GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. The claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease, as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, is now moot.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher initial ratings on mild fibrositis of the upper back, left foot metatarsalgia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, acid reflux, or bone disease. The claim for service connection is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a ruptured left eardrum, chronic acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), chronic gastrointestinal disorder (including hiatal hernia and GERD), chronic hypertension, and chronic erectile dysfunction. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for throat problems is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA examination and Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's GERD is caused by his service-connected PTSD, and he is granted service connection for this disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected ischemic heart disease, and GERD was aggravated by his period of active duty.,Service connection for both hypertension and GERD is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with diverticular disease, status post surgery was denied. The issues regarding the benign scrotal mass and pseudofoliculitis barbae were also addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and dismissed the DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 claim as moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical dysplasia and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations.

The Board has jurisdiction over the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, a skin disorder around the right eye and asthma. The appeal is REMANDED due to the need to obtain additional VA medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically Mood Disorder, NOS, is at least as likely as not related to his service. The stomach disorder (GERD) was also found to be at least as likely as not related to his service. Both conditions are now granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease warrants a rating of 40 percent, as his disability is currently manifested by chronic low back pain and no more than moderate limitation of motion. The issues of entitlement to service connection for GERD, migraines, joint point, a fungal infection of the fingernails, a respiratory disorder, and an eye disorder are addressed in the remand that follows this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a digestive disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension benefits was denied because the evidence did not show that he is permanently and totally disabled from disabilities not due to his own willful misconduct.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is granted, with an effective date from October 1, 2007. The claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease remains pending.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has requested that the issues be returned to the RO for reconsideration.

The Veteran is seeking to establish service connection for GERD, which he claims is related to his service-connected hiatal hernia. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's GERD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral heel disorder, flat feet, fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorders, and erectile dysfunction prior to May 23, 2011. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as there were no symptoms of significant weight loss or severe impairment of health. The issue regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is also addressed but the decision summary does not provide details on this aspect.