GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Right Knee Disability claim has been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.,Claims for involuntary muscle spasms affecting the arms, legs, and feet, weakness, chronic fatigue, respiratory distress, decreased cognitive functioning, dizziness, constipation (IBS), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have all been denied. These claims are being remanded to allow further development.

The Veteran's GERD and IBS have been rated at a 30 percent since the initial grant of service connection in February 2019. The Board found that his symptoms, while significant, did not warrant a higher rating as they were already covered by the current 30 percent rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal regarding the recoupment of separation pay for various disabilities, finding that VA was required to withhold this amount from his disability compensation benefits as per law.

The Veteran's back disability, hypothyroidism, and GERD are all remanded for further evaluation as the current evaluations do not adequately reflect their severity.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung problems, hypertension, acid reflux, and kidney cancer are remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lumbar strain, left knee strain, and hiatal hernia, to include entitlement to a separate rating for GERD are dismissed. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Board found that the evidence supports a finding of exposure to toxic materials during military service, which may be related to his current conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and GERD disabilities. The heart condition claim was denied, but the Veteran has submitted private treatment records that show ongoing issues with his heart.

The Veteran's stomach condition, including gastritis and GERD, is considered to have started during his military service or be related to a service-connected disability (bipolar disorder). Service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to deficiencies in the VA medical opinion and lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's GERD and ED are being examined again to determine if they are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected orthopedic disabilities.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to incomplete documentation and the need for VA examinations to assess the impact of service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was rated at 40 percent since March 28, 2012.,The Veteran's GERD claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and remanded the claim of service connection for PTSD. The weight of evidence does not support a finding that GERD is related to service, while the Veteran's reports of continuous symptoms since 1997 are not credible.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including increased ratings for mitral valve prolapse, right upper lobe and frontal lobe stroke residuals, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and laryngopharyngeal reflux. Service connection claims for asthma, COPD, and sleep apnea are also remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, left shoulder condition, neck disability, chronic right knee pain, and others. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted, and the Board finds that his current psychiatric disorder is related to in-service events. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, GERD, diabetes, left knee disability, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and hypertension are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim for GERD, to include as secondary to PTSD, due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and aggravation of the condition during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various gastrointestinal and skin conditions, including diverticulitis, GERD, IBS, rosacea, polyps under arm, groin and mouth, and fungal infections. The reasons are that new evidence was submitted after the issuance of the March 2013 Statement of the Case, and VA's duty to provide an examination and obtain an opinion is triggered by this evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected GERD is remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD is granted a 30 percent evaluation, the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 7346.