GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and gastrointestinal disability (including gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastroenteritis) are remanded due to the need for VA examinations and opinions under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded due to the need for VA examination and opinion under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches are remanded due to the need for VA examination and opinion under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for varicocele is remanded due to the need for VA examination and opinion under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for testicular cyst is remanded due to the need for VA examination and opinion under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Board denied service connection for IBS and GERD, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension is remanded due to missed VA examinations and the possibility of homelessness. The RO must follow procedures for contacting homeless veterans and obtain all relevant medical records.

The Board denied claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, a heart condition, gastrointestinal disability (hiatal hernia/GERD), and a right knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal condition and abnormal weight loss, as these issues are inextricably intertwined due to the need for further development on the GI claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all service-connected conditions, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acid reflux and a higher rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed as he withdrew his claim. The Board also remanded the issues of initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with depressive symptoms and service connection for GERD as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for GERD and PTSD, but has remanded the claims for tinea versicolor, migraine disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability (other than PTSD).,Service connection is not granted for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for an addendum opinion regarding service connection for acid reflux/GERD.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are now rated at the maximum 50 percent disability rating, which is considered severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral wrist disability, left hip disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) should be remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's right wrist disorder is being granted compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to VA failure to properly diagnose and treat his initial injury.,Compensation for hepatitis C is denied as there is no evidence that VA treatment caused any additional disability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a left knee disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the September 2008 rating decision.,Service connection for a low back disability is denied as there is no credible evidence linking current back issues to ADT.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for prostate hypertrophy (BPH) with frequency urgency has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the claims for increased evaluations and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease, anemia, and uterine condition due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS and GERD have been denied as both conditions are not related to his military service.,No objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability were found, and the evidence does not support a finding that either condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while male sterility, skin condition (claimed as lesions on back), ischemic heart disease, nose cancer, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder and PTSD), gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), and stomach ulcer are all denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome as due to an undiagnosed illness was denied because there were no objective findings of the condition and it did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis.,Service connection for hypertension was also denied as there was no evidence showing that the condition manifested within the applicable presumptive period or during service.

The Board has dismissed the issue of entitlement to a compensable initial rating for scars of the right shoulder and upper back. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left middle finger disability, right little finger disability, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and left knee strain are REMANDED.