GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's GERD with duodenal ulcers and esophagitis is currently rated at 60 percent from July 1, 2018. The appeal for a higher rating has been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted. The GERD increased rating and TDIU claims are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including eye disability (glaucoma), sleep apnea, colon polyps, GERD, hypothyroidism, restrictive lung disease, and adrenal gland tumor. The decision also notes that the Veteran is in receipt of Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits but has not provided relevant SSA records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for GERD.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a left-hand strain was granted. The issue of service connection for a stomach disorder, bilateral foot disorder and cervical spine disorder were remanded.,Service connection for a stomach disorder is denied as there is no credible evidence that the Veteran underwent an in-service event, injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient discussion of evidence in the previous decision and the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, type II, gastroesophageal reflux disease (claimed as Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal varices), and service connection based on secondary to service-connected conditions. Additional VA treatment records were recently obtained and must be associated with the claims file.

The Board has remanded the cases of CFS, sleep apnea, and GERD due to issues with obtaining medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for service-connected allergic rhinitis is denied.,An initial increased disability rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted. The effective date is May 9, 2013.

The Board has ordered remand for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his service-connected lower back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and GERD. The remand requires additional development to address inconsistencies in diagnoses, assess functional loss due to flare-ups, and determine whether the Veteran’s symptoms are attributable to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's GERD and IBS with GERD are granted initial ratings of 10 percent prior to May 9, 2012, and 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is granted as service-connected due to aggravation during service. The issue of allergic rhinitis has been rendered moot by a December 2019 rating decision granting the claim. Service connection for GERD and sleep apnea remains pending, with new evidence required. The Veteran's arthritis of the bilateral feet is also pending.

The Board denied service connection for GERD and anal fistula, finding no current evidence of these conditions. The claim for an increased rating for hemorrhoids was also denied.,Service connection for hemorrhoids remains denied as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of persistent bleeding or fissures.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were remanded. The case must be returned to the AOJ for further consideration on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, examinations, and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives, specifically regarding an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran's GERD is secondary to his service-connected PTSD disorder.

The Board has ordered remand due to inadequate rationale in the August 2016 VA examination report, specifically regarding whether the Veteran's digestive disorder is related to his service-connected disabilities and if any of his service-connected conditions caused or aggravated his GERD.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C and lichen planus, finding that the evidence does not support a link to service. Service connection for GERD is remanded due to reasonable doubt raised by the Veteran's contention of secondary service connection.,Service connection for hepatitis C was denied because there was no credible evidence linking it to service or any incident therein. The Board also found lichen planus was not linked to service, with the exception that its onset may be related to treatment for hepatitis C.

The Board has ordered a remand due to deficiencies in the October 2020 VA examination report and for additional opinions on the etiology of GERD/hiatal hernia, including whether it is related to service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's GERD was initially rated at 10 percent prior to December 3, 2019 and is now rated at 30 percent from that date. The Board found considerable impairment of health due to the symptoms.