GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for atrial fibrillations to include as secondary to PTSD and an increased rating of 60 percent for GERD. The effective date for the award of service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for further examination and review of the evidence. The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including anxiety disorder, is being reviewed again as it may be related to service despite post-service treatment records not mentioning mental health issues. GERD is also under consideration as secondary to his psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's initial rating for ischemic heart disease (IHD) prior to April 22, 2015 was denied as his LVEF remained normal and he did not exhibit cardiac hypertrophy or dilation. The Veteran's IHD is rated at 30 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, with symptoms of dysphagia, pyrosis, and vomiting being mild in nature and without substernal or arm/shoulder pain. The esophageal stricture is rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at a 30 percent disability rating, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service records, particularly those related to Active Duty Training and Inactive Duty Training.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,Issues related to groin strain with right testicular pain, a right leg condition associated with groin strain, breathing problems, sleep apnea, acid reflux (GERD), and low back disability have been remanded.

Service connection has been granted for residuals of frostbite of the left and right lower extremities. The Veteran's cervical dystonia and GERD claims are being returned for further development.,The Veteran's cervical dystonia claim is being returned for a new medical opinion due to inadequate reasoning in the previous VA examination. His GERD claim is also being returned for an examination as there was no full evaluation of his condition.,Service connection for residuals of frostbite of the upper extremities and peripheral neuropathy are being returned for further development, including examinations to assess these conditions.

The Veteran's GERD has worsened, and a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition and sleep apnea are not service-connected.,His gastrointestinal condition is also not service-connected. However, his GERD has been granted service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's fatal gastroesophageal junction cancer was likely caused by his exposure to ionizing radiation in service, and thus granted service connection for the cause of death.

The application to reopen the claim for service connection for DDD (claimed as back pain) is denied.,The application to reopen the claim for service connection for Bell's palsy is granted. Service connection for a headache disorder secondary to service-connected hypertension and depressive disorder is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for alopecia was reopened and granted.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) and GERD were denied.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance was granted effective January 2, 2017. The Board denied an earlier effective date due to lack of formal or informal claims prior to March 24, 2015.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD is characterized by persistent recurrent epigastric distress, dysphagia, pyrosis, regurgitation, and substernal pain. The Board has determined that the Veteran’s hiatal hernia with GERD most nearly approximates the criteria associated with a 30 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's achalasia (formerly gastroesophageal disease) has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board is remanding the case for a higher rating due to increased symptoms since the last VA examination in April 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a back disorder, an eye disorder, obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep problems, acid reflux, skin disorders, headache disorder, peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Veteran's GERD is granted a rating of 30 percent, which is the maximum allowed under Diagnostic Code 7346.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for a VA examination to determine if GERD is related to service, specifically exposure to electromagnetic radiation.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility were granted effective September 20, 2010. The Board found that the earliest date when it was factually ascertainable that his service-connected disabilities produced sufficient impairment to make him unemployable.,His service-connected conditions included left arm hypoesthesia and weakness, major depressive disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a left forearm scar, and a right thigh scar.