GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD with bipolar disorder was granted, and an initial disability rating of 70 percent was assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disability related to his active military service. The bilateral knee osteoarthritis did not have onset in service and was not caused or permanently aggravated by his active military service. The Veteran does not have a diagnosis of ischemic heart disease but has a diagnosis of GERD that had onset in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for migraines and chronic fatigue syndrome or SEID. The other claims were denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds no evidence of a current respiratory disorder or eye disability related to service. The Veteran's gastrointestinal and psychiatric conditions are found to be secondary to his spine disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD and low back disability were not incurred or aggravated during service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's GERD and anemia are service-connected, but his dizziness is not. The Board found the evidence to be in equipoise for GERD and anemia, granting service connection on a direct basis. For dizziness, the VA examiner could not establish a nexus between current BPPV and service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and GERD, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia is found to have begun during his active military service and the Board grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the credibility of the Veteran's statements regarding his in-service stomach problems and the lack of service treatment records. The VA is instructed to obtain all pertinent VA treatment records, arrange for a new medical opinion on the etiology of the gastrointestinal disorder, and consider whether the Veteran's current condition may be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from Princeton Baptist Medical Center.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatic steatosis due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune was denied. The VA examiner found no causal relationship between the Veteran's current liver condition and his in-service exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the issuance of a supplemental statement of the case due to outstanding VA and private treatment records not already associated with his claims file.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD, adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, and fatigue syndrome. The diagnoses are related to the Veteran's participation in Project SHAD testing during his military service.

The Veteran's GERD has been productive of symptoms such as heartburn, dyspepsia, and waking in the middle of the night due to coughing with heartburn. The Board finds that his GERD approximates persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal or arm or shoulder pain, productive of considerable impairment of health. Therefore, a 30 percent rating is granted for GERD.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal and gastroesophageal disorders were not shown in service and are not related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's diagnosis of sleep apnea is present during active service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor. The issue of gastroesophageal reflux disease remains pending as there was no statement of the case issued.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, left shoulder disability, lower respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disability, and headache disability. The appeals were remanded multiple times but ultimately denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was withdrawn, with the exception of his claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for atonic neurogenic bladder after August 28, 2012. The Veteran is satisfied with the current rating assigned.

The Veteran's unemployability due to service-connected disabilities did not occur prior to October 1, 2004. The Board found that the evidence does not show he was unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment before this date.