GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's IBS with GERD is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board finds that his disability picture does not rise to considerable health impairment.,The Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities including an anxiety disorder and interstitial cystitis, resulting in a combined rating of 80%. He meets the minimum schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD is service connected as it was present during his military service and he provided credible lay testimony supporting this conclusion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The skin disability was not found to be related to Agent Orange exposure or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a bilateral arm disability, bilateral leg disability, or stomach condition due to an undiagnosed illness during service or related to his service. His lumbar myositis was rated as 20 percent disabling, arterial hypertension as non-compensable, and major depressive disorder as 30 percent disabling.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for entitlement to nonservice-connected disability pension due to their combined rating of 40 percent, which does not reach the required percentage threshold.

The Board found that there is no medical evidence or opinion suggesting a relationship between the Veteran's current GERD disability and his military service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the relationship between her claimed conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not provide a reasonable possibility of substantiating any of the Veteran's claims for service connection related to Agent Orange exposure. As such, the original decisions denying these claims remain final.

The Board has remanded the case for additional consideration due to a request for a video conference hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD resulted in two or more of the symptoms for a 10 percent rating, but denied an initial compensable rating for his inguinal hernia scar due to lack of probative value on pain and limitation of motion.

The Veteran's lung and esophageal/stomach disorders are being remanded for further examination to determine if they were caused by the discontinuance of VA treatment on January 20, 2006; the discontinuance of VA treatment on January 21, 2006; or the failure to provide VA treatment on January 22, 2006.

The Board finds that the Veteran's GERD and hiatal hernia are not related to his military service, and thus denies both claims.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral knee disorders, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder and GERD. The Veteran's claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's current GERD and hypertension disabilities are considered to have had their onset during active service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's GERD and hypertension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and a sleep disorder, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case to schedule a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination and medical opinions regarding his gastrointestinal disabilities, including IBS. The examiner will need to determine if the Veteran's pre-existing GERD was aggravated by service and whether any current gastrointestinal disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and IBS are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling an examination.