GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to unavailability of some VA medical records and requests for addendum opinions.

The Board denied all claims, finding that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for GERD with esophageal ulcerations or a rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy from September 18, 2014. The Veteran's right leg fractures at the knee cap and ankle, bilateral hip disability, and neck disability were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for recurrent pleurisy, to include scar on lung as a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's left patellofemoral chondromalacia and subluxation are related to his active service.,Service connection is granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).,Service connection is denied for allergic rhinitis.,Service connection is granted for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to PTSD.,Service connection is granted for a left knee disorder.,Service connection is granted for cardiovascular disorder (claimed as sinus tachycardia), secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim of hepatitis B carrier, and PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination and opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's GERD and his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for GERD and service connection for salivary calculus were both denied by the Board.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disabilities he claims are the result of VA medical treatment, and he disputes that his disabilities were due to carelessness or negligence on the part of VA providers.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung cancer, heart condition (claimed as cardiac disease), GERD, memory loss or mood disorder, and tremors are all related to his service due to lead exposure. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right eye disability and leg cramps were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.,For the lumbar strain, left knee disability, and hernia with GERD issues, the Veteran was granted initial ratings but not higher than 20 percent, 10 percent, and 10 percent respectively.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the criteria for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have not been met, and his PTSD was rated as 70 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder aggravated his GERD, allowing him to receive accrued benefits based on the service-connected GERD.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to increased initial ratings for acid reflux/gastroesophageal reflux disease with Barrett's esophagus, and left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of GERD and the Board finds that he did not have this condition during the pendency of his claim. Therefore, service connection for GERD is denied.

The Veteran requested a withdrawal of the appeal for a compensable initial evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae. The issues of an increased evaluation for hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and TDIU are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal disabilities have been manifested by symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, reflux, regurgitation, pyrosis, abdominal pain, material weight loss, sleep disturbance, anemia, and ulcers. Despite these symptoms, the disability has not more closely approximated a pronounced ulcer that is totally incapacitating.

The Veteran's GERD has been present since active service and the Board finds that it is related to service. The bilateral foot condition, diagnosed as pes planus (flat feet), was not shown to be acquired during service but rather congenital in nature.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease was granted a 30 percent evaluation prior to October 18, 2012. The appeal for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for TBI, sinusitis, and related conditions have been granted. The skin condition is already service-connected, and the kidney disorder claim has been dismissed as not a justiciable case or controversy.