GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asthma and acid reflux/GERD are related to her military service, and thus grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's joint and muscle pain, headaches, and GERD with dysphagia are related to his service in the Southwest Asia Theater during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the requirements for a pension during the period on appeal.

The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between the Veteran's GERD and service, including exposure to environmental hazards. Service treatment records are silent for complaints or diagnoses related to GERD.,Service treatment records do not show asthma during service. The Veteran was diagnosed with mild asthma in November 1998 after separation from service. There is no evidence of a causal relationship between the Veteran's current asthma and service.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for gastrointestinal conditions other than GERD and gastric and duodenal ulcers, meningitis, and an acquired psychiatric condition. However, it did not address the merits of these claims as they are still considered to be in a final status.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original ratings for asthma and GERD, as well as his TDIU award. The reductions in rating were found to be improper due to a lack of consideration of relevant regulations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hiatal hernia and GERD, as well as nerve damage of the left forearm. The evidence received since the final July 2009 denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations and service connection have been granted. The conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for TBI claimed as brain trauma with stroke, migraine headaches, cervical spine disorder, upper arm neuropathy and radiculopathy, low back disorder, and GERD. The Veteran's disabilities were not shown in service or within one year thereafter, and are not otherwise etiologically related to the Veteran's service.,The Board found that there was no evidence of a TBI during service and provided a negative nexus opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his duodenal ulcer with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing disability meeting VA criteria.,The effective dates for the grants of service connection for PTSD, GERD, and tinnitus are both April 22, 2013, which is one year prior to the date the claim was received.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating higher than 70 percent for PTSD or a disability rating greater than 10 percent for GERD. The Veteran does not have total occupational and social impairment due to his PTSD, nor has he demonstrated symptom combinations productive of considerable or severe impairment of health due to his GERD.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated 90 percent disabling and prevent him from obtaining and retaining gainful employment for which he would otherwise be qualified. Therefore, the criteria for a TDIU have been met.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been denied as the evidence does not show symptoms that warrant a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or etiological link to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and readjudication of the claims, including a VA PTSD examination and addendum opinions on GERD, cervical spine, low back, and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's IBS with GERD is not entitled to a higher rating.,Service connection for sleep apnea has been granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. Service connection for hypertension remains pending and will be addressed in the remand portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current GERD to his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, and his GERD is rated at the maximum available under the applicable rating criteria. The issues of higher evaluations for sleep apnea and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's cardiovascular signs and symptoms, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), dermatitis, and vertigo have not been diagnosed. The Veteran's lumbar radiculopathy is service-connected.,PTSD remains service-connected but the Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) did not have its onset during service and is not causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service. As such, the claim for service connection for GERD is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected GERD.