GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for VA examinations to evaluate his service-connected disabilities. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at a disability rating of 30 percent, which meets the criteria for this level of disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, GERD, and post-traumatic migraine headaches have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but denied the other issues. Service connection was established based on a diagnosis of PTSD due to combat stressors in Korea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with hiatal hernia, and chronic sinusitis were incurred during service.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issues of increased rating for sleep apnea and service connection for sinusitis. The right knee disability, GERD, PTSD, left hip disability, fatigue, and orthopedic foot disorder claims were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure, as well as for bilateral below the knee amputations. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

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

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the current digestive disorder, characterized by acid reflux, began during service and has persisted since then. Service connection for this condition is granted.

PTSD was granted with a rating of 50 percent effective April 15, 2005.,GERD remains at a 10 percent rating and no new effective date has been assigned.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, which reflects the predominant disability picture. The evidence does not show symptoms that warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's GERD is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides. However, the current disorder was not linked to his military service and there is no evidence of a link between other claimed conditions and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes, hypertension, heart disorder, tinnitus, insomnia, sleep apnea, depression, and GERD were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling due to pain, instability, swelling, and locking. The current rating is not in excess of what is warranted based on the evidence.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a heart disability, amoebic dysentery or Giardia dysentery, left and right ear hearing loss, hypertension, GERD, gout, degenerative joint disease of the knees, and spondylolisthesis of L4-5. The Veteran's claims were not supported by sufficient evidence to grant service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his period of active service. The gastrointestinal disorder and bilateral hearing loss claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a chronic gastrointestinal disability manifested by recurrent heartburn. The evidence did not support an in-service incurrence or aggravation of such condition.

The Veteran's GERD and IBS have been primarily manifested by alternating diarrhea and constipation, with more or less constant abdominal distress. The disability is currently evaluated as 30 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7319 for irritable colon syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected dysthymia and depression. The other issues remain pending.