GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2020

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including verifying his service history and obtaining medical records. The claims are being remanded to allow for these steps.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for a neck disability, GERD, left knee disability, and left hip disability. The claim for service connection for a headache disability is remanded.

The Board has decided some of the Veteran's claims and remanded others for further development. The claims that were decided include a denial of an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction, a remand for service connection regarding chest pain, and remands for ratings on bilateral pes planus, hypertension, sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,PTSD is rated at 70 percent throughout the period on appeal, and GERD secondary to PTSD is remanded for further evaluation. Bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of a currently diagnosed disability.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional records and VA examinations. The claims include service connection for various conditions based on new evidence, as well as issues related to a right knee injury, head injury, GERD, urinary incontinence, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to the need for additional development of evidence regarding his physical and mental abilities related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of whether the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his GERD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for higher ratings for service-connected duodenitis with GERD due to a failure to obtain VA medical records from VistA, and to schedule the Veteran for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia and diverticulosis, resolved, is rated at 30 percent disabling. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for osteoporosis, acid reflux, and thyroid disability due to a lack of discussion regarding Persian Gulf War presumptions. A VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service or constitute a qualifying chronic multi-symptom illness.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for GERD and migraines due to potential secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for service connection, including those related to syringomyelia, transverse myelitis, hypertension, headaches, and other conditions. The issues are all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected spinal stenosis.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from October 31, 2010 to April 3, 2019. The decision found that the service-connected conditions alone rendered her unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current GERD is related to his active military service. The VA will obtain private treatment records, Army Community Hospital records, and provide an addendum opinion on the issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for nausea, finding that it is a symptom of her service-connected GERD and headaches.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach disorder, but has remanded it to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance, which has been granted. The housebound claim is moot as a result.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was denied. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and determine if the Veteran requires aid and attendance due to his service-connected PTSD, stroke, abnormality of the aortic valve, neoplasm of the heart, atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, and GERD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis, shin splints, and shin splints (repeated). The Veteran was diagnosed with these conditions during the appeal period but the VA examiner found no current disability. Further medical opinions are required to resolve this discrepancy.

The Veteran's combined disability rating has been at least 80 percent since February 23, 2007. Despite having multiple part-time and full-time jobs with substantial earnings from April 2017 to July 2019 as a security guard, the Board found that he was employable throughout his appeal period.