GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2015

The Veteran is granted service connection for chronic diarrhea, GERD, and Barrett's esophagus. The Board finds that the Veteran had symptoms of these conditions during service and continues to experience them since then.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear at a previously scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and readjudication consistent with the Court's decision, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion to assess his GERD symptoms from November 19, 2007 to April 18, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and unverified service information.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of diabetes or glaucoma, and the left shoulder and neck disorders are not related to service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a new VA examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current GI disorder, including GERD, is related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

Service connection is granted for CML. An initial disability rating of 60 percent is assigned for GERD/pancreatitis since June 4, 2012. The effective date for the grant of service connection for sarcoidosis is set at May 17, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran is seeking an initial compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss. The VA will provide a new examination to assess the current severity of this condition.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right ankle disability, sleep apnea, GERD, sinus disability, pes planus (flatfoot), and right knee disability. A VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran claims that his sleep apnea may be related to military service. The VA will provide a new examination to assess whether this condition was caused by or is the result of his military service.,The Veteran seeks service connection for GERD, which he believes may be related to in-service gastrointestinal issues. A VA examination will determine if there is a link between his current condition and his military service.,The Veteran claims that his sinus disability may be linked to military service. The VA will provide an examination to assess the etiology of this condition.,The Veteran seeks service connection for pes planus (flatfoot), which he believes was aggravated by military service. A VA examination is needed to determine if there is a link between his current condition and his military service.,The Veteran claims that his right knee disability may be related to military service. The VA will provide an examination to assess the etiology of this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private treatment records from Dr. R. Wright.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease has not been manifested by symptoms of vomiting, material weight loss, hematemesis or melena with moderate anemia; or other symptoms combinations productive of severe impairment of health.,The Veteran's postoperative chorioretinitis and early cataracts have not been shown to warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated during her second period of active duty. The issue of service connection for arthritis remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar/thoracic spine disability, hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease, and right foot plantar fasciitis were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating in any of these cases.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for GERD has been granted based on evidence showing it began during service.

The Veteran's current GERD/dyspepsia, umbilical hernia, and right inguinal hernia were incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's disability, including GERD, kidney failure, colon/bowel perforation, ileostomy, mucus fistula, and bowel urgency, is not deemed to be caused by VA medical treatment.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU under VA regulations. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, IBS, and sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities other than Parkinson's disease, PTSD, and DM.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia has not resulted in symptoms of severe impairment of health, warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral flat feet, GERD, and arthritis of the right knee and leg. The claim for GERD was reopened but still denied. The other claims were not reopened.