GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for Reiter's syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with peptic ulcer residuals are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and unaddressed VA treatment records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability is not related to his active service or any service-connected conditions, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing. The primary issue is whether GERD can be service connected due to exposure at Camp Lejeune and secondary to other conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as she failed to report to VA examinations and her claimed conditions are not shown to be related to her military service.

The Veteran's postoperative duodenal ulcer with GERD and chronic pancreatitis did not result in impairment of health manifested by anemia and weight loss or recurrent incapacitating episodes averaging 10 days or more in duration at least four or more times a year, thus the claim for increased rating was denied.

The Veteran's GERD is manifested by persistently recurrent epigastric distress, dysphagia, pyrosis, reflux, regurgitation, and sleep disturbances caused by esophageal reflux. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7346.

The Board has remanded the GERD claim due to incomplete records and will provide further examination if necessary. The Veteran's current GERD is being considered secondary to his service-connected cancer of the larynx.

The Board found that the Veteran's current GERD is not related to service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to differentiate the symptoms and manifestations of his service-connected peptic ulcer disease, hiatal hernia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's IBS with duodenal ulcer with hiatal hernia has been rated at 30 percent since June 5, 2013.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current gastrointestinal disorder, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, related to his initial period of active service or events therein.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD is not related to service and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's asthma is found to have had its onset in service, and the gastrointestinal disability is not related to service. The Board grants service connection for asthma but denies service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for GERD and left shoulder arthritis, but denied both on the merits. The claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD remains without legal merit.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease with residuals of achalasia has been rated at 30 percent since the effective date of service connection, which is considered a fair and accurate reflection of his disability.

The Veteran does not have active malaria, nor any current residuals of malaria. Therefore, he is denied a compensable rating for malaria or residuals of malaria.

The Board found that the Veteran's current GERD is not related to his service or any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.