GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of GERD, finding that it is not related to his active military service and was caused by non-service-connected risk factors such as obesity and smoking.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hammertoes, hypertension, muscle and joint disorders of various body parts, upper and lower gastrointestinal tract disorders, eye disorder, sleep apnea, surgical scars, and headache disorder due to incomplete service records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's chronic sinus disorder is currently rated as noncompensable, but the Board has granted a 10 percent rating for this condition.,Service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder remains remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's bipolar II disorder is now rated at 100% effective November 6, 2016. His low back disability is now rated at 40% effective April 15, 2014. The Veteran's GERD and Parkinsonism are both newly service-connected.

The Veteran's GERD is rated 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's left knee strain with instability and shin splints, left knee strain with limitation of flexion, right knee strain with instability and shin splints, and right knee strain with limitation of flexion are all rated 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions warrant higher ratings.,The Veteran's left ankle sprain and right ankle sprain are both rated 10 percent disabling. Additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions warrant higher ratings.,The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative arthritis is rated 20 percent disabling, but the Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if this rating is appropriate.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy are both rated 10 percent disabling. Additional evidence is needed to determine if these ratings are appropriate.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his GERD was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's GERD is aggravated by his service-connected sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), respiratory disorder, and bilateral hearing loss are pending. The issues of service connection for these conditions have been remanded.,Service connection will be determined based on the merits of each claim.

The Veteran's GERD is granted a 30% rating, effective June 22, 2004.,Left ear hearing loss remains at a non-compensable rating. Right ear hearing loss is reopened to service connection but not yet established as service-connected.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for right ear hearing loss. The claim will be further adjudicated by reopening it, pending additional evidence or development.,The Board finds that there is no current disability of right ear hearing loss for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis are granted service connection. The Board also remanded the issues of sleep apnea, right elbow disability, left elbow disability, GERD, IBS, migraine headaches, and hypertension for further development.

The Veteran's GERD has been granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent effective August 30, 2011. The appeal is not about service connection but rather the assignment of a specific disability rating.

The Veteran's GERD was granted service connection as it had its onset during his military service and is related to his service.

The Veteran's GERD with Barrett's esophagitis and esophageal stricture is granted a 50 percent evaluation, while the esophageal stricture is granted a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine. The issue of service connection for a gastroesophageal or gastrointestinal disability (claimed as 'gastrointestinal disability') is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal disorder (GERD) as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Board has decided that a rating in excess of 10 percent for TMJ is denied, and the service connection claim for GERD (claimed as secondary to PTSD) is remanded due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the December 2019 VA examination and because of the Veteran's representative's argument that PTSD medications have caused or aggravated her gastrointestinal disorder. The case is now being returned for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a clarifying VA opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder.

The Veteran's GERD is granted an initial rating of 30 percent, but no higher. TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability and GERD due to outstanding VA treatment records, updated employment information, and additional examinations. The Veteran's last VA examinations assessing his disabilities were in August 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including ACM and its secondary effects on other conditions. The Veteran's attorney requested a hearing but did not appear. Further medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.