GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2011

The Board found that the appellant's gastrointestinal disorder did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, is not related to his service-connected right testicle carcinoma or PTSD, and is not due to herbicide exposure. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated based on their current manifestations, and the evidence does not support a higher rating for any of his disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board found against the claim of service connection for a heart disability due to lack of evidence showing a current disability and no indication that any pre-existing condition was aggravated by service. The claims for service connection for hypertension, pes planus (claimed as bilateral foot problems), tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on his current symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for his acid reflux, lumbar spine disability, and left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids was denied as there is no evidence of the condition during or after his military service. The claims for GERD and right knee DJD are pending, with further examination needed to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection or higher ratings for most conditions, with some exceptions.

The Veteran's GERD symptoms have approximated persistently recurrent epigastric distress productive of considerable impairment of health more nearly than symptoms of pain, vomiting, material weight loss and hematemesis or melena with moderate anemia or other symptom combinations productive of severe impairment of health. The uniform 30 percent rating is proper.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for GERD and IBS, as well as the initial ratings for PTSD and constipation. The Veteran's appeal is pending further development.

The Board has ordered a VA Gulf War examination to determine the etiology of any chest tightness disorder. The Veteran's claim is currently in remand status due to issues with notification and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and denied the remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for acquired nicotine dependence, secondary respiratory disorders, impotence as secondary to service-connected prostatitis, otitis media, and esophageal hernia as secondary to service-connected sinusitis.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, interstitial lung disease, and COPD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis with pleural scarring.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for IBS with GERD, effective from the date of the decision. The claim to reopen service connection for low back disability is granted and the Veteran's IBS with GERD is rated under Diagnostic Code 7319.

The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected hiatal hernia with GERD. The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional treatment records and conduct a new examination before deciding on the claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations have been denied as the current ratings are considered adequate to compensate for his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction, gastrointestinal condition (including IBS, GERD and/or hiatal hernia), and tinnitus have been denied as they are not service-connected.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for GERD was received on December 8, 2000. The RO assigned an initial disability rating of 10 percent effective from December 8, 2000. The Veteran is seeking a higher initial rating and/or earlier effective date.

The Board has granted a TDIU based on the appellant's service-connected disabilities. The appeal for higher evaluations of bilateral hearing loss disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is remanded.