GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a staged rating of 50 percent prior to January 12, 2012, and 70 percent from that date.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for examinations to assess the severity of hiatal hernia with GERD and any sleep disability. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that hiatal hernia or GERD are related to service or a service-connected disability, and therefore denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not meet the criteria for reopening any of the Veteran's service connection claims, as it is either cumulative or redundant and does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and found that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to his military service. The claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for syncope with asystole and pacemaker insertion, and for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed GERD is not etiologically related to his active duty service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease are granted as both conditions were incurred in service.

The Veteran's low back disability is not service connected, and his GERD, bilateral foot condition, right knee condition, headaches, and left arm condition are not related to service or any incident of service origin.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis for the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's GERD disability has been rated at 10 percent since November 10, 2014. For the initial rating period prior to that date, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is service-connected and his GERD rating is granted.

The Veteran's GERD is found to be related to active duty service and granted. The claims for left CTS, right CTS, and residuals of a vasectomy are denied as there is no evidence of current chronic disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for colorectal cancer and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.