GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have DJD of the lumbar spine, COPD, CAD with atrial fibrillation, or GERD due to any incident of his active duty service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no evidence of irritable bowel syndrome, but granted the highest schedular evaluation for fibromyalgia.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD and granted it. The Veteran was also found to have a current diagnosis of TBI, left shoulder disability, and skin disability (including xerosis and due to an undiagnosed illness).

The Board has remanded the case due to issues not yet addressed in a statement of the case, and for obtaining VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU and basic eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia and GERD have been well controlled with medication, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they do not cause symptoms such as dysphagia, pyrosis, or regurgitation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a supplemental medical opinion regarding his lumbar spine disability. The issues of service connection for onychomycosis and gastrointestinal disorder are also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a stomach condition and has granted service connection for GERD, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his current GERD was caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination.

The Board has determined that a disability rating of 30 percent, but no higher, is warranted for the Veteran's disorders of the digestive system including status post cholecystectomy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and erosive gastritis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected hearing loss. The Veteran's GERD with diverticulitis and left radiculopathy are not rated higher than the current 10% evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected GERD.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim, finding that her residential facility provides necessary custodial care and thus all unreimbursed fees paid to this facility are deductible medical expenses for the purpose of calculating her countable income towards nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 28, 2011. The Board granted TDIU benefits based on the evidence showing that his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to work.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ring finger, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee conditions have been denied.,Service connection was granted for a left wrist condition (rated as 10 percent disabling), GERD (rated as 10 percent disabling), lumbosacral strain (rated as 10 percent disabling), and left ear hearing loss (rated as 10 percent disabling).

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, which pre-existed entry into active duty, was aggravated by active duty. The Veteran's GERD is found to be at least as likely as not secondary to her service-connected knee disability.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen previously denied claims for service connection have been considered. The appeals are currently in the denial stage.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board found that the Veteran's current GERD, hemorrhoids, and rectal polyps are not related to service. The VA examiner opined that there is no clinical objective evidence of GERD in service and suggested that any symptoms were likely due to an upper respiratory infection.