GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus due to his withdrawal. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates with respect to his evaluation for tinnitus and hearing loss have been dismissed as a matter of law. The Board has also remanded several issues related to increased evaluations and earlier effective dates for various disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure to herbicides and the relationship between his current conditions and service.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus is dismissed.,The Veteran's back problems are being remanded for further evaluation and opinion.,The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for further evaluation and opinion.,The Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus is being remanded for further evaluation and opinion.,The Veteran's pterygium, bilateral eyes, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents, is being remanded for further evaluation and opinion.,The Veteran's hemorrhoids are being remanded for further evaluation and opinion.,The Veteran's GERD (also claimed as acid reflux) is being remanded for further evaluation and opinion.

The Veteran's GERD, UDD, and right index trigger finger conditions have been granted increased ratings. The ED condition remains at a non-compensable rating. Effective April 9, 2017, the Veteran is now eligible for a 30% disability rating for his UDD.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral ankle disability, cervical spine disability (claimed as cervicalgia and torticollis), paresthesia left arm, headache condition, stomach condition, and gastrointestinal condition due to incomplete service records. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to her military service.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is granted service connection and an effective date of July 6, 2012.,An unspecified anxiety disorder is granted service connection with an effective date of July 6, 2012.,GERD is granted service connection with an effective date of May 4, 2015.,The Veteran's left wrist disability and right foot and left foot frostbite residuals are remanded for further action regarding earlier effective dates.,Right foot and left foot frostbite residuals with degenerative changes are also remanded for further action regarding earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee condition, GERD acid reflux, and dermatitis (skin condition) were denied in February 2006. The evidence did not establish a link between the current conditions and military service.,No new or material evidence was received within one year of the denial decisions.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining private treatment records and SSA disability determination records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the cervical spine disorder claim, as there was no etiological opinion linking the current condition to military service.,For the lumbar spine disorder, the Board also found no new and material evidence, as the Veteran's statements did not provide any additional information or opinions regarding a link between his military service and the diagnosed condition. The same conclusion was reached for other conditions such as left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, left foot, right foot, cardiomegaly, hernia disorder, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to issues related to service connection, including a psychiatric disorder and chest pain.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran has PTSD. The service connection claims are also being addressed as they may be related to an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's duodenal ulcer and his current gastrointestinal conditions, including GERD and esophagitis. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that any diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder was caused or incurred during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and the need for additional development of records.

The Board has granted service connection for Alzheimer's disease, but denied it due to lack of evidence linking the condition to military service. For TDIU from September 25, 2013, the Veteran is deemed unemployable due to his hiatal hernia with GERD.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he withdrew his appeals for TDIU, service connection for diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea, and an increased disability rating for GERD if he received a 100% disability rating before the decision.

Service connection is granted for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, atrial fibrillation, aortic valve replacement, pacemaker installation, and digestive condition (Barrett’s syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)). Service connection is remanded for right hip condition, left hip condition, and colon cancer.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further action due to non-compliance with previous instructions.

The Veteran's lung disorder, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and peptic ulcer with GERD are all currently not service-connected. The Board has determined that new evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for a lung disorder. Other claims have also been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and dental condition have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current conditions are related to military service.