GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and a need for further development regarding service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hiatal hernia.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for atrial fibrillation and erectile dysfunction was granted.,The Veteran’s petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, enlarged prostate, and erectile dysfunction was denied due to lack of new and material evidence within a year of the January 2009 rating decision.,Entitlement to service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted as secondary to service-connected peritoneal adhesions.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for fibromyalgia was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis and the absence of evidence linking it to service-connected conditions.,Entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) for aid and attendance is granted.,The Veteran’s petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and enlarged prostate was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's rehabilitation plan and vocational rehabilitation services need to be reviewed due to her request for a change in her long-term goal from obtaining an engineering degree to pursuing a medical doctorate. The discontinuance of her VR&E services was also challenged, and both issues are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to incomplete VAMC treatment records, inadequate VA examinations, and other issues.

The Board has remanded the cases of GERD and headaches due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous examinations. New examinations are required for a determination on whether these conditions were incurred during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and missing treatment records, requiring further evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected hypertrophic gastritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and GERD, as they are related to herbicide exposure and PTSD respectively. The AOJ is required to obtain additional opinions from medical examiners addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's conditions in light of updated research on hypertension and a specific medical article regarding antidepressants and GERD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), psoriasis, and thyroid disorder (claimed as Grave’s Disease) due to insufficient reasoning in previous decisions. The appeals are being remanded for addendum opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED), tinnitus, headaches, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) effective June 9, 2018. Effective dates prior to this date are denied.

The Board denied service connection for chest pain and GERD, as well as a skin condition of the face, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities not precluding him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's right thigh scar, headaches, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and neck disability have been granted increased ratings. The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy and peripheral vestibular disease remain denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has also been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of 50 percent for PTSD has been denied. The Board found that his symptoms, while significant, did not meet the criteria for a 70 percent or higher rating due to insufficient occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle pain, and joint pain as the evidence did not support a link to service or Gulf War exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of esophagus disorder, increased disability evaluations for left-inguinal hernioplasty and epididymitis, and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The decision found that GERD was not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's GERD was initially evaluated as 20 percent disabling from December 1, 2015 to April 18, 2016.,From April 19, 2016 to July 14, 2020, the Veteran received a 30 percent evaluation for GERD.,Effective July 15, 2020, the Veteran was granted a 60 percent evaluation for his GERD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to a lack of an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated her GERD.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) and remanded other issues related to the Veteran's disabilities.