GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical examination to determine if the Veteran's elbow disabilities and gastrointestinal symptoms are related to his service in Southwest Asia, including as due to an undiagnosed illness. The claims will be re-adjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran does not have a current gastrointestinal disability that is related to his period of active military service, including being caused or aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, including GERD and chronic gastritis, is related to his service. The acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to his service-connected disabilities or service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and issues, including service connection claims for various health problems. The Board has scheduled a Travel Board hearing to address these matters.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of GERD, and the Board has dismissed the claim as a result.

The Veteran's psoriatic arthritis is granted as secondary to his service-connected psoriasis. The gastrointestinal disability claim remains pending and will be addressed in the remand section.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for GERD with hiatal hernia, status-post laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is being remanded due to incomplete development of the record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to be of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's digestive disorder and hysterectomy residuals are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship to service.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, to include gastroesophageal reflux disease, is not service-connected as it was not shown to be incurred or aggravated during his periods of active duty. The VA examiner found no evidence that the condition existed prior to his re-enlistment in 2004 and there were no concurrent treatments documented in service related to this disorder.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is also not service-connected as it was noted prior to his enlistment into service, and there is clear and unmistakable evidence demonstrating that the disability did not increase beyond its natural progression during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease with Barrett's esophagus, small vessel vasculitis, and Raynaud's syndrome are all service-connected due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for hypertension or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's GERD is rated as noncompensably disabling. The right knee disability has been granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent rating for the period from March 29, 2010 to December 17, 2012, and a 30 percent rating thereafter. Service connection was also established for bilateral foot disorder as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD began during service and has been ongoing since then, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations.

The Board has found that the preponderance of evidence is against a digestive disorder, to include PUD and GERD, having developed in service or otherwise being causally related to service.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various conditions, including hypertension, psychiatric disorders, lung issues, head trauma, sleep apnea, headaches, and several other conditions. The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and his claims for lung cancer and esophageal cancer were denied. His hypertension claim was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing. The issue of TDIU prior to March 10, 2009 remains on hold until further notice.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to herbicides during service in Vung Tau Harbor and other locations close to the coastline of Vietnam.