GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, cholesterol problems, and hypertension have been denied. The Veteran's claim of increased rating for TBI has also been remanded.,Service connection for psychiatric disability, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are pending.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's gastritis and GERD, including whether these conditions are related to his service. The issues of increased ratings for knee disabilities remain under consideration.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sinusitis claim is denied, and the issues of her polycystic ovarian disease, urinary incontinence, acne, and gastroenteritis (GERD) are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to cause or aggravate his headaches, which are granted as a separate disability. The other conditions have not been linked to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, memory loss, left knee disability, degenerative arthritis of the hands, right foot gouty arthritis, arthritis of the neck, sinus disability, respiratory disability (asthma and/or shortness of breath), acid reflux, and facial scar. The Board found that none of these claims were supported by evidence showing a direct link to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability, hypertension, or PTSD. Service connection was also denied for left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, CFS, fibromyalgia, IBS, and GERD have been denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed disability or link to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for urticaria (claimed as chronic hives) and an upper respiratory disorder are remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.,Tinnitus is currently rated at its maximum allowable rating under VA's disability rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for GERD and hypertension are being remanded due to the submission of new VA treatment records that were not previously considered by the RO.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not proximately due to, or aggravated beyond its natural progression by, his service-connected COPD.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability from May 24, 2012. The Board has vacated the November 2018 remand and remanded the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for HPV was dismissed. The rating for tendonitis of the bilateral wrists remains noncompensable. Other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his military service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis was reopened, but not granted as there is no new and material evidence to support it.,Service connection for a stomach condition (including GERD and IBS) was denied. The Board found insufficient evidence to link the conditions to his in-service appendectomy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy and lung disability, have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms.,Service connection is only granted if there is medical evidence linking the current condition to an injury or disease incurred during active duty. The Veteran's claims are based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange (AO) herbicides, but the Board found no direct link between any claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions regarding his breathing disorder, acid reflux, joint pain, high blood pressure, and GI disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD, Emphysema, Hypertension, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (claimed as secondary to emphysema and COPD), Acid Reflux, and Erectile Dysfunction due to unresolved issues regarding service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of September 17, 1993 for the grant of service connection for GERD and mild duodenitis is granted. The Board finds that the earliest possible date for the grant of entitlement to service connection for GERD was September 17, 1993.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for GERD with IBS, vacating the previous separate ratings and combining them under Diagnostic Code 7346.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for IBS, GERD, and headaches due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's military service included active duty in Southwest Asia.