GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 70% after October 25, 2016. She also received a TDIU effective from August 1, 2009.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his gastrointestinal disorder (other than GERD) had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service, as well as whether it was caused by or aggravated by PTSD and/or medications for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability but remanded the gastrointestinal condition claims due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TMJ, GERD, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and left knee tendonitis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current diagnoses or causation due to service.,Service connection for TMJ was granted with a 10% rating effective from October 20, 2014 until January 12, 2016 and a 50% rating effective from January 12, 2016. Service connection for left knee tendonitis was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims. The Board has remanded the issues regarding positional obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Barrett's syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as these conditions are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active service, and are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected schizoaffective disorder.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected neurofibromatosis, including a request for higher ratings and service connection for other conditions. The Board has determined that the appeals should be remanded due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted. The remaining issues of rating in excess of 20 percent for a left shoulder disorder, service connection for a cervical spine disorder, hypertension, lumbar spine disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, right shoulder disorder and cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for recurrent epistaxis and an increased rating for GERD.

The Veteran's claims for lethargy, CFS, acid reflux disease, and left hip strain are denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or related to his Crohn’s disease.,Back disability, depression, and deterioration of the teeth remain in dispute and need further examination.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions have been reopened, and some have been granted. The effective date for the increased rating of bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for brain disability, right knee tendonitis and scar, GERD, and migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

Gilbert's syndrome has been granted service connection.,Gastroesophageal disability (GERD) and kidney disability have not been established as service-connected.

The Board denied higher initial disability ratings for tension headaches and GERD with IBS, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD was granted. The issue of an initial rating higher than 10 percent for degenerative arthritis and tendonitis of the left knee is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia, essential tremors, and obstructive sleep apnea are not related to service or service-connected conditions. The claims for these issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's GERD was first diagnosed during his active duty service in 2003-2004, and the Board finds that this condition had its inception during service. Therefore, service connection for GERD is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and IBS with functional diarrhea is granted. The claims for Crohn’s disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, cholelithiasis, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred during service.,Service connection for residuals of left elbow fracture and C1 fracture are remanded due to insufficient nexus opinions.