GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

Service connection for GERD was granted based on its being related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. Effective dates of May 5, 2009 were assigned for the grants of service connection for PTSD with alcohol abuse and a muscle injury, status post shell fragment wound to the left arm and armpit.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete evaluations and inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran is required to undergo additional examinations for PTSD, left foot calcaneus fracture, gastric disability (GERD and gastritis), left shoulder disability, and right wrist and hand disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an opinion regarding the GERD prior to February 12, 1991.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), restless leg syndrome, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,The Veteran's PTSD is not considered related to in-service stressors as he did not provide information about the events or situations that could be considered stressors.

The Veteran's service connection for a gastrointestinal disability other than GERD and bipolar disorder with PTSD is denied. An effective date prior to April 8, 2013 for service connection of bipolar disorder with PTSD is also denied. The initial rating in excess of 50 percent for bipolar disorder with PTSD from April 8, 2013 to February 12, 2014 and a 100 percent rating starting from February 13, 2014 are granted. The Veteran's GERD and unemployability prior to February 13, 2014 claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic stomach pain is denied as there is no evidence linking his current gastrointestinal or gastroesophageal disabilities to active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for a service-connected low back disability is denied due to lack of forward flexion of 30 degrees or less or ankylosis.

The Board has expanded the claim to include service connection for any disability of the digestive system, including Barrett's esophagus and other gastrointestinal conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, but a VA examiner found that his Barrett's esophagitis was less likely related to his service-connected duodenal ulcer.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sarcoidosis, cervical spine disorder, and various other conditions have been reopened. The Board finds that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

This decision denies an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus with neuropathy and retinopathy, as well as an earlier effective date for SMC at the housebound rate. The appeal is also remanded for further development on issues including initial ratings for PTSD and gastroparesis/GERD.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and GERD have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent.,However, the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease, left great toe digital neuropathy, right great toe digital neuropathy with radiculopathy, and TDIU claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's GERD and esophageal adenocarcinoma. The issues are inextricably intertwined as service connection for GERD impacts the secondary service connection claim.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral pes planus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current pes planus disability was aggravated by service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability and sleep apnea disability, but has remanded the issue of service connection for GERD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right knee disorder and hiatal hernia/GERD due to unclear opinions from VA examiners. The Veteran needs additional opinions regarding whether his conditions are aggravated by service-connected left knee disability, and whether they are related to active service or environmental exposures in Southwest Asia.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran needs to provide information about her treatment providers, especially VA ones, and an examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly her low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, render her unable to secure or follow substantial gainful employment. She is granted a TDIU effective February 13, 2015, and eligibility for specially adapted housing. The appeal seeking a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot.

Service connection for hyperlipidemia, headaches, hyperthyroidism, depression, Peyronie's disease, colon polyps, West Nile virus, tinea, GERD, intestinal disorder (to include IBS and chronic diarrhea), back condition, hypothyroidism, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction is denied.,Service connection for PTSD was awarded on February 13, 2013.

The Veteran's GERD was denied for the period prior to April 14, 2017, and a 10 percent rating is denied for the period beginning April 14, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for migraine headaches, right shoulder strain, and GERD was dismissed. Ratings of 10 percent for the right shoulder strain from November 1, 2013 to March 11, 2016, and a 30 percent rating for GERD from November 1, 2013 to March 11, 2016 were granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, leading to the grant of a TDIU effective December 22, 2013. The cases for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee arthritis are remanded.