GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected GERD and actinic cheilitis of the lower lip are currently evaluated as noncompensably disabling. The Board finds that neither condition warrants a compensable rating.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current GERD/hiatal hernia and ventral hernia to his active duty service, nor did it find a direct relationship between these conditions and his prostate cancer. The claims for secondary service connection were denied.

The Veteran's GERD has been granted an initial 10 percent rating, effective December 18, 2007. The Board found that the severity of his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease is now rated at 20 percent effective July 25, 2006. The other issues on appeal are dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current digestive system disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's GERD and tension headaches have been granted, with a 10% rating for each condition. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, specifically Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), had its onset during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 14, 2006 for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine hypertrophic osteoarthritis was denied. The effective date is set at November 18, 2005.

The Board found that the Veteran's current GERD is not related to his service, including any trauma or stress therein. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for a GI disability.

The Veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal disability, which includes GERD, IBS, and a hiatal hernia, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that the predominant disability picture warrants an increased rating to 30 percent due to the severity of his symptoms including daily discomfort from gas, bloating, and constipation.

The Veteran's service-connected gastrectomy and GERD are currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 7308 for postgastrectomy syndromes.,The Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids with anal fistula are currently rated at 30 percent. The RO has determined that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of additional pertinent evidence and for a new VA examination to determine his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer is not related to his service, and thus denied service connection for this condition. For GERD (Barrett's esophagus), the VA examiner found no evidence of a pre-existing esophageal condition during service, and noted that the Veteran's current GERD/Barrett's esophagus may be due to his PTSD. The organic residuals of frostbite issue is not addressed as it was not part of the appeal process.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA medical records and for further examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed psychiatric and gastrointestinal disorders.

The Veteran's GERD was granted service connection as it is at least as likely as not that the condition had its onset in service.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia, claimed as high cholesterol and high triglyceride levels, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a gastrointestinal disorder, and migraine headaches. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not, singly or in combination, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected conditions and their relationship to his current disabilities. The Board has ordered additional development of the claims, including obtaining clarification from the June 2009 VA examiner regarding the diagnoses and relationships between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his service-connected anxiety disorder and dysthymic disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for various disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting service connection for OSA, or assigning higher initial ratings for the other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected asbestosis/emphysema resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to resultant helplessness caused by mental and physical impairment, including inability to dress/undress himself, feed himself due to extreme weakness, and attend to the wants of nature.