GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's gastritis and GERD have been granted service connection, with a rating of 10 percent.

The Board granted an increased rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and found that he was entitled to service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including acid reflux disease, paraspinal muscle spasms, lupus (fatigue), headaches, tinnitus, and a respiratory disability, all of which are claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease as secondary to his service-connected lower back pain. The issue of service connection for a nasal condition, claimed as sinusitis or allergic rhinitis, is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral ear infections, low back strain, and stomach condition (GERD) have been denied. The stomach condition claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected right hip injury with residual trochantric bursitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease, effective from the date of the RO decision.

The Veteran's GERD disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms. The Veteran's Migraine Headaches are also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's service record and concerns about the reliability of a previous medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for hiatal hernia with duodenitis, esophagitis and GERD was granted. The effective date for the grant of this rating is not addressed as it pertains to an earlier effective date request which has been withdrawn. The claim for service connection for hypertension was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial in 1990. However, the Board found that the Veteran's back and neck disorder is not related to his active duty service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for GERD, coronary artery disease, and hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach disorder and his claim for TDIU, finding that there was no nexus between any current gastrointestinal disability and service or medication prescribed to treat service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected esophagitis with gastroesophageal reflux disease is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The Veteran's other conditions have not been found to warrant higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability, but not for the right ear. The Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is considered to be caused by acoustic trauma sustained in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his GERD. The Veteran needs to undergo a VA examination and provide any additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and gastroesophageal reflux syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from various VA facilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a stomach disorder, which she claims is related to her PTSD. The VA examiner found that the GERD may be aggravated by her service-connected PTSD but did not provide an opinion on whether it was caused by PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current GERD is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and hiatal hernia with GERD did not exist prior to his second period of active service (2004-2006) and were not aggravated by such service. The conditions are therefore not service-connected.

The Veteran's disabilities, including anemia, hemorrhoids, hypertension, mild cataracts, pancolitis, positive testing for tuberculosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), anxiety, and alcohol abuse, do not permanently preclude him from engaging in all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his age, education, and work experience.