GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2017

The Veteran withdrew their appeals regarding the increased disability ratings for pain disorder and GERD.

The Veteran's skin disorder, GERD/hiatal hernia, IBS/diverticulitis, sleep apnea, and hypertension are not shown to be related to service or due to herbicide agent exposure. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's current GERD disability is not related to his in-service dental injury and fractured jawbone, thus denying service connection for GERD.

The Veteran's GERD is not service-connected as there is no evidence of its onset during or immediately after his military service, and the medical opinion found it unrelated to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the Veteran did not report or seek treatment for hearing loss until many years post-service. The VA examiner opined that the current hearing loss is less likely than not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine disability, lumbar disability other than service-connected lumbar strain, bilateral hip disability, residuals of dysentery including GERD and IBS, chronic skin infections, and chronic vaginal infections have been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's IBS and GERD are not caused or aggravated by her service-connected chronic rhinosinusitis, thus denying these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for CAD, service connection for obstructive lung disease and GERD. The claim for service connection for CAD was granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicidal agents (PACT Act).

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of an atrial septal defect, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as the Board finds that his enlarged heart and its complications are a superimposed injury on his congenital atrial septal defect.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to January 24, 2013 or in excess of 60 percent from that date.

The Veteran's GERD with esophagitis and hiatal hernia was not manifested by material weight loss, hematemesis or melena with moderate anemia, which would warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code. The current disability level does not meet the criteria for a 60 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were denied as there is no evidence to support a direct relationship with his military service.

The Veteran's GERD was granted an initial rating of 10 percent effective September 20, 2010. The current disability is manifested by persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal and arm/shoulder pain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his right shoulder, cervical spine, and gastroesophageal reflux disease disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by active service and did not have a direct relationship to any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for acid reflux and sleep apnea have been withdrawn. The Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in his right ear, but he has left ear hearing loss for VA purposes. However, as this condition is not shown within one year following discharge from service, it cannot be presumed to have been incurred therein. Tinnitus was also not shown during service or within the first post-service year and thus cannot be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for GERD and bilateral flat feet, as well as his claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, were denied by the Board. The appeals are now remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to evaluate his service-connected lumbar spine disability and GERD. The TDIU claim will be held in abeyance pending disposition of the increased rating claims.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, GERD, and arthritis of multiple joints as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and medical opinion to determine whether the Veteran's GERD and hiatal hernia are aggravated by any of his service-connected disabilities. The claim is currently pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new VA medical opinion regarding his hiatal hernia with GERD and scheduling him for a VA examination to determine the current severity level of his service-connected chronic rhinorrhea.