GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia has not been productive of material weight loss, hematemesis or melena with moderate anemia, or other symptom combinations productive of severe impairment of health. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board is remanding three issues: service connection for COPD, GERD, and reopening the hypertension claim. The Veteran's hearing request was not properly notified at his current address.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD was denied, and the effective date for service connection was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his symptoms.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected GERD prior to December 15, 2009, and awarded a 60 percent evaluation effective that date. The Veteran's appeal is dismissed as the claim has already been decided by the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as arthritis, is related to service and grants service connection for this condition. The other issues remain pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, including GERD and hiatal hernia, was not incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with the exception of asthma and TDIU issues. The DDD of the thoracolumbar spine was rated at 20 percent; gastrointestinal disabilities at 10 percent; posttraumatic headaches at 50 percent; right shoulder impingement syndrome at 20 percent; and left knee disorder with medial collateral ligament strain at 10 percent.

The Board found that an effective date prior to November 30, 2009 for the award of service connection for a mood disorder is not warranted. The Veteran's GERD was rated at 30 percent and denied for an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability. The remaining claims of service connection for right hip, GERD, and skin disabilities are remanded as the Veteran has not been provided a VA examination to assess these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The claims for GERD and hiatal hernia are pending as they may be related to service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, specifically GERD, finding that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected hepatitis C and did not develop in service.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service and are related to a qualifying chronic disability. Other gastrointestinal issues will be addressed in the remand section.

The Veteran's IBS and GERD have been rated at 30 percent since June 5, 2015. His associated fecal incontinence has also been rated at 30 percent. The TDIU issue remains pending as the appeal is not about service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected urinary stress incontinence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it only requires wearing absorbent materials that must be changed less than two times per day. The other service-connected conditions have been rated based on their current manifestations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), allergic rhinitis, obstructive sleep apnea, sinus tachycardia, and pes planus. The decision found that there was no current diagnosis of a heart disability and concluded that the Veteran's sinus tachycardia is not a disability.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease and depression have been rated at 30 percent each, effective August 31, 2010.,The Veteran has gastroesophageal reflux disease that is aggravated by his service-connected arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

The Veteran's current GERD is found to have had its onset during his active service and has continued through the present, with the Board resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran. Service connection for GERD is granted.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on direct and secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for stomach ulcers, hypertension, a skin disability, GERD, and painful joints. The evidence did not show current diagnoses or a combination of manifestations sufficient to identify these conditions in service or within one year after separation. The examiner opined that there was no causal relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his time on active duty.