GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, hypertension, acid reflux, pain in the bilateral feet, pain in the bilateral legs, and a nerve disability have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions during active service or within one year following discharge.,While some medical records suggested possible diagnoses, they were not sufficient to establish continuity of symptomatology or a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, GERD, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, bladder disability / urinary frequency, skin disability of the hands and feet, and diarrhea due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as there were no findings of dysphagia or significant impairment of health.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the ratings of GERD and major depressive disorder were denied as there was no factual basis to grant an earlier date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 20, 2012. An effective date of December 20, 2012 is granted for the award of total disability rating due to service-connected disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disorders, hypertension, gastrointestinal disabilities, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected. The claims for unstable angina, hypertension, umbilical hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic renal insufficiency are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and COPD as aggravated by service-connected disabilities, and gastrointestinal disorders including GERD, hiatal hernia, and H. pylori gastritis are also granted as aggravated by service-connected conditions. Service connection for diabetes is reopened but not yet decided.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The Veteran also sought TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities but was denied as his combined disability rating does not meet the threshold for a total rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for duodenal ulcer disease with GERD and a stomach disorder is granted, but the claim for residuals of low back injury and bilateral hearing loss are denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen the issues of entitlement to service connection for GERD and vitamin deficiencies secondary to service-connected photosensitive dermatosis residual of sun poisoning is granted. The claims are remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of GERD and sleep apnea.

The Board has denied service connection for emphysema, cervical spine radiculopathy, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The skin disability issue is remanded.,For the cervical spine radiculopathy claim, a new opinion is needed to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, GERD, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and obstructive sleep apnea have all been denied.,There is no effective date earlier than July 17, 2014 granted for any of the service connection claims.

The Veteran's GERD was rated as noncompensably disabling from November 1, 2012 to February 23, 2017 and as 10 percent disabling thereafter. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating for GERD during these periods. For right and left elbow disabilities, the Veteran's claim was remanded due to an inadequate May 2012 VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disability due to new and material evidence. The lung disability (including OSA, GERD, and PTSD) and psychiatric disability claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disability, GERD, and ED have been granted service connection. A 40 percent rating for a lumbar spine disability is granted effective April 23, 2015.

The Veteran's IBS and GERD disability is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 7319.,The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine and bilateral lower extremity disabilities.,The Board has also remanded several issues, including service connection for a right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder other than GERD, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, which did not consider all relevant evidence of record and may be based on an inaccurate factual premise. The Veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms are alleged to have started shortly after service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current GERD.