GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service disease or injury and no credible evidence of persistent/recurrent symptoms since service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have any diagnosed gastrointestinal cancer.

The Veteran's GERD disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board has found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of symptoms indicative of considerable impairment of health.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis was denied as there is no new and material evidence to support the claim.,Service connection for pelvic tilt condition, GERD, and pes planus were all denied as they are not related to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of hemorrhoids has been granted. The cases for increased rating of PTSD and GERD have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further action on the issue of a higher rating for xerosis with pruritis. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has reconsidered the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, PTSD, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, residuals of a recurrent anal fissure, sarcoidosis with sleep apnea, hypertension, hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disorder, and cyst removal scar. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left second and third trigeminal sensory neuropathy was denied, as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation. The claim for service connection for gastrointestinal issues (gastritis, GERD, hiatal hernia) was also denied due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's stomach disability is rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of severe impairment. The Veteran also meets the schedular criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain all VA treatment records, including from a VA sleep clinic. The Veteran's GERD condition is still being evaluated for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left and right foot disabilities (claimed as frostbite residuals), cholelithiasis (gallstones), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have all been denied. The Board found no current disability in any of these conditions.,The Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish a service connection for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for GERD and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia has been granted service connection due to its presumptive nature based on his service in Southwest Asia.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied as the evidence does not support a diagnosis of this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left wrist disability, left shoulder disability, left knee disability, GERD, and major depressive disorder with anxious distress were granted effective July 10, 2015. The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates.

Service connection is granted for a neck disability. The Veteran's right shoulder, bilateral heel, sleep apnea, hypertension, and GERD disabilities are not service-connected.,The Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for psychiatric disability and neck disability has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for acid reflux, cervical spine disorder, upper extremity cervical radiculopathy, shoulder disorder, knee disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied as new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen these previously denied claims.,Service connection for costochondritis was also denied due to lack of a nexus between the condition and active service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is dismissed as his PTSD, which he claimed for TDIU, has been rated at 100% since June 30, 2010. The issue of service connection for GERD is also dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal symptoms and heart palpitations due to insufficient analysis in previous decisions. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service, including a review of medical records from both VA and private providers.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connection, with the decision finding that reasonable doubt was resolved in favor of the claimant.,Service connection for tinnitus has been restored from January 1, 2017. The Board found that severance of service connection was improper and that there was no clear and unmistakable error in granting service connection initially.,The Veteran's hypertension is denied as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents (PACT Act).,Service connection for prostate cancer is denied as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents (PACT Act).,Service connection for a liver disorder is denied as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents (PACT Act).,Service connection for anemia is withdrawn due to the Veteran's request.,Service connection for GERD is withdrawn due to the Veteran's request.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disability, to include GERD, and erectile dysfunction. The claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ is granted.