GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, gallbladder condition, intestinal polyps (related to GERD), and endometriosis as there was no evidence of chronic disabilities at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's GERD was found to have begun during his military service and has continued since. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected hiatal hernia with associated GERD disability, and for obtaining all outstanding VA medical records from the VAMC in Augusta, Georgia.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the nature of his claimed disabilities and their relationship to service, including as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to her active military service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's GERD with hepatitis B was found not to warrant a rating in excess of the current 10 percent prior to June 10, 2013 and 30 percent beginning June 10, 2013. The left knee degenerative joint disease issue is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for PTSD with depression and gastrointestinal condition, including GERD or acid reflux, are pending.

The Veteran's service connection for GERD is granted, and his claim for an increased rating for chronic myofasciitis of the low back is remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 60 percent effective July 1, 2011. The TDIU claim was granted effective the same date.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD, service connection for OSA and GERD secondary to PTSD, as well as the reopening of her back disorder claim were all denied by the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD first manifested during his period of active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current sleep apnea was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability, including his Barrett's esophagus with GERD and PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed GERD and deviated nasal septum, including whether these conditions are related to service. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's GERD was rated at a 10 percent since July 16, 2010. Prior to that date, the condition was well controlled with medication and not considered disabling.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep disorder and gastrointestinal disorder are related to his service-connected disabilities or due to medications.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals, dislocation of proximal interphalangeal joint, right middle finger with osteoarthrosis is granted. The disability has been rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 5229 and the current evaluation is increased to 10%.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety disorder with depression, schizophrenia and personality pattern disturbance, paranoid personality, claimed as mental and anger disability. The appeal is also denied regarding his increased rating for hiatal hernia with GERD in excess of 10 percent.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, hearing loss, residuals of a deviated nasal septum (withdrawn), left ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board is also remanding the claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's prior medical history and examinations in determining the severity of his GERD symptoms.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), fever outbreak, sleep apnea, sero-negative polyarthritis, and traumatic brain injury, were not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions. The Board denied these claims as the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.