GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include obtaining VA and private medical records, as well as a new examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder did not cause or aggravate his erectile dysfunction, GERD, left knee disability, right knee degenerative joint disease, back disability, or skin disability. The claims were denied as there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's period of active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD has been manifested by pyrosis (heartburn) and indigestion, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not exhibit symptoms such as dysphagia, regurgitation, substernal arm or shoulder pain, or considerable impairment of health.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diverticulitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left knee disorder, and right foot disorder were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of the claimed conditions or evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, rectal incontinence associated with scleroderma, calcinosis of the fingers associated with scleroderma with Raynaud's phenomenon, limitation of motion of left ankle due to scleroderma with Raynaud's phenomenon, left carpal tunnel syndrome (nondominant extremity) due to scleroderma with Raynaud's phenomenon, right knee synovitis, status post arthroscopy, flatfoot with left foot pain due to scleroderma with Raynaud's phenomenon, flatfoot with right foot pain due to scleroderma with Raynaud's phenomenon, hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and right carpal tunnel syndrome (dominant extremity) due to scleroderma with Raynaud's phenomenon, are of such severity as to preclude her from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current ulcers and there is no persuasive evidence linking GERD to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for GERD and ulcers was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and his claims for accrued benefits were denied as he did not meet eligibility criteria. The appellant's claims for service connection for Alzheimer's dementia, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and a pulmonary condition have also been denied due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of service connection based on credible supporting evidence of a personal assault during military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while significant, do not render him unemployable as he is capable of performing sedentary occupations.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for GERD, DJD of the left knee, and RPPS of the right knee were denied by the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for muscular low back pain, as secondary to GERD, is denied. The issue of an initial compensable rating for calluses of the bilateral feet remains pending. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for GERD is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that there is no current diagnosis of either condition, and the medical evidence does not support a nexus between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, GERD with hiatal hernia, and diabetes mellitus were granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was set at February 9, 2005.

The Veteran's intestinal disorder is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination to determine if his current intestinal disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and right wrist disabilities, as well as any newly identified conditions. The effective dates will be determined based on the findings from these examinations.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux and Barrett's esophagus is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bowel delay disorder, nerve damage to the stomach, and gastrointestinal disorders. The right eye disability and PTSD claims were also denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on current symptoms.