GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for TMJ syndrome, GERD, fibromyalgia, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's disabilities and his exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities before May 21, 2019. The issues are inextricably intertwined, so both must be addressed together.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as a need for additional medical opinions regarding his low back disability, hearing loss, tinnitus, acid reflux, chronic cough, and heart disability.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, but granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and headaches.,Service connection was also denied for carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete compliance with previous directives. The primary issue is determining which of the two disorders, cirrhosis or GERD, is predominant.

Service connection is denied for right shoulder, left shoulder, and hypertension disorders.,Service connection is granted for unspecified mental health disorder (depressive disorder with anxious distress features), sleep apnea, and headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral varicose veins and foot disorders due to outstanding relevant records not being obtained. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)(1) is granted, as he meets the criteria with a combined rating of 100 percent due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to new evidence received since the last decisions. The AOJ will review this additional evidence and issue a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for dry eyes, dry mouth, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) due to inextricably intertwined issues with a raised claim of service connection for Sjogren's syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's GERD and whether it is secondary to her service-connected other specified depressive disorder with anxious distress.

The Veteran's GERD, Barrett’s esophagitis, and esophageal ulcers were not shown to have started during service or within a year of discharge. The Board found no causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of GERD with Barrett’s esophagus is dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for the removal of the left testicle, attributing it to a lack of evidence linking the condition to service or any service-connected disability. The Veteran's claim was based on exposure to depleted uranium during his time as a combat engineer.,Service connection was also denied for GERD, with the Board finding no evidence that the condition began in service or was related to any service-connected disability.

The Board dismissed the claim of entitlement to service connection for stomach problems with reflux and hiccups, as it had already been granted in a previous decision. The issue of secondary service connection for GERD was remanded.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 10 percent for the entire appeal period, but a higher rating is denied.,For the right shoulder condition, a 20 percent initial rating was granted effective August 11, 2020. A higher rating is denied prior to that date and from August 11, 2020 onwards.,The Veteran's right knee condition does not warrant an increased evaluation.,The Veteran's right ankle degenerative joint disease does not warrant a higher initial evaluation.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided in October 2019 were inadequate for adjudicative purposes. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to provide addendum VA medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including right ear hearing loss, low back condition, left knee condition, left hip condition, cholecystitis, and GERD.