GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple gastrointestinal and pulmonary disabilities that he claims are secondary to his service-connected GERD. The Board is unable to determine the appropriate disposition of these issues due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Veteran does not have a current gastrointestinal disability, to include GERD, and the Board finds that her lay assertions are not credible. Therefore, service connection for a gastrointestinal disability is denied.

The Veteran's GERD is found to have had its onset during service and is therefore granted as service connected.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease was present during his active duty service and has continued since then. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected DM is manifested by daily use of oral medication and a restricted diet, without evidence of a need for regulation of activities, episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against his claims for service connection for GERD, gastritis, multiple joint disability, HTN, benign prostate hyperplasia/hypertrophy, back disability, sinus disability and breathing problems/lung condition.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred for treatment of GERD, a nonservice-connected condition associated with and aggravating her service-connected major depression with anxiety disorder, are authorized as the nearest VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the RO in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Veteran will be notified of the date, time, and location of the hearing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, GERD with Barrett's esophagus, and hemorrhoids. The appeals are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records, schedule him for a new examination regarding his GERD with hiatal hernia and pancreatitis, and review the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's GERD was found to have begun during active duty and has continued to the present, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD symptoms are shown to consist of entirely subjective complaints without objective findings regarding the nature and severity of his condition, due to his refusal to cooperate with examination and testing.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back injury, cervical spine injury, sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic pain, atypical chest pain, and skin disability. The evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's GERD and whether it was aggravated during his second period of active duty.

The Veteran seeks service connection for gastrointestinal disability, including GERD and hiatal hernia, which he claims is related to his service-connected PTSD. The VA has not provided a thorough examination or opinion addressing all theories of entitlement raised.

The Board found that the Veteran's current intestinal disorders are not related to his service or any incident related thereto, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's hypertension and duodenal ulcer with GERD have been granted service connection, but an effective date prior to December 11, 2007, for the grant of service connection for duodenal ulcer with GERD is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD as secondary to PTSD, finding that there was no evidence showing a current disability or etiological link between his service-connected PTSD and GERD.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and a sleep disorder are denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS was denied as there is no current diagnosis of this condition. The Veteran's GERD has been rated based on its manifestations and symptoms, but the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for GERD was granted with an effective date of July 1, 2007.

New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including sleep disorders, low back disabilities, GERD, hernia repairs, prostatitis, myositis, and depression. Further development is required before these claims can be adjudicated.