GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's compensation benefits were not apportioned to the Appellant and her child, T.S., because the Veteran was not receiving any VA benefits at the time of T.S.'s eligibility for apportionment. The effective date is not applicable as there were no benefits payable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss and GERD. The claims will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and an increased rating for PTSD with alcohol dependence. The claim of entitlement to TDIU remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's GERD, osteopenia, and erectile dysfunction are related to his service-connected disabilities (back pain and anxiety), but not due to undiagnosed illness or a presumptive basis. The claim for TDIU is dismissed as moot.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and neurological disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a gastrointestinal disorder, diagnosed as GERD, is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has continually complained of symptoms since military service and her current diagnosis supports this.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic headaches and assigned a 30 percent evaluation, effective March 30, 2012. The Veteran's symptoms of sleep apnea, GERD, and fatigue are secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD is rated at 10 percent, and her bilateral plantar fasciitis was initially denied but later granted a 50 percent rating effective March 10, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, sleep apnea, and acid reflux disabilities did not have their onset in service or are otherwise related to service. The evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from January 15 to January 19, 2010 at Glen Falls Hospital were reimbursed due to the nature of his symptoms and the unavailability of VA facilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of cervical spine disability and lumbar spine disability for further development. The Veteran's claims for digestive disorder, migraine headaches, and residuals of traumatic brain injury are not supported by the evidence.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, specifically chronic gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current gastrointestinal disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is not etiologically related to his service-connected sinusitis and did not manifest within one year after his separation from service. Therefore, the criteria for service connection have not been met.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, indicating significant occupational and social impairment. His IBS with GERD is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting moderate symptoms.

The Veteran's GERD and hiatal hernia have resulted in considerable impairment of health, warranting a higher initial disability rating of 30 percent. The right wrist ganglion cyst has been asymptomatic throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder, hypertension, intestinal problems, and anemia at the May 2017 Board hearing.,With resolution of reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the criteria for entitlement to service connection for a neck disorder have been met.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the initial rating assigned for cholecystectomy residuals and the denials of service connection for allergic rhinitis, residuals of fractured ribs, residuals of right eye trauma, bilateral hearing loss, and a skin disability.

The Veteran's GERD and gastritis have been rated at a maximum of 60 percent since February 4, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an incomplete medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's GERD and hiatal hernia.