GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating and service connection have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims have been granted and initial ratings assigned for various conditions, with the exception of headaches with dizziness which are currently at their maximum schedular rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD is chronically aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants service connection for GERD. The issue of hypertension remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's infection with parasites, reactive airway disease and asthma, and GERD are all service-connected due to their onset during his active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected pleural plaques with mild reactive airway disease and any secondary conditions such as gastroesophageal disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea. The appeals for increased rating and service connection will be addressed after these examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's esophageal disorder, including GERD, is etiologically related to his military service and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran seeks service connection for GERD, which he asserts began during boot camp. The VA has reason to believe that relevant records pertinent to the issue on appeal might exist at Reynolds Community Hospital and believes that the Veteran should be asked to sign a release enabling VA to obtain these records.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms, including GERD, are being remanded for further examination and opinion to reconcile the conflicting evidence regarding the cause of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, to include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia and acid reflux is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD has been rated at a 30 percent since the grant of service connection in March 2011, based on persistent recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical esophageal stricture with cervical dysphagia is related to active service and grants this claim. The gastrointestinal disorders are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression with anxiety, vertigo, GERD, and hypertension. The decision also found that referral for extraschedular consideration of bilateral hearing loss was not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his period of active service. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between any current disabilities and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's GERD, IBS, ED, and hypertension are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not require regular aid and attendance or render him housebound, thus denying his claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA records, arranging for a VA pension examination, and explaining whether SSA records show that the Veteran's disabilities prevent him from working.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diverticulosis, hypertension, a psychiatric disorder, GERD, and H. Pylori as there is no evidence of their onset or continuity in service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including as due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected, and his abdominal trauma residuals are granted an increased rating. Service connection for acid reflux was not established.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and medical opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current stomach disabilities, including peptic ulcer disease status post rupture and partial gastrectomy and GERD. The examiner must consider the Veteran's in-service diagnoses of duodenitis and neurogenic gastritis.