GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for low back, right shoulder and bilateral elbow disabilities due to overuse in service. The Veteran's congenital Ehlers-Danlos syndrome was aggravated by the physical demands of service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine the current severity of his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome, currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being deferred as additional development and resolution of other disability claims are needed. The effective date for service connection will be determined once the RO completes the necessary actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of ulcer disease, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.,Service connection for GERD was granted as it preexisted service but was not aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disease, including GERD and hiatal hernia, did not manifest during service and is not related to military service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal on the issues of service connection for GERD, bile reflux, and irritable bowel syndrome as secondary to a service-connected disability and service connection for a dental disorder as secondary to a service-connected disability. The Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran seeks service connection for digestive disorders including GERD, hiatal hernia, and gastritis. The Board has determined that the current examination is inadequate to address the etiology of his conditions and remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease and hyper-contractile esophagogastric sphincter has been rated at 30 percent since September 1972, reflecting moderate impairment of health due to persistent symptoms such as epigastric distress, pyrosis, and regurgitation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the claims of service connection for various joints and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with retinopathy, cataracts, and GERD had shown improvement over a period of more than five years, supporting a reduction from 60% to 20% disability rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, upper respiratory, and right ear hearing loss disabilities were denied as they are not related to his active service.,There is no indication that the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to any period of inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's rating from 30% to 10% for GERD was proper, and denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal condition, sexual dysfunction, and a back disability. It also denied secondary service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression is manifested by sleep disturbance, depressed mood, anxiety, exaggerated startle response, and hypervigilance, resulting in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. He was granted a 30 percent evaluation for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's coronary artery disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease did not have onset in service or within one year of separation, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for GERD and sleep apnea, finding new and material evidence. However, it is unable to determine if these conditions are related to service due to lack of continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease with esophagus stricture on a direct basis is being remanded to allow for additional medical examination and opinion. The appeal will be considered in light of the new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's current gastrointestinal disorders, not including irritable bowel syndrome, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of a prostate disability and increased rating for hypertension have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding an increased rating for digestive disability, as there is no evidence of service connection in this case.