GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disorder, left knee condition, right ankle disability, GERD, migraine headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder were also denied.

The Veteran's GERD has not been shown to meet the criteria for a higher disability evaluation, and his TDIU claim was denied as he remained employed on full-time basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was denied in December 2002 and reopened in September 2015. The evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to support the claim, so it is not new and material.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer was denied in December 2006 and reopened in September 2015. The evidence relates to an unestablished fact (a link between a current disability and an in-service injury) necessary to support the claim, so it is new and material.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right foot bone chip fracture was denied in March 2003 and reopened in September 2015. The evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to support the claim, so it is not new and material.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was denied in this decision. The evidence does not show that the current disability is proximately due or aggravated by a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral eye disability was denied in this decision. The evidence does not show that the current disability is proximately due or aggravated by a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease was denied in this decision. The evidence does not show that the current disability is proximately due or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to herbicides and unit records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for various conditions, including joint pain, bilateral hearing loss, right foot disability, tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, GERD, plantar fasciitis of the left heel, headache, and acquired psychiatric disability. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims related to his service-connected conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder, gastrointestinal disorders, urological disorders, prostate disorders, anterior cruciate ligament nerve disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The issues include determining whether these conditions are service connected and assigning appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease/Barrett’s Syndrome, and back condition are granted as service-connected due to in-service combat noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for various service-connected disabilities, including lumbar osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, myocardial infarction, hypertension, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and GERD. The Veteran is also being asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain his treatment records from private facilities and a VA examination.

The Veteran's GERD was rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that this rating is appropriate based on his symptoms of epigastric distress with pyrosis, reflux, regurgitation, sleep disturbance caused by esophageal reflux. The Veteran did not have significant weight loss or anemia.

The Board denied service connection for GERD and diabetes mellitus type II as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted service connection. The petition to reopen claims for sleep apnea, breast cancer, and a dental disorder was withdrawn. A rating of 60 percent for status post hemorrhoidectomy with narrowed rectal opening and fecal leakage (stricture of the rectum/anus) is granted from December 5, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities, including whether he is unemployable.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder is denied as the new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for acid reflux, but denied the claims for residuals of TBI and eye disorder due to lack of current diagnoses.

All the Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's GERD. The Veteran needs to provide information about any private treatment and obtain records from the Mayo Clinic, and a VA examination is needed to assess his condition.

The Veteran's GERD was diagnosed and treated in service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease and meniscus tear, but denied service connection for right knee patellofemoral syndrome, GERD, and IBS.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and service connection for GERD as secondary to his duodenal ulcer was granted, with the effective date set at October 7, 2010.