GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's GERD was evaluated as 10% disabling, and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation due to lack of symptoms warranting a 30% evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic cough and GERD did not manifest in service, are not shown to be attributable to service, and are not secondary (caused or aggravated) to a service connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current GERD had its onset during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for balance problems and emotional distress due to a colonoscopy. The Board granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and for a VA examination. The issues on appeal are service connection for GERD, gout secondary to service-connected metatarsal fractures, and an increased rating for the right foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for stomach, shoulder, knee disorders were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the stomach condition claim.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of GERD is related to her service, and the Board finds that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the merits of this issue. As such, the benefit of the doubt rule applies, and the claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The TDIU claim will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right elbow disability, left wrist disability, sleep apnea, GERD, and left shoulder disability. The Board finds that these conditions are related to his active military service.,Service connection is granted for each of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's varicose veins were granted service connection. For the entire increased rating period, GERD was not manifested by symptomatology more nearly approximating persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal or arm or shoulder pain, productive of considerable impairment of health. The extension of a temporary total convalescence rating for right knee surgery performed on May 13, 2004 was denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for right shoulder strain, GERD, and hallux valgus of the great right toe have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's GERD is currently controlled with medication and, even without the ameliorative effects of medication, there is no evidence that it has been manifested by recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, regurgitation or substernal arm or shoulder pain at any time during the period on appeal. The Veteran's GERD does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7346.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not have a hearing loss disability within the meaning of VA regulations.,For cluster headaches, the Veteran is currently rated noncompensably (0%) because his headaches are short duration and do not result in lost work time.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the Board does not have jurisdiction over the issues.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, including an ulcer condition, as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development regarding the etiology of the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorders.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and Crohn's disease with GERD were denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss since September 29, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for esophageal adenocarcinoma, skin cancer, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.,There is no in-service injury or event that meets the second element of direct service connection. The Board found that the current disabilities are less likely than not incurred in or caused by the Veteran's active duty service, nor did they have their onset during service.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is found to have caused his coronary artery disease (CAD). The Board grants the claim for service connection for CAD.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of right third and fourth metatarsal fractures do not warrant a compensable rating. The issues regarding allergic rhinitis/sinusitis, low back strain with pain, gastritis/GERD, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and left first metatarsal/toe condition are denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's GERD and sleep apnea are found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The Board has granted a 100% rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder since July 20, 2010.