GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's GERD disability, including hiatal hernia and esophageal stricture, has been rated as 10 percent disabling since November 1, 2000. The symptoms have included difficulty swallowing, pyrosis (heartburn), regurgitation, and transient vomiting four or more times per year.

The Veteran was granted an initial 30 percent disability rating for irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease from January 1, 2007, to September 21, 2008. The effective date of this rating is January 14, 2009.,The Veteran was granted an initial 30 percent disability rating for rhinosinusitis status post rhinoplasty from January 1, 2007, to February 11, 2014. The effective date of this rating is February 12, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chest condition and GERD are not related to his period of service, with the opinions from November 2010 suggesting a link between these conditions and service. However, due to lack of credible evidence supporting this claim, both conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and because of the procedural defect regarding the effective date of service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension and GERD are etiologically related to or aggravated by his active duty service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety with depression, arthralgias of all joints, gastritis, GERD, and elevated liver enzymes due to fatty liver are found to be proximately due to the service-connected fibromyalgia. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has determined that the effective date for a 30 percent rating for GERD with associated short segment Barrett's esophagus and Schatzki ring status post dilation should be February 1, 2009 (the day after his service discharge date). The Veteran's GERD disability was shown to warrant such a rating throughout the one-year period prior to December 3, 2009.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the appellant's service periods and obtain his medical records. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The case is REMANDED for the following: (1) Obtain copies of complete records of all VA evaluations and/or treatment the Veteran has received for GERD, low back, and right and left knee disabilities from April 2011 to the present. (2) Arrange for an orthopedic examination of the Veteran to assess the current severity of his knee and low back disabilities. (3) Arrange for a gastrointestinal diseases examination of the Veteran to assess the severity of his GERD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected postoperative cholecystectomy with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's GERD was not found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. His PTSD, however, resulted in a 70% evaluation throughout the appeal period.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations to determine the severity of his PTSD, the etiology of his GERD and hypertension, and whether service connection should be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a statement of the case on his claims for special home adaptation and specially adapted housing. His other claims are also under review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, low back disability, and neck disability due to a lack of new and material evidence. The claims were not reopened as there was no indication that current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acid reflux disability and chronic sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to her active duty service. Service connection was denied for amenorrhea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, to include as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus (DM), is being remanded due to insufficient medical evidence. The VA will provide a new examination and determine if the GERD is related to service or caused by DM.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, GERD, and TBI were denied. Service connection was granted for cervical spine disability with a 10% rating effective July 16, 2009, and lumbar spine disability with a 10% rating prior to November 28, 2011, and a 20% rating thereafter.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 30 percent disabling, effective July 23, 2009. The Board denied an earlier effective date.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as nervous condition) and GERD, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are proximately caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The rating assigned is not applicable in this case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the relationship between his service-connected conditions and any current disabilities, including hypertension, strokes (and residuals), GERD, and left hand condition. The Veteran must provide updated treatment records and attend the scheduled VA examination.