GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disability (emphysema), cardiac disability (calcified coronary artery disease), gastrointestinal disability (GERD, achalasia, and esophageal stricture), degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Board also denied a request to revise or reverse an April 1991 rating decision that denied service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's GERD was diagnosed during service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including high cholesterol, memory loss, blood in stool, blood in urine, ulcers, liver condition, nerve condition, gall bladder condition, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability or sufficient evidence to establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's GERD and PTSD claims are remanded for further development. The hearing loss claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's duodenal ulcer and GERD are presumed to be related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. Hemorrhoids are linked to service due to a previous in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of eczema and GERD for additional development to ensure that all relevant evidence is considered.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia is granted a 10 percent evaluation effective November 1, 2012. The issues of an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the condition beginning February 6, 2017; a compensable evaluation for a partial left biceps tear; and service connection for right biceps tendonitis are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a failure to readjudicate them after additional VA examination and treatment records were added to his file.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on several service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease with acute myocardial infarction, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease due to potential relevance of evidence from a previous remand.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on direct basis were denied. The rating for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent since December 3, 2007. The Board denied a higher rating for the cervical spine strain and GERD.,The Veteran’s TDIU claim was remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for GERD and headaches due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to have had its onset during service or be related to any in-service injury, event, or disease. The current diagnosis of hypertension is not considered a disability for VA purposes.,There is no evidence that the Veteran has a current gastrointestinal condition claimed as indigestion. His symptoms were noted but did not meet the criteria for a diagnosed disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder impingement syndrome, right elbow degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee degenerative joint disease have been granted initial disability ratings. The GERD has also been granted a higher initial disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for GERD, specifically related to his Gulf War service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for transient ischemic attacks, adenocarcinoma of gastric cardia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, and Barrett’s esophagus due to a lack of rationale in the March 2017 VA examiner's opinion. The Veteran needs another examination to determine if his transient ischemic attacks are at least as likely as not proximately due or the result of service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues have been withdrawn. The Board has determined that the Veteran wishes to withdraw her appeal regarding scoliosis and whether the disability rating assigned for GERD was clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The remaining issues, including those related to eczema, cervical strain/cervical radiculopathy, migraines, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, right foot plantar fasciitis/residuals of bunionectomy, and other conditions, are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including cervical spine disability, chronic sinusitis, left hip disability, diverticulitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and endometriosis. The reasons given were that the disabilities did not have their onset in service or are not etiologically related to an in-service disease or injury.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and gastrointestinal disorder, including GERD. The rating for PTSD was granted but with limitations.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's current back condition or gastrointestinal disorder.