GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal and acquired psychiatric disorders are not service-connected, as they were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's gastritis with GERD has been granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent disability rating effective August 16, 2004. The claim for an increased rating remains pending.

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

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and GERD, both associated with herbicide exposure during military service. The effective dates are not specified as the claims were received after separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining STRs and VA examinations.

The Veteran's peptic ulcer disease is presumed to have been aggravated by service, and GERD may be related to his ulcer disease. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is service-connected on a presumptive basis due to degenerative joint disease. His hypertension is also service-connected on a presumptive basis as isolated systolic hypertension.,For the remaining conditions, further examination and medical opinions are needed to determine if they are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, uterine fibroids, and hemorrhoids since the specified dates. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of these cases.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's initial ratings for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and thoracolumbar spine disability were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher initial ratings in any of these cases.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was granted service connection. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether his current acquired psychiatric disorders, including right eye and left eye disorders, spastic dysphonia, and GERD are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining records from Brooke Army Medical Center and providing a VA examination to address the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, intestinal blockage, and pernicious anemia as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's tracheal stricture resulting from the July 2007 VA physician performed tracheostomy is found to be a reasonably foreseeable event, warranting compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, pseudofolliculitis barbae (claimed as acne vulgaris), dermatitis, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's appeals for increased rating of GERD and service connection for depression and liver disorder have been withdrawn. The claims for service connection for depression and a liver disorder are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent evaluation for GERD, the minimum rating available under VA's rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for GERD and Parkinson's disease were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorders, including gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.