GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted due to his service-connected disabilities, including voiding dysfunction and diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities. The Board finds that he is not capable of obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and experience.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetic retinopathy is granted as a complication of his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus. The Board also grants service connection for insomnia, but denies service connection for sleep apnea, acid reflux, skin disorder, headache disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for respiratory, heart, gastrointestinal, lumbar spine, and acquired psychiatric disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, diverticulitis, and a psychiatric disability are all denied.,Service connection cannot be established as the claimed conditions are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple issues have been dismissed due to the Veteran requesting a withdrawal of all appeal matters.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA etiology opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected asthma and/or GERD. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for vasomotor rhinitis. The issue of service connection for gastric condition (stomach disability) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, sinusitis, headaches, acid reflux, esophagitis, thyroid, and abdominal hernia have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal.,Service connection has been granted for lumbar spine DDD, sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities, left hip osteoarthritis, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back arthritis, low back strain, bilateral shoulder arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral hip strain, including as a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The claims are being returned to VA for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and to clarify his reported in-service hospitalization. The claims for service connection are therefore being remanded.

The Veteran's GERD was granted an increased rating to 30 percent effective March 28, 2019. The Board found the evidence insufficient for a higher initial rating prior to that date and remanded the claim of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to her service-connected digestive disabilities is denied because she has already been awarded a 100% schedular rating and special monthly compensation since June 1, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's motion to revise a previous decision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error, finding that there was no CUE in the March 2019 decision.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disability, migraine, and tension headache are related to his service-connected disabilities or tobacco use.

The Board denied service connection for heart problems, right leg pain, back and side pain, bilateral foot pain, unsteady gait and dizzy spells, GERD, prostate cancer, dental problems, hemorrhoids, throat pain and bumps. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to service.,The Board also denied service connection for headaches, acquired psychiatric condition (to include PTSD), rash on face and arms, and bilateral eye pain.

The Board has remanded the claims to reopen for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hypertension due to new evidence being added to the file. The AOJ is required to obtain service personnel records and clinic records from Germany, review all associated evidence, and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case if warranted.

The Veteran's GERD was granted a disability rating of 30 percent but no higher since May 13, 2014. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher 60 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to a lack of clarity on whether it is caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder and associated GERD. The examiner must provide an opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for PTSD, a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and GERD with hiatal hernia are remanded.