GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date than January 26, 2017 for the award of increased DIC based on her need for regular aid and attendance of another person. The evidence did not show that she required such assistance prior to January 26, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding service connection for IBS and/or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Veteran needs to provide any service treatment records she possesses or identify and secure any relevant private medical records. A VA examination is required to determine if her IBS and GERD were caused by an in-service injury, event, or illness.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess her service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, migraine headaches, coronary artery disease, GERD, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to a lack of proper notice and development.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection, as the current opinions are not based on accurate factual premises and do not address all relevant theories of causation.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 60 percent, the highest possible rating under Diagnostic Code 7346. The Board has determined that his symptoms go beyond what is included in the schedular rating for GERD and impacts his ability to work due to frequent vomiting. Therefore, the case is being remanded to consider an increased rating on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for right leg varicose veins and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were dismissed as he expressed satisfaction with his current disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and small bowel obstruction. The Veteran's VA treatment records from October 2014 to the present need to be obtained, as well as any private physician records that may exist.

Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, hypertension, liver disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and kidney disability is denied.,Service connection for aggravation of a psychiatric disability and aggravation of sleep apnea due to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II is granted.

The Veteran's initial ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left and right knees have been granted. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD has been remanded, as well as the issues regarding service connection for hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for osteoarthritis of the bilateral hands, bilateral knee disability, low back disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and carpal tunnel syndrome due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for hiatal hernia is denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), to include as secondary to hiatal hernia, is denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for surgical scars secondary to hiatal hernia, based on the receipt of new and material evidence, is denied.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, based on the receipt of new and material evidence, is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, asthma, ulcers, rectal bleeding, and stomach condition (GERD) due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service. Additional examinations are needed to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's current diagnoses and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a gastric disorder and respiratory disorder, as well as an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD. The Veteran's TDIU was granted but only up to December 14, 2015, and SMC at the housebound rate was granted effective March 9, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for GERD with dysplasia was denied as the evidence did not show symptoms warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding that the Veteran's current conditions are caused by long-term use of NSAIDs and opiates to treat his service-connected orthopedic disabilities.

The Veteran's GERD/Barrett’s esophagus began during active service and has been consistently present since then. The Board finds that the current disability is related to service, thus granting service connection for GERD/Barrett’s esophagus.

The Board has denied a compensable disability rating for hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease, but has remanded the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis, hypertension, GERD, and headaches on a secondary basis are now service-connected.,A 40% rating for degenerative arthritis and DDD of the thoracolumbar spine is granted.