GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

The appeal to establish that a Substantive Appeal of the September 29, 2014 rating decision was timely filed is granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and effective date prior to January 9, 2013, for SMC at the housebound rate is denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.,Service connection was also denied for benign prostatic hypertrophy/hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms with obstruction. There was no evidence of onset during service or relationship to in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the absence of treatment records, including for lumbar spine disability, gastrointestinal disability (claimed as hiatal hernia/GERD), and right knee disability. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are not considered primary causes of his current disabilities.

The Veteran's right volar wrist scar and GERD were granted initial ratings, with the right volar wrist scar receiving a 10% rating effective March 14, 2017. The GERD was granted a 30% rating from February 26, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and evaluation of his claimed conditions, including tinnitus, PTSD, seizure disability, and gastrointestinal disabilities. The issues of service connection are also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as nightmare disorder/other specified trauma and stressor disorder. Service connection for IBS and GERD have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for GERD and sleep apnea were reopened due to new evidence. His PTSD claim was denied, but he is not seeking a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 70% disability rating. The total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was also denied.

The Veteran's esophageal cancer and chronic GERD have been rated at 30 percent, but the Board has granted a 60 percent rating. The issue of TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient consideration of recent findings regarding herbicide agent exposure and service connection for hypertension, as well as a need for an addendum opinion on GERD.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for chronic occipital headaches and GERD with duodenal ulcer disease was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding private treatment records and VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as a direct result of symptoms observed during active duty and confirmed by post-service medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches, narcolepsy syndrome (with cataplexy), and GERD have all been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues. The case will be returned to the VA examiner who provided the March 2019 examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and GERD are granted. The claim for a bilateral foot disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for muscle/joint pain disorder, back disorder, neck disorder, fibromyalgia, and GERD have been granted. The claim for service connection for muscle/joint pain disorder was reopened due to new evidence relating to a current disability. Service connection has been established for the other conditions based on direct evidence of their existence during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions including bilateral patellofemoral syndrome, heart disorder, sleep apnea, radiculopathy of upper and lower extremities, and GERD. The effective dates for awards are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as secondary to her service-connected right and left foot disabilities.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) claim has been denied.

The Veteran's left lumbar radiculopathy is granted with a rating of 20 percent. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, GERD, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, thyroid problems, and diabetes mellitus are denied. Service connection for right lumbar radiculopathy is granted.