GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's use of NSAIDs for his service-connected disabilities has aggravated his GERD, and as it is not possible to distinguish what degree of aggravation is caused exclusively by the Veteran's NSAID use, all symptoms are attributed as being of service-connected origin. Therefore, the claim for service connection for GERD secondary to medication taken for service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been granted service connection with an effective date of June 12, 2013.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have each been granted a separate evaluation at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease, GERD, and urinary system disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling new examinations. The claims will be reconsidered based on this additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder injury did not originate during service and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.,Service connection was granted for GERD as it is established to have originated during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability, and the Board finds that his claimed disabilities are not related to military service. The Veteran has also had his claims withdrawn for gastroesophageal reflux disease, sleep disorder, rib injury, and kidney injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, sleep apnea (secondary to GERD and PTSD), diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and TDIU are denied. The Veteran's residuals of a left ankle condition do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's GERD with Barrett's esophagus and hiatal hernia was granted an initial rating of 10 percent, effective August 21, 2009. Service connection for peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities was denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including the reopening of a skin disorder claim and service connection claims for various disabilities due to herbicide exposure. The Board is dismissing the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to determine the current severity of her service-connected GERD, right ankle instability, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder and denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Service connection is granted for the left knee disorder due to continuity of symptoms since service. However, service connection is not granted for GERD as the evidence does not support an in-service incurrence or a relationship between current GERD and service.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches and GERD have been granted initial ratings, with the tension headaches receiving a rating of 30 percent effective January 13, 2016. The lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and left knee patellofemoral syndrome remain at their current assigned ratings.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant's request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for updated treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for coronary artery disease, as his VA Form 9 was not timely filed. The claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were denied. The claim for GERD was granted with a zero percent rating effective June 12, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the service-connected COPD and for GERD as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for alcohol abuse, secondary to PTSD, has been reopened and granted.,Service connection was denied for a sleep disability and gastrointestinal disability, both of which are considered symptoms of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back strain and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected colon cancer residuals are rated at 20 percent, effective November 1, 2011. The claim for service connection of DJD of the left hip is granted.