GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is currently rated at 30 percent, effective August 13, 2002. The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the right arm was granted a higher rating to 30 percent beginning February 23, 2010. The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left arm is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions, including GERD, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, and vasectomy residuals. The claims will be reviewed in light of these findings.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD is not shown to meet the criteria for a higher initial evaluation, as his symptoms do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's GERD has not resulted in symptoms such as severe stricture of the esophagus permitting liquids only or other symptom combinations productive of severe impairment of health, thus his claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's GERD, chronic allergic rhinitis, left foot condition, and migraine headaches are all service-connected. The GERD is rated at 10 percent; the chronic allergic rhinitis, left foot condition, and migraine headaches are not compensably service-connected.

The Board found no evidence of a stomach disability in service and concluded that GERD is not related to service or a service-connected condition.,There was no hearing loss noted during service, and the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss does not appear to be due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease was found to not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent under the applicable VA rating schedule. The claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis has been referred but denied.

The Veteran's GERD with Barrett's esophagus is characterized by mild dysphagia, occasional regurgitation, intermittent epigastric pain, some reports of diarrhea, occasional heartburn, nausea and vomiting, and circulatory disturbance after meals at times. The evidence does not indicate severe impairment of health such as hypoglycemic symptoms, malnutrition, weight loss, hematemesis or melena, anemia or circulatory disturbance after meals to a degree indicating severe impairment of health.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board found no evidence of a current cervical spine disability or chronic headache disorder related to service. The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder is not proximately due to or aggravated by medications for his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that he claims was caused or made worse by his service-connected adenocarcinoma of the cecal colon and/or as secondary to colon cancer surgery. The Board has ordered additional development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. A.C. and requesting an addendum from him.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for GERD and bilateral pes planus have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings at any point.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee and low back disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chest pain, hypoglycemia, a cervical spine disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a left shoulder disability was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder and acid reflux were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is found to be causally related to service, specifically a July 4, 1985 incident during active duty. Service connection for GERD is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's service connection claim for GERD, finding that it had its onset in his military service. The initial compensable rating of 10% for service-connected rhinitis with sinusitis is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including right arm radial nerve neuropathy, shoulder rotator cuff repair, lumbar and cervical spine conditions, left and right knee surgeries, and GERD. The appeals were addressed in the context of initial ratings assigned.

The Veteran's GERD has been rated at 30 percent since the initial rating decision. The symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher rating, as they do not include hematemesis, melena, or anemia.

The Veteran's service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.