GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2017

The Board denied the claims for service connection for bilateral vision impairment, bilateral hearing loss, acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and heart condition due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's functional gastrointestinal disorder, including gastroparesis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), was incurred during his military service or manifested to a compensable degree before December 31, 2016. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's GERD, headaches, and Meniere's disease have been granted initial ratings. The GERD is rated at 30 percent; the headaches are rated at 10 percent prior to March 30, 2016 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter; and the Meniere's disease is rated at 60 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for hiatal hernia with GERD and a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are etiologically related to his military service.

The Board found the evidence against a finding that the Veteran has a disability of the GI system causally related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, hiatal hernia and Barrett's esophagus was denied in the March 2010 rating decision. The claim for osteoporosis was also denied at that time. The Veteran's PTSD has been rated as 50 percent disabling prior to May 15, 2015.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left tibia scar was denied in May 2013. The evidence submitted since that decision is not new and material.,The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability, gastrointestinal disability (GERD and peptic ulcers), cervical spine disability, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral hips, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral ankles, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral feet, hemorrhoids, right lower varicose veins, left lower varicose veins, PTSD, right foot bunionectomy scars, left foot bunionectomy scars, and right knee limitation of extension were not incurred in or a result of active duty service.,The Veteran's acne/rosacea/melasma was granted service connection on September 12, 2011, the day after she was discharged from active duty. The effective date for bilateral knee strain was also granted on September 12, 2011.

The Board found that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including GERD and hiatal hernia, was not incurred in service or due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Board also determined that it is less likely than not that the current gastrointestinal disabilities are secondary to his service-connected psoriasis.

The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's currently diagnosed GERD, including whether it is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication due to incomplete evaluations of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including their impact on his ability to work. The appeal is now pending again.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disability and a sleep disability, finding no evidence of such conditions related to the Veteran's active duty service or due to his other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a currently diagnosed gastritis, esophagitis, or peptic ulcer disease. The Veteran's current diagnosis of GERD was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected lower back and left wrist disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining complete VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities. The Veteran must also be scheduled for a new examination before service connection can be decided on the merits for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's GERD is manifested by recurrent epigastric distress, pyrosis, regurgitation, accompanied by substernal pain, sleep disturbance caused by esophageal reflux, nausea, and vomiting. The Board finds that the Veteran's GERD symptoms more nearly approximate the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's GERD and hiatal hernia are not related to his service, including his active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions had their onset during or were aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to service, despite his contentions. The VA examinations and opinions concluded that the current left knee condition is less likely than not caused by a service injury.,There is no evidence of a diagnosed left ankle disability in service or at any time since service. The VA examination found the Veteran's left ankle to be normal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for examinations by a gastroenterologist and somnologist to assess the Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD and sleep disability. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis was granted. The appeal regarding an initial rating higher than 30 percent for pancreatitis with GERD and the hearing loss claim were both denied.

The Veteran's GERD was rated at 10 percent since April 20, 2011. The symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 7346.