GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's GERD is manifested by symptoms such as pyrosis and regurgitation accompanied by epigastric discomfort and pain, including in the chest and shoulder causing moderate to considerable impairment in health. The Board assigned a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7346 for his service-connected GERD.

The Veteran's IBS and GERD have been rated at 30 percent since December 20, 2007. The symptoms of heartburn, constipation, bloating, and abdominal cramping do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia, and left knee degenerative joint disease were granted. The Veteran was awarded a 10 percent rating for his left knee disability.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal symptoms have been attributed to a known clinical diagnosis of GERD, which is not related to active service, including as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee and granted it. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for GERD, left wrist tendinitis, right wrist tendinitis, spurs and ununited fracture of the left ankle, spurs of the right ankle, or muscle tension headaches as they are not related to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's condition has not worsened to the extent that he has sustained a substantial loss of independence, and other changes in his circumstances have not caused a substantial loss of independence. The VR&E Service determined that no independent living needs had been identified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed cervical spine disorder. For his GERD, the Board finds that the current symptomatology is not severe enough to warrant an increased rating beyond the existing 10% evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including right elbow and knee conditions, sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorder, and erectile dysfunction, were not incurred or aggravated during his period of active military service. The VA examiners provided opinions indicating these conditions are less likely related to service.

The Veteran's appeal of his service connection claims for residuals of a broken right fifth finger and residuals of a broken nose have been withdrawn. The remaining issues are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for hypertension and a TDIU. The Board has remanded the hypertension claim due to disagreement with its denial, while the TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and other procedural issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to address whether the Veteran's GERD, including his April 2004 GERD diagnosis, was related to service or PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for GERD and a headache disorder were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's epigastric disabilities, including GERD with Barrett's esophagus and hiatal hernia, are not related to his military service or his service-connected pleurisy. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain VA treatment records and private medical records, as well as to provide the Veteran with an opportunity to respond. The claims for service connection will be remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, verifying the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation in service, and considering whether the Veteran's fatal esophageal cancer was a direct result of an incident during his service.

The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic pancreatic cancer, is not service-connected as it did not result from any condition or injury incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for right ear hearing loss was denied. The Veteran's PTSD has been granted with a 50% disability rating, effective from November 2, 2007.,The Veteran's GERD and residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx have not been granted initial compensable ratings.

The Veteran's GERD and left ear hearing loss have been granted service connection.,Service connection has also been established for sleep apnea. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether erectile dysfunction is related to active service.