GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TMJ was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for GERD, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis in the bilateral hands, lumbago, anxiety, headaches, and dizzy spells are all denied.,The Board has determined that there is no current disability related to these conditions and they were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Dysthymia (anxiety disorder) and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Creutzfeld-Jacob disease was denied. The right ankle disability is granted with a rating of 20 percent, but the left foot and psychiatric disabilities are remanded due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking them to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability and remanded the cases of hernia, bowel disability, diverticulosis, internal hemorrhoids, esophageal disability, GERD, and erectile dysfunction. The claims are now pending again with new examinations required.

The Veteran's depression is found to be secondary to his service-connected DDD of the lumbosacral spine.,For GERD, an initial disability rating of 10 percent has been granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for GERD and remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, cervical and lumbar spinal damage, seizures, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for TBI, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for fractures of the right long finger, left index finger, left long finger, left ring finger, and left little finger. Service connection was granted for a right ankle disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), asthma, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for kidney problems and GERD, as they are outside its purview due to conflicting medical opinions. Additional evidence is needed to reconcile these diagnoses with service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's GERD claim due to a need for additional development, including obtaining any outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD with esophageal stricture and eosinophilic esophagitis, and chronic lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50 percent, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for a determination on whether it may be due to herbicide exposure. The GERD and hiatal hernia are also remanded for an opinion on whether they were aggravated by the CABG surgery. A temporary total evaluation based on convalescence or hospitalization for the 2015 laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair is also remanded.,The Veteran's hypertension may be related to herbicide exposure, but a new examination is needed to determine if it was aggravated by his service-connected CABG. The GERD and hiatal hernia are remanded as VA carelessness or negligence could have worsened the preexisting conditions. A temporary total evaluation based on convalescence for the 2015 surgery is also remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including cerebral venous angioma, hernia, gastrointestinal disorder, and abdominal scars. The issues are being remanded due to the need for clarification of residuals from a cerebellar venous angioma, obtaining additional private treatment records, and providing VA examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including GERD, left shoulder strain, right knee DJD, left knee DJD, and lumbar spine DJD. The issues include seeking increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee, right knee, and left ankle disabilities, as well as her lichen sclerosus, granuloma annulare, painful appendectomy scar, scar secondary to appendectomy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with hiatal hernia to include diverticulosis. The Veteran is also remanded for a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's GERD is granted an increased disability rating of 30 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's hypertension is denied a compensable disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for GERD as it pertains to service connection, due to insufficient opinions regarding all theories of entitlement.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD but has remanded the remaining issues due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records review. The issues include seeking a higher initial rating for his service-connected eosinophilic esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease, as well as requesting an extraschedular rating based on symptoms such as sleep disturbance, difficulties with concentration, and social withdrawal.

The Board has granted a temporary total rating for convalescence from July 23, 2008 to September 30, 2008. The issue of a higher rating for GERD remains remanded.