GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for a left hip disability and remanded the issues of service connection for sinus disability to include nasal polyps and hiatal hernia with GERD and Barrett's esophagus, claimed as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability.,The VA is required to provide a medical opinion on whether the Veteran’s diagnosed sinus disability was incurred in his active duty service. The VA is also required to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the hiatal hernia with GERD and Barrett's esophagus are aggravated by the NSAIDs prescribed for his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals in a written statement.

The Veteran's GERD and low back disability were granted initial ratings of 10 percent each, while the knee and hip disabilities were denied higher ratings. The GERD was rated at 30 percent due to persistent symptoms.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, a VA examination is needed to determine if he currently has a diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied as there is no current diagnosis or established link between the condition and military service.,A VA examination is required to assess whether the Veteran has allergic rhinitis that may be related to his active duty service. The June 2015 VA opinion was based on a single bout of allergic rhinitis, which does not meet the criteria for chronic disability.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its relationship to military service. A new VA examination and medical opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his active duty service.,The claim for service connection for GERD secondary to IBS remains in dispute, with a June 2015 VA examiner concluding that there is no causal or aggravating relationship. A new VA examination and medical opinion are needed to resolve this issue.,Service connection for a headache disability is remanded as the Veteran claims his symptoms began during service but there is conflicting evidence regarding its onset and etiology.,The claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) remains in dispute. The June 2015 VA examiner found no link between CFS and military service, with a new examination and opinion needed to determine if the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, hypertension, colon polyps status post-removal, acid reflux, prostate disability, lymph node disability, and diabetes mellitus. The claims are being remanded due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between these disabilities and service exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and lay testimony regarding the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The gastroesophageal condition (GERD and acid reflux) and sleep apnea are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection have been remanded by the Board. The appeals are related to his bilateral foot, gastrointestinal, right wrist, left inguinal, and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to GERD, chronic nausea, menorrhagia, chronic anemia, uterine fibroids, or status-post hysterectomy during her active duty. The Board finds that these conditions are not related to her military service.,She has been diagnosed with GERD and other conditions since 2013, but the medical evidence does not support a link between these conditions and her military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for coronary artery disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease, both secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's heart condition and prostate cancer are granted service connection. The remaining issues, including back pain, respiratory disability, hypertension, GERD, and psychiatric disorder, are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on all issues except for his claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, but remanded the remaining issues including sleep apnea and GERD. The Veteran's knee disabilities are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral open-angle glaucoma and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's back disorder was granted service connection. The remaining claims for various other disorders were denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for PTSD, alcohol abuse, GERD, and skin cancer due to service connection issues. The claims will be further evaluated with additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to address whether the Veteran's breathing disorder (including asthma) and GERD are related to his military service, specifically exposure to dust and pulmonary irritants during Desert Storm.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine, left knee, and stomach conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for gastrointestinal disorders, GERD, and skin disorder due to exposure to environmental hazards during Persian Gulf War service. The Veteran's claims of chronic joint pain and acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety disorder and PTSD) are also remanded.,Service connection is not granted for gastrointestinal disorders other than GERD, GERD, or skin disorder as they are not related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities which were considered static in nature reached a combined evaluation of 100 percent as of July 1, 2006. The Board found that the criteria for establishment of basic eligibility to Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits were satisfied as of this date.