GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2020

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for fatigue, obstructive sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal disorder (claimed as GERD) due to a withdrawal request from the Veteran's attorney.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable and excess of 10 percent ratings for GERD are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports that did not consider the ameliorative effects of his medications.

The Veteran's back and neck disabilities are not related to service or Agent Orange exposure. His hypertension is related to service. The right knee, abdominal pain (IBS), GERD, and dysphagia issues have been remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mood disorder, arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, GERD, and arthritis of the bilateral hips, have rendered him unemployable since December 30, 2005. As a result, he is granted TDIU effective that date and basic eligibility to DEA benefits as well.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, claimed as peptic ulcer disease, was denied. The Veteran also received a separate grant of a 10 percent evaluation for a painful scar over the right brow associated with a laceration, but his request for an increased evaluation for the frontal aspect of the scalp scar prior to August 31, 2020, and higher than 10 percent thereafter was denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes, sleep apnea, GERD, and hypothyroidism are granted. The claim for PTSD is denied as the severity of symptoms does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for adjustment disorder and alcohol use disorder, idiopathic polyneuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have all been granted.,Service connection has also been established for these conditions on a secondary basis due to their relationship with service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected disabilities of major depressive disorder, asthma and gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD rated at 50%, resulted in a combined rating of 90% from October 13, 2016 to October 13, 2017. The Board granted a TDIU rating for this period based on the severity and cumulative effect of his service-connected disabilities.

PTSD has been granted as related to an in-service stressor.,The claim for cancer of the left pharyngeal tonsil is remanded due to lack of evidence corroborating exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's Crohn’s disease with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been rated at 60 percent since May 19, 2019. The rating is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral open-angle glaucoma and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been denied. The Board found that the current disability ratings of 10 percent for bilateral open-angle glaucoma and 30 percent for GERD are appropriate.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for hypertension has been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction has been dismissed.,The reduction of the GERD disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent was not proper.

The Board has remanded the claims for right ankle, right knee, left knee, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and thyroid conditions due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increase in his GERD rating is being remanded due to the failure to properly assess the current severity of his condition after he filed a new claim for benefits alleging a worsening in his condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the medical opinion regarding the Veteran's gastrointestinal conditions, specifically esophageal ulcers and stomach pain. The examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to active duty service or any specific exposures (herbicide exposure while in Vietnam, Camp Lejeune water supply contaminants, or potential asbestos exposure).

The Veteran's claim for GERD was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board found that her abdominal pain in June 2008 did not constitute GERD.,Service connection for low back, cervical spine, right lower extremity, left lower extremity, and circulatory problems were all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any period of active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, bilateral eye disorder, gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as GERD and chronic gastritis), and bilateral foot disorder due to insufficient evidence or conflicting opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess his eczema and keloid scars. The GERD claim is also referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.