GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids and found that the Veteran's GERD is at least as likely as not related to his service. The issue of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease remains pending.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's current low back disorder and GERD were incurred in or otherwise the result of his active service. The claim for service connection for these conditions is therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, ED, hip disabilities, prostate disorder, inguinal hernia, headaches, hypertension, hoarseness, heart disease, and GERD. The decisions are based on secondary service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's GERD was not caused by his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and assigned a separate 10 percent disability rating. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected lumbar spine and PTSD disabilities, warranting secondary service connection. Hemorrhoids are not service connected.

The Veteran's duodenal ulcer with gastroesophageal reflux disease is currently rated at 30 percent effective August 29, 2016.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected GERD disability prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of an injury to intrinsic muscle (Group IX) of the left hand was denied. The Board found that his current level of disability did not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected GERD and any shoulder pain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his GERD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and addressing the propriety of severing service connection for a left knee condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are secondary to his service-connected TMJ dysfunction with Costen syndrome, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, effective from April 19, 2010. The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder is currently rated as 50 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current GERD and blood in the stool disabilities and his active service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastrointestinal condition, to include GERD, as secondary to PTSD was denied in the December 2008 rating decision. New and material evidence has been received since then, reopening this claim.,Service connection for chest pain as secondary to PTSD was also reopened due to new evidence submitted since the December 2008 decision.,The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected as it did not manifest during or within one year of his military service and there is no medical evidence linking it to PTSD. The July 2008 rating decision denying hearing loss was not found to contain CUE.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and vocational rehabilitation records. The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and conducting VA examinations to assess his disabilities. The appeal will be remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability is related to service.