GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for GERD and remanded the issues of rating excess of 20 percent for thoracolumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but has remanded the issues of service connection for cardiovascular disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's duodenitis with GERD was rated at 20 percent prior to September 19, 2012 and denied increased ratings. From September 19, 2012 to November 12, 2014, the Veteran received a 40 percent rating which is also denied. The Veteran now receives a maximum allowable 60 percent rating from November 13, 2014.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The appeals for other conditions and issues were dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and bilateral Achilles tendon tears, finding that his conditions were not caused by or aggravated by his active duty service. The Board also found no secondary service connection as his service-connected disabilities did not cause or aggravate his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right upper extremity disability and a rating in excess of 60 percent for GERD due to insufficient medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded as additional information from the Veteran is needed.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim for service connection for stomach disorder is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as the evidence did not establish a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty, including his deployment to Iraq in 2005.

The Veteran's GERD rating was restored to 10 percent, and the RO remanded for further action on her shin splints claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim. The Veteran's fatigue is attributed to other conditions, including sleep apnea and anemia. Therefore, service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.

The Veteran's GERD symptoms have more nearly approximated the criteria for a 30 percent increased disability rating, warranting an increase in his current 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, acne, and tension headaches as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not significantly impair his ability to obtain or sustain gainful employment prior to July 17, 2015. The Board denied the claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to an administrative error in the previous decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding a proposed reduction in the total schedular rating for service-connected gastrointestinal stromal tumor status post removal with GERD, hiatal hernia, postgastrectomy syndrome, and IBS.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety and depression, is dismissed as the claim was already granted in a previous decision.,Service connection for an unspecified digestive disorder is denied because there is no evidence of current disability.

Your pension benefits were initially granted, but you also received service-connected disability compensation. Since the service-connected disability covers your entire appeal period for pension, your initial pension claim is dismissed.

The Veteran's chronic headaches, enlarged prostate with lower urinary tract symptoms, and gastroesophageal reflux disease have been granted 10 percent evaluations. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, neurological disorder of the left lower extremity, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, and left hip disorder due to insufficient evidence or conflicting opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for esophageal carcinoma and GERD with Barrett’s esophagitis, finding that the evidence does not support a nexus to service.

The Board denied service connection for steatohepatitis and a gastrointestinal disorder, including GERD, finding that the conditions were not related to active duty service.