GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2019

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a right foot injury is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for back disability is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities due to a lack of recent examinations. The Veteran needs to undergo VA examinations for his sleep apnea, psychiatric symptoms, bilateral hearing loss, hemorrhoids, GERD, and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected diverticulitis and to obtain information regarding her periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). Additionally, VA examinations are required to address the claims for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, back disability, carpal tunnel syndromes, GERD, acute gastroenteritis, insomnia, and chronic neck pain. The Veteran's service connection claims will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including shoulder, elbow, spine, and ankle issues, as well as gastrointestinal and migraine headaches, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected GERD and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion regarding service connection for ulcerative colitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis, left shoulder disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been denied as there is no evidence of a link between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection has been granted. The left knee scars are rated at 10 percent, right knee arthritis is rated at 10 percent, and the Veteran was granted new and material evidence to reopen his claims for service connection of various conditions including PTSD, depressive disorder, sleep apnea, gastritis, GERD, and others.

The Veteran's perirectal abscess was granted a rating of 30% from January 13, 2017 to September 13, 2017.,The Veteran's GERD claim was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for acne, bilateral hearing loss, or GERD at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need to obtain additional medical records.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is also being remanded as it is dependent on the outcome of his other claims.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD and Barrett’s esophagus, status post laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication and hiatal hernia repair, is rated as 30 percent disabling from May 28, 2013. A separate 10 percent rating for a painful surgical scar associated with the procedure is granted. The Veteran's claim for higher ratings remains pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a chronic left knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, upper gastroesophageal disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to active service.,There is no medical evidence showing the Veteran had any chronic left knee disorder during his military service or at any time since then.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a respiratory examination. The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability is denied as not attributable to service. Service connection for residuals of pneumonia remains in dispute.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and a respiratory disorder have been denied as new evidence does not establish a relationship to service, and the current disorders are not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a low back disability and TMJ was reopened, with the new evidence showing diagnoses of low back pain and TMJ. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected as it is at least as likely as not due to her service-connected vertigo.,The Veteran's DDD of the cervical spine has been granted a 30% disability rating, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA regulations.

The Veteran's asthma, hypertension, and GERD are granted as service-connected. The lumbar spine disability is assigned an initial rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a right shoulder condition was denied. The claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 60 percent for duodenal ulcer with dyspepsia and GERD is denied. The claims for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis (claimed as bursitis), TDIU, and special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound status are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for GERD/hiatal hernia, IBS/diverticulosis, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension due to the need for additional development. The Veteran's attorney submitted medical literature that needs to be considered in determining whether these conditions are related to his service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder or other factors.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.,The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for a gastrointestinal (GI) condition, including GERD, is also granted.