GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case for further proceedings due to a failure to determine which of the Veteran's conditions, IBS or GERD, is the predominant disability and how it relates to the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral ankle tendonitis was denied. The claim for fibromyalgia, a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness related to Southwest Asia service, was granted. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were both denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue was reopened, but the claims for hernia, left knee disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease were all remanded due to insufficient evidence. The initial rating for left knee disability remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, chronic sinusitis, and GERD due to exposure during service in the Gulf War. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hiatal hernia, GERD, and IBS as secondary to PTSD due to lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's hypothyroidism, hemorrhoids, herpes simplex, and GERD were not found to be related to service.,Service connection for a personality disorder was denied as it is considered a congenital or developmental defect.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD and Barrett's esophagus, finding that the current conditions are causally related to the Veteran's in-service duodenal ulcer.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, while her back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are not. The claims for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, migraines (secondary), and gastroesophageal or gastrointestinal disorders are remanded.,Service connection for a back disability is denied due to lack of credible evidence linking the condition to service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and secondary service connection for migraines and gastroesophageal or gastrointestinal disorders are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for GERD is denied. The evidence does not support a higher rating as the disability picture is consistent with no more than the assigned 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including his shoulder disorders, foot disorder, GERD, and respiratory disorder. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claim for GERD due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an adequate rationale regarding whether the Veteran's GERD is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected gastric ulcer.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. Service connection was not granted for hypertension, high cholesterol, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hiatal hernia, or ischemic heart disease. The rating for ischemic heart disease was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether GERD is related to service or a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA must obtain updated treatment records and provide a new opinion addressing the nature and origin of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination of the Veteran's GERD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including left knee condition, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, sleep apnea, acid reflux, and bilateral hearing loss have all been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the presence or causation of these conditions during military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of 30 percent, but no higher, for pituitary microadenoma headaches is granted. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for acid reflux and related conditions, finding that the Veteran's symptoms had their onset in or are otherwise related to active service. The issues of service connection for other conditions due to herbicide exposure have been stayed.