GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's GERD, including whether it was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and his symptoms are more likely related to non-service-connected conditions or natural aging processes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current stomach disability, to include GERD, or left eye disability and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis, gastrointestinal disorder (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety) have been granted with a 10 percent rating effective June 19, 2007.

The Veteran's GERD, diagnosed as a stomach condition, was found to have started during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and GERD, finding that there was insufficient evidence to establish a stressor related to basic training or any other in-service event. The diagnoses of other acquired psychiatric disorders were not shown to have begun during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and GERD have been granted, with the exception of his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The Board also found that new evidence had been received to reopen his claim for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right inguinal hernia are rated as noncompensable. For the period on appeal, his bilateral hearing loss is considered incurred in or as a result of active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding their onset in service or causation by his service-connected asthma/allergies disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current seizure disorder or stomach disorder, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private medical records from Banbury, England. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on all evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for left wrist, low back, and right knee disorders. The Veteran's other service connection claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of various claimed conditions. The appellant's military service is also being reviewed to clarify her periods of active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease are etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder disability and GERD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for GERD and found that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's current symptoms are related to his service-connected back disability, but not directly caused by it. As a result, the Veteran is granted a 20% disability rating for his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran does not have throat ulcers or GERD attributable to his military service.,Hypertension is not shown within a year of separation and thus the presumption of service connection for hypertension does not apply.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and Barrett's esophagus, and carpel tunnel syndrome of the bilateral upper extremities have been granted.

The Veteran is not entitled to commencement of the period of payment for VA compensation benefits prior to May 1, 2010 as his effective date was properly assigned on April 1, 2010.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease, which he claims was incurred during his military service in Southwest Asia. The Board has requested additional medical opinions and records to determine the nature and etiology of his condition.