GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for right ear hearing loss from November 26, 2019. The GERD claim is remanded due to the need for an examination without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected GERD due to a lack of recent VA examination and new treatment records.

The claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,Effective from May 2, 2014, the appellant's right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is now considered as part of his Gulf War Illness.

The Veteran's GERD was granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent from October 1, 2015 to March 30, 2018.,The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted an initial compensable rating of 10 percent from October 1, 2015 to March 30, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, GERD, sleep apnea, enlarged liver disability, erectile dysfunction, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ due to incomplete development and lack of corroboration of in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's service connection for various conditions, including low back pain with arthritis, right and left knee chondromalacia patellofemoral (claimed as arthritis), obstructive sleep apnea, pitting edema of the lower extremities, esophagitis and hiatal hernia with varices and GERD and aspiration pneumonia, and TBI. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability other than IBS, including GERD. The left foot disability claim is remanded due to failure to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

Service connection for Lyme disease, GERD, bilateral plantar fasciitis with degenerative changes, left wrist CTS with cervical radiculopathy, and right wrist CTS is denied.,An initial compensable rating (10%) for GERD is denied. The Veteran's GERD has been well-managed with medication.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for GERD, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence in some cases. The Veteran will need a VA examination for his GERD and possible additional diagnoses, as well as an examination to determine if he has bilateral lower extremity disorders or functional impairment related to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for high blood pressure, acid reflux, and entitlement to a TDIU prior to May 23, 2018 have been dismissed. The appeal of the effective date earlier than April 2, 2014 for the grant of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as it is related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD is related to his service-connected left shoulder condition and NSAID medication, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, hypertension, and GERD are currently rated based on their individual service-connected conditions. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.,A TDIU is granted but subject to the law and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hiatal hernia and IBS due to insufficient evidence in some areas, including a VA examination for status post cholecystectomy and an opinion on the relationship between IBS and her service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Barrett's esophagus, finding that the Veteran's GERD likely caused or aggravated his Barrett's esophagus.

The Veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss, left foot hallux valgus, and GERD have been granted ratings of 10 percent throughout the period on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for GERD and esophageal disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not causally related to his in-service disease or injury.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of use of insulin or hospitalizations.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea. The Board remanded these issues as there are questions about their onset in service.,Service connection was established for hypertension, left knee disability, right knee disability, skin fungus (tinea pedis), and skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma).,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) is not yet service connected.

The Veteran's GERD with Barrett’s esophagus was rated at 10 percent prior to July 1, 2014 and a 60 percent rating from July 1, 2014 to May 11, 2016. From May 12, 2016 to September 13, 2019, the Veteran is not entitled to any increased rating.,The Board found that the severity and frequency of the Veteran's esophageal condition more closely approximated a 60 percent rating beginning July 1, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because her Notice of Disagreement (NOD) did not clearly identify the specific issues she wanted to appeal.