GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's asthma and right shoulder disability have been granted service connection.,Service connection for digestive disabilities other than IBS, including GERD, hiatal hernia, esophageal stricture, esophageal spasm, and duodenal ulcer has also been granted. The pulmonary issues are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the GERD and right shoulder disability claims for additional development due to outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's GERD disability involves hiatal hernia with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation with substernal pain, but not a considerable impairment of health. The Board finds that the criteria for an increased rating are not met.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and SMC were denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for PTSD is denied as there is no evidence of the condition in service or since service.,Service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is denied due to lack of diagnosis within one year after service and insufficient evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for benefits under 38 C.F.R. � 3.815 and 38 C.F.R. � 3.814 as she does not have a manifestation of spina bifida, which is required to qualify for these benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for migraine headaches was received on October 27, 2014. The effective date of the increase is set at that time.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis was received on January 16, 2013. The effective date of the increase is set at that time.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no left ear hearing loss disability and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service. The Veteran's conditions were found not to be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea and GERD are not related to service, while his right knee strain and left knee MCL strain were resolved in-service. The Board also found no evidence of an undiagnosed illness under Persian Gulf War criteria.

The Veteran's GERD has not been manifested by any symptoms, and he does not have a right foot disability attributable to service.,The Veteran's right foot disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims by the Veteran.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the claim remains denied.

The Board granted a disability rating of 60 percent for the Veteran's service-connected GERD with duodenitis and history of peptic ulcer disease, effective September 7, 2017. The Veteran's symptoms included pain, vomiting, material weight loss, and melena, which were productive of severe impairment of health.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and clarifying whether his sleep disturbances caused by GERD impact his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's GERD had its onset during his service in 1991, including service in Saudi Arabia. The examiner is also asked to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's reflux disease increased beyond normal progression during his period of active service between November 2004 and February 2006.

The evidence does not establish that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, variously diagnosed as GERD, hiatal hernia, and diverticulitis, is related to his active service. The Board finds no in-service disease or injury for this claim.

The Veteran's rectum condition and stomach condition were denied service connection as they did not have onset during active service or were not caused by active service. The right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee conditions were also denied service connection.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 30 percent for hiatal hernia with GERD, effective from April 26, 2016. The claim for separate rating for GERD and service connection for left knee disability are not addressed as they were not part of the appeal.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for GERD, but denied the claim as there is no evidence linking the current condition to active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and assigned a 50 percent rating for esophageal stricture. The claim for an initial compensable rating for GERD prior to May 26, 2017 is dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal.