GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2011

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and diabetes mellitus, finding that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the GERD claim and that both conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the claims for service connection have been dismissed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, tinea versicolor, bilateral hearing loss, and migraine headaches. However, no compensable ratings have been assigned as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD and duodenal peptic ulcer disease are currently evaluated at a 20 percent rating. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Veteran's reopened claim for a gastrointestinal disorder has been granted. His increased ratings claims have been denied, but he is now receiving a compensable rating for his gunshot wound scar.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease with gastric ulcer is manifested by symptoms including subjective reports of epigastric pain controlled on medications, but objective evidence shows a weight gain from November 2004 to November 2009. The current level of disability does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a digestive disorder, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by the Veteran's military service and is not related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The TDIU claim was also denied as the Veteran's disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches are incurred in active service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for GERD is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's GERD with hepatitis B was granted service connection, but the RO did not assign a higher initial evaluation for either condition. The Board denied an increased rating for GERD and found no evidence of active liver disease warranting a separate compensable evaluation for hepatitis B.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of outstanding medical records.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic gastrointestinal disorder in service and determined that the Veteran's current hiatal hernia and GERD are not causally related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings are being remanded to obtain updated VA examinations and any outstanding medical records.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, acid reflux, and hypertension as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence of current diagnoses or a link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's digestive disorder, currently diagnosed as PUD, GERD and esophagitis, is due to a disease or injury that was incurred in active military service. Service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcer disease, as well as a psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder, are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. Further development is needed including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher rating for bilateral pes cavus were denied by the Board. The Veteran was awarded service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease in November 2004, but his claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes cavus remains unresolved.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's peptic ulcer disease, status post vagotomy, with hiatal hernia and GERD, finding that his symptoms warrant this level of disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant's gastroesophageal reflux had its inception during his second period of active service and is therefore granted service connection.