GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection for a neck disorder. The issues of service connection for ulcers, GERD, and status post cholecystectomy have been remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a stomach disorder, including GERD and gastroparesis, has been granted. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for tinnitus as secondary to bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is granted service connection for this condition.,Issues regarding asthma and chronic bronchitis have been remanded due to new evidence submitted by the appellant.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for irregular heartbeat, hypertension, acid reflux, and kidney disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, gastritis with GERD, and fibromyalgia render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran’s claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD; an initial higher (compensable) rating for bilateral hearing loss; and entitlement to a TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has been dismissed. The Board has granted service connection for GERD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for GERD, left shoulder impingement syndrome, costochondritis, and seborrhea dermatitis due to the need for updated VA examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that another remand is required due to the lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and insomnia. The Veteran must attend rescheduled VA examinations to determine the nature, severity, and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee DJD, GERD, and hypertension is being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that Gilbert's syndrome, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, gout of the bilateral ankles, feet, and toes, arthritis of the lumbar spine with strain, plantar fasciitis with mild degenerative joint disease (left foot), plantar fasciitis with mild degenerative joint disease (right foot), allergic rhinitis, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease with diverticulitis, and sebaceous cyst were not service connected or warranted increased ratings.

The Board has remanded several claims, including service connection for various conditions and issues related to PTSD, TDIU, and special monthly compensation. Additional development is needed, such as obtaining VA treatment records, Social Security Administration disability records, and verifying in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and migraines, but denied service connection for a back disorder and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The initial rating for residuals of traumatic brain injury is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his left ankle disability and GERD. The VA will need to determine the nature of any current disabilities, their etiology, and whether they are related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to appear at a VA examination and lack of current evidence supporting these claims. The gastrointestinal and erectile dysfunction issues are inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical services received at the Mayo Clinic on July 5, 2014 is denied because the condition was not one that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected to be hazardous if delayed in seeking immediate medical attention. The Gainesville VA Medical Center was feasibly available and an attempt by the Veteran to use this facility beforehand would have been considered reasonable.

The Veteran's GERD and kidney stones have been denied increased ratings. Other service-connected conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.