GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2011

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD with hiatal hernia, a pulmonary disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a cervical spine disorder, a right hip disorder, and a left hip disorder. The Veteran was not granted any disability rating or effective date.

The Veteran's chronic lichen sclerosus et atrophicus of the glans penis was incurred during service and is considered a direct result. The stomach disability, presumed to be GERD and hiatus hernia, also appears to have originated in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and provide a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder other than GERD, but has remanded the claim for sleep disorder due to potential exposure during Gulf War service.

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

The Board has denied all claims for initial compensable evaluations, finding no indication of ongoing or new symptoms that would warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD with hiatal hernia is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given his symptoms of dysphagia only.

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed gastrointestinal disability, including gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected back disability. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board found that the appellant's active military service from September 1, 2000 to August 31, 2007 does not constitute one entire period of service but rather several distinct periods. Therefore, his character of discharge is considered dishonorable and bars him from receiving VA benefits for this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, a gastroesophageal disorder, and a gastrointestinal disorder. The decision found that there was no evidence of post-service manifestations of hearing loss or any current diagnosis of bilateral pes planus, and thus did not meet VA criteria for disability.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a back disability, right shoulder disability, and skin conditions. The Veteran's current disabilities are presumed to be related to his Vietnam-era exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations under applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bulimia nervosa and gastritis and reflux esophagitis have been granted. The remaining issues, including those related to the right wrist, ankle, and dental disorders, were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD, but found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for sinusitis.

The Veteran's service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disorder with hiatal hernia is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating. The Veteran's bladder condition remains unconnected to her service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence addressing whether the Veteran's IBS and GERD are related to service-connected PTSD, or if they were originally incurred in service. The case is returned for further development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals on the issues of service connection for sinusitis and an increased initial evaluation for migraine headaches. The claims for service connection for dyshidrosis of bilateral feet, a neurological disorder of the left hand (claimed as left palm nerve condition), TMJ, and bruxism were denied due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or a result of any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected asbestosis does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.