insufficiency, as they are not shown to be related to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's GERD, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating in any of the conditions listed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was rated at 10 percent prior to June 7, 2005 and increased to 30 percent effective from June 5, 2007. The GERD rating remained at 10 percent.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a gastrointestinal and digestive disability, to include GERD. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to the need to obtain medical records and provide a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, finding no evidence of a causal link to the Veteran's period of active service.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, and numbness of the bilateral hands and feet as not being supported by competent medical evidence. The Veteran was also denied a compensable rating for his hearing loss.

The appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence to address the etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left great toe injury and headaches, but granted service connection for GERD. The claims for uterine fibroids, joint pain, stomach pain, and atopic dermatitis were not decided.

The Board denied service connection for gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux and Barrett's esophagus as there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, esophagitis, and gastritis were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of a relationship between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as they were not related to the Veteran's active duty or his service-connected PTSD. The Board also denied a higher rating for PTSD.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining a 2007 VA examination report and adjudicating a claim of service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disorder to include a hiatal hernia.

The Veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension by reason of being housebound or needing the aid and attendance of another.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating, reopening of service connection for gastritis, hiatal hernia, and GERD, fatigue, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected back disability.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sinus disorder was granted, while the claims for low back pain and a gastrointestinal disorder were denied.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disabilities, sexual dysfunction, and fibromyalgia as there was no competent evidence to show that these conditions were caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as there was no competent medical evidence linking the current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on a need for regular aid and attendance or due to housebound status.