GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hiatal hernia with associated GERD results in persistent recurrent epigastric distress, pyrosis, and regurgitation, which is productive of considerable impairment of health. The Veteran is therefore entitled to a 30 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military sexual trauma. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Veteran's GERD and IBS were not found to warrant increased ratings prior to August 31, 2011. After that date, the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent for his combined condition.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current esophageal spasm or GERD disability and concluded that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle disability and cholecystectomy with GERD do not meet the criteria for service connection or an increased rating, respectively. The preponderance of evidence is against both claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a digestive disorder, including GERD and IBS, secondary to his service-connected pelvic fracture with left sacroiliac joint dysfunction is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, including GERD, was incurred in service. However, the Board denied reopening of claims for left knee, lumbar spine, hepatitis C virus, residuals of acute viral hepatitis, and bilateral hearing loss as new and material evidence has not been received.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD was granted with an effective date of September 24, 2008. The issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for GERD and the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, rheumatic arthritis, gastrointestinal disability (GERD), and cervical spine disability. The claim for an increased rating of hemorrhoids was granted to a 20 percent rating effective November 24, 2010.

The Veteran's vocal cord and throat cancer are presumed to be service-connected due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. His GERD is not service-connected, but the Board has remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the evidence currently of record is sufficient to substantiate the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for GERD. Service connection for GERD is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current gastrointestinal disorders, including GERD and esophagitis, did not begin during service or are related to service in any other way. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was rated at 40 percent, but not higher. His left knee disability and acid reflux were not found to be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for GERD and granted it, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support a finding of in-service onset.,Service connection was also granted for allergic rhinitis. The VA examiner's opinion supported this finding based on the Veteran's reported history of symptoms during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right ankle, left ankle, and bilateral knee disorders are not related to service. The gastrointestinal disorder is also not linked to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach disability, claimed as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is being remanded to the Nashville, Tennessee RO for scheduling a video conference hearing.

The Veteran died from adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction. The Board found that he did not have qualifying wartime service for death pension purposes and his surviving spouse is therefore denied entitlement to death pension benefits as well as accrued benefits.

For the initial rating period from June 19, 2009 to December 1, 2014, the Veteran was granted a noncompensable (zero percent) disability rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis.,For the initial rating period beginning December 1, 2014, the Veteran was granted a compensable (30 percent) disability rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including PTSD, alcohol abuse, GERD, diverticulosis/diverticulitis, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service or any service-connected disabilities.