GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, adenocarcinoma and gastroesophageal carcinoma, is related to his exposure to environmental hazards while stationed at Camp Pendleton and/or El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. As a result, service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 29, 2010. From that date until the present, his PTSD alone does not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the lack of access to his private medical records from Mid Carolina Cardiology. He was seeking payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred on July 28 and August 2, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, including GERD and Barrett's esophagus, is causally related to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that his combined disability rating of at least 70 percent with one disability rated at least 40 percent is sufficient to grant TDIU.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, and her reflux sympathetic dystrophy of the right foot, lower leg, and ankle is rated at 40 percent. The other conditions are not increased.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including uploading missing documents and obtaining an addendum VA opinion regarding his GERD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for status post hernia repair with ulcer crater was denied, as her disability is currently rated at 10 percent. The claim for service connection for fibromyalgia was also denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar scoliosis, depression, left thumb disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, gastritis, GERD, and hiatal hernia. The decision is granted as new and material evidence has been received.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to unverified periods of active duty, outstanding VA and private treatment records, and possible Reserve service treatment records. The Veteran is requested to provide authorizations for release of any relevant records.

The Veteran does not have a gastrointestinal disorder etiologically related to service, nor was it caused or aggravated by his service-connected acne keloidalis nuchae (with associated headaches, anxiety, and dysthymia) or sinusitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and umbilical hernia were denied as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation guidelines.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD is not related to his active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to evaluate the combined impact of all his gastrointestinal conditions on his ability to work and readjudication of both his increased rating claim and TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and low back disorder are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability and remanded the right shoulder and lower back disabilities. The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent, effective March 4, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a dental disability for compensation or outpatient treatment purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected chronic borrelia infection/Lyme disease and considering his TDIU claim. The Veteran is also requested to provide medical records from all providers who have treated him.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, sleep apnea/sleep disorder, and gastrointestinal disorder as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by current evidence of these conditions.