GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or causation for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the claims for increased ratings were not granted. The conditions, including hearing loss and sleep apnea, did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for an opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding treatment records and will provide further development before readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach condition and skin condition, as well as his claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and Alzheimer's disease. The decision also noted that the Veteran had not specified any in-service stressor for his PTSD claim.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 100% effective September 11, 2017. His eczema is rated as noncompensable since October 25, 2012.,Service connection for acid reflux was denied, and service connection for right hip and knee disorders were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acne vulgaris and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection are addressed in the remand portion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, a liver condition (including hepatitis B and C), an eye condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to exposure to herbicides have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to outstanding VA treatment records and additional attempts to obtain medical records from Walter Reed Medical Center and Branch Health Clinic.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD, Barrett's Esophagus, and chronic gastritis began during his period of active service. The claim for these conditions is granted.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for either sleep disorder or stomach disorder, as there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD and sleep apnea may be related to service, but a new VA examination is needed to provide an opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain updated VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD has not been manifested by symptoms productive of considerable impairment of health. The Board finds that the probative evidence of record is against a finding that current cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, and right elbow disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 23, 2008 for service connection of various conditions were denied as the disabilities preexisted his final period of active duty service and are not shown to have been aggravated during that time.,All awards of service connection and SMC based on these conditions were assigned an effective date of August 23, 2008.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia is related to his active duty service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including CLL, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, hypertension, headaches, GERD, lumbar spine disorder, shoulder disorders, hip disorders, leg disorders, and a psychiatric disorder are denied. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not established as prior to January 23, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bladder condition and erectile dysfunction are not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for GERD is pending as there is insufficient evidence to determine its relationship with service connection.