GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2015

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, glaucoma, PTSD, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or glaucoma. His depressive disorder is not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, hypertension, sleep apnea syndrome, and GERD due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions and records, including VA treatment records from 1999 to 2008.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for GERD, which he claims developed secondary to his service-connected duodenal ulcer. The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to schedule the Veteran for an examination and obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his GERD.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration due to issues regarding the Veteran's employability based on his service-connected disabilities. The appeal is now with the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder is not related to active service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The current gastrointestinal disability does not meet the criteria for service connection as it is not shown to be directly related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder were denied as there was no evidence of a direct relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination regarding his obstructive sleep apnea. Increased ratings are also being remanded for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's vertigo, diabetes, hemorrhoids, PTSD, right leg lesion, costochondritis, GERD, enlarged thyroid, and incontinence have been related to service or service-connected disability. The endometrial polyps are considered incurred during service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease with duodenal ulcer was denied as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a gastrointestinal disability in service or related to service-connected conditions, and denied the claim for service connection. For the period before August 13, 2014, the Veteran's coronary artery disease did not meet the criteria for higher than 10 percent rating; after that date, it did not meet the criteria for a higher than 60 percent rating. The PTSD was found to be productive of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity but not severe enough to warrant a higher rating. For the period before April 30, 2013, the cervical spine disability met the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating; after that date, it did not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current GERD and asthma are related to his period of service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed GERD and hiatal hernia were not incurred in service, nor are they related to any in-service event or injury. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected GERD and PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's depression is not linked to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered the RO to contact the Veteran's service organization/department or other appropriate resource for information regarding his exposure levels to Agent Orange during his military service. The claims are remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for clarification of whether his service-connected disabilities other than PTSD preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations to assess his service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, but denied all other claims on appeal. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others not.