GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lower back disorder, neck disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, pneumonia, upper extremities disorder, lower extremities disorder, bones and joints disorder, dizziness, GERD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction. Additional development is needed to obtain complete service records and private medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD is being remanded for a more contemporaneous examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for service connection of dyshidrotic eczema, IBS, GERD, and a low back disability. The Board finds the claims were not filed until after the relevant time periods.,The Veteran's initial claim was denied in November 1996, but he did not file another claim for these conditions until years later.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of 10 percent for GERD, so the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, including GERD, was granted. Service connection for IBS as a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a back disorder and acid reflux disorder due to insufficient evidence in their initial decisions. The cases are now pending for further review with new examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current lumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, left knee, or right knee disability. The Board also found no in-service injury or disease for any of these conditions.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's cervical degenerative arthritis is granted as service-connected, with a presumption of service connection due to the one-year post-service period.,The Veteran's PTSD prior to May 14, 2015 is denied as not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder.,An initial rating of 30 percent for GERD with clinical chronic gastritis is granted.,A compensable rating (10%) for the scar of the left knee is denied.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for status post left knee injury with medial partial meniscectomy, chondromalacia patella and medical tibial plateau is denied.,A rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. However, the gastrointestinal disorders are not connected to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's GERD has been primarily manifested by symptoms of persistently recurrent epigastric distress, pyrosis, reflux, regurgitation, substernal pain, sleep disturbance caused by esophageal reflux occurring four or more times per year lasting less than a day, and nausea occurring four or more times per year with a duration of less than a day. However, his symptoms do not include dysphagia or melena with moderate anemia and are not productive of considerable impairment of health.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, including retroperitoneal fibrosis and tinnitus. The claims of GERD and sleep apnea are still pending and will be considered in conjunction with the TDIU determination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his claims, including a VA addendum medical opinion regarding TMJ disorder and bruxism.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected psychiatric disorder and GERD, as well as the reopening of his claims for high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus have been remanded. The TDIU claim has also been added to the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of loss of front teeth and gum pain, post-operative left shoulder rotator cuff tear, left thumb strain (non-dominant), stomach condition (claimed as acid reflux), Lyme disease, and cataract and macular degeneration (vision problems) have been denied.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for Lyme disease and cataract and macular degeneration due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, acid reflux, and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis or link to military service for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and a TDIU are being remanded due to the inextricability of these issues. The VA Form 21-8940 must be completed and returned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the appeals for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastritis and GERD, as well as her claim for neurogenic bladder (urinary incontinence) due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran needs further VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.