GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for gastrointestinal disability, headaches, GERD and hypertension, sleep disorder/sleep apnea, mood disorder, and CVID. The issues are related to whether these conditions are directly related to his military service or if they were caused by other conditions he is already service-connected for.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and an inadequate examination. The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorders, including GERD, hiatal hernia, erosion in the atrium, and diverticulosis are being evaluated for their relationship to service and herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's duodenal ulcer with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been rated at a 30 percent disability rating since December 16, 2013. The Board found the current symptomatology consistent with GERD and granted this rating.

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia and gastritis was granted an initial 10 percent rating prior to April 13, 2015, and a 30 percent rating thereafter. The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae and toenail onychomycosis were both denied as they did not meet the criteria for compensable ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for GERD, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and headaches was denied. The effective date of the TDIU award is set at June 18, 2009.

The Board denied higher initial ratings for ischemic heart disease, digestive disability, and scar tissue on the right arm. The effective date of service connection for scar tissue was set at March 25, 2011.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for GERD and a lumbar spine disability are dismissed. The Veteran's appeal for TDIU beginning November 5, 2010 is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for GERD was withdrawn. The Board dismissed the claims for a compensable evaluation from December 1, 2010 to September 13, 2013 and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent from September 13, 2013 for his left knee disability due to lack of evidence. The Veteran's appeal for service connection for unspecified joint pain, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic tension headaches is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and bilateral nephrolithiasis with gouty diathesis and medullary sponge kidney were denied. The GERD is currently rated at 10 percent, while the nephrolithiasis is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a DRO hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, coronary artery disease (CAD), hepatitis/liver disease, and GERD has been reopened. Service connection is granted for the low back disorder and GERD. The CAD claim is denied as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service or was not caused by the service-connected postoperative tibial fracture with recurrent cellulitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including joint condition, left leg condition, right leg condition, muscle condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, gastrointestinal condition (GERD), and migraine headaches are remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The examiner is asked to determine if these conditions are related to active military duty or in-service environmental hazards from his Persian Gulf War service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for an unspecified hematoma, GERD, and TDIU have been dismissed. The appeal for the extension of a temporary total rating (from May 31, 2012) beyond July 31, 2012, for chronic bursitis of the right shoulder has been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for ulcers and an initial 50 percent rating for PTSD. The Veteran's claims for PAD/PVD, skin cancer on the face, sarcomas condition on the back, and GERD secondary to PTSD are remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of hypertension and GERD, as well as neuropathy in his upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's facial scars have been rated as noncompensable due to the absence of characteristics of disfigurement or pain. The Board has found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a higher rating.,Several service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded, including cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, left hip disability, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), GERD, erectile dysfunction, headaches, neurological disabilities of the buttocks and lower extremities, chronic pain, and acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has granted effective dates of June 24, 2011 for the Veteran's service-connected left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, emphysema/COPD, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The issues related to an increased rating for emphysema/COPD are remanded.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent disability rating for GERD since January 2, 2004. The evidence was in equipoise as to whether the GERD met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for brain disorder, vision disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease, erectile dysfunction, and prostate disorder. The Veteran did not have a diagnosed brain disorder or vision disorder related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and GERD, but has remanded these issues due to insufficient evidence. The hearing loss issue is also being remanded.