GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a cervical spine disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and Graves' Disease due to outstanding records and need for additional development.,VA is required to obtain relevant private and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's asthma is not service-connected as there was no diagnosis of asthma in his service records and the VA examiners concluded that his current condition did not stem from his in-service respiratory issues.,The Veteran's stomach condition, including GERD and gastritis, is also not service-connected. The VA examiners found that his current conditions were more likely related to post-service employment exposures, alcohol use, and tobacco use rather than any in-service events.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and sleep apnea, are likely to render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his service stressor allegations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and left eye macula condition are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart condition is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus and left carpal tunnel syndrome are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression is denied.

The Board denied service connection for GERD and sinusitis as the evidence did not show a relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is partially granted with a 30 percent rating for GERD. The remaining issues of service connection and increased rating are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and GERD due to new evidence added since the last decision, as well as a need for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and depression due to missing medical treatment records from service. The Veteran is also referred for a VA examination to determine if his acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The cases of hypertension, gastrointestinal disability (hiatal hernia, gastritis and GERD), and lupus erythematosus, discoid are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for costochondritis and a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of chronic pneumonia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted. The claims for pes planus, bilateral hammertoes, and sinus disability are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and denied service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as gastrointestinal disability. The back disability is attributed to an in-service injury. Right and left ankle disabilities are not shown to be related to service or any other condition. Gastrointestinal disability is not established.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional records.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disorder and bilateral foot disorder were not shown to be related to service.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder (hiatal hernia with GERD) was not shown to be related to service.,The Veteran's gallbladder disorder with cholecystitis was not shown to be related to service.,There is no evidence of hepatitis C in service or for many years after service, and it is not linked to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's GERD may be related to his service-connected duodenal ulcer and is requesting additional evidence and a medical examination to determine this relationship.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hand disorder, claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome, has been reopened and service connection is granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).,Service connection for GERD is granted.,An initial 20 percent rating for the right ankle disability is granted under Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, major depressive disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and sleep apnea. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at June 29, 2011.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left heel pain, left shoulder pain, left hand numbness, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded due to lack of current diagnoses. The initial compensable ratings for right knee patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral eye pterygium, hypertension, and right shoulder pain are also remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension and GERD have been rated based on their current manifestations. The Board has found no basis for a compensable evaluation prior to September 24, 2015 or higher than 10 percent from that date. The issue of entitlement to a compensable initial evaluation for GERD is remanded due to the submission of additional relevant evidence.