GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for any of the conditions listed, including Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, arthritis of multiple unspecified joints, and GERD are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's pulmonary fibrosis and skin disability were not related to service, including any exposure to Agent Orange or other presumed exposures. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and new evidence is needed.

The Board found that the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) did not manifest during service and is not causally or etiologically related to service, including any incident, event, or symptoms therein.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and laryngitis as residuals of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma were denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's skin disorders, including squamous carcinomas, basal cell carcinomas, and actinic keratosis are found to be related to his service. The lower gastrointestinal disorder is diagnosed as Crohn's disease, which the VA physician will determine if it is related to service. Service connection for GERD was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and left ear hearing loss, as well as reopened the claims for these conditions. The Veteran's current symptoms of snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, restless sleep, large neck size, sexual dysfunction, high blood pressure, and obesity are considered to be related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability is not related to her active service and was not caused or permanently worsened by her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia has caused symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, and abdominal pain without substernal or arm pain. The disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic stomach disorder, including GERD and as secondary to his service-connected conditions, is being remanded due to the need for clarification of an opinion regarding the relationship between his current GERD diagnosis and symptoms and his May 1988 VA examination findings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain, PTSD, and right wrist were withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by active military service and are not related to inservice malaria or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's service connection for residuals of a right hand injury and initial compensable evaluation for gastroesophageal reflux disease prior to December 6, 2012 are granted. The Veteran is also granted an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease from December 6, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, finding no evidence of a causal relationship between his current condition and his military service, including as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and IHD.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic headaches, granted a compensable rating for residual scar left foot laceration prior to May 6, 2011, and denied entitlement to higher ratings for the other conditions. The Veteran's GERD and bilateral pinguecula were also found not to warrant compensable ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, II and assigned an initial 20 percent rating effective March 4, 2008. The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew all remaining claims that were at issue in this appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently suffer from GERD and his symptoms are better characterized as alkaline reflux gastritis, which is already service-connected. Therefore, the claim for service connection for GERD is denied.