GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and new evidence.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis as of December 2, 2013. The decision is based on the combined impact of his service-connected conditions: PTSD, Parkinson's disease, and GERD.

The Veteran's GERD with Barrett's esophagitis is granted an increased rating of 10 percent. The request to reopen the claim for service connection for asthma is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral hand, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are service-connected. GERD, sleep apnea, and breathing disorder were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, recurrent headache disability, and gastrointestinal disability are remanded due to inadequate evaluations.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including chronic adjustment disorder with alcohol use disorder, right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, GERD, and left foot scar. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and review of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to lose the use of both feet, qualifying him for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for acid reflux, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, residuals of left ankle fracture, and urinary incontinence secondary to a psychiatric disorder. The other claims remain denied as new evidence does not relate to these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI residuals, post-concussive seizures, and tinnitus have been granted. The Veteran also received a grant of TDIU benefits from November 14, 2019, and SMC based on the statutory housebound rate.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, and various other conditions. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development of records and for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as there is no evidence of a gastrointestinal or gastroesophageal disorder during service, and any current disorders are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) based on evidence showing the Veteran experienced symptoms during his military service and was diagnosed with GERD after separation.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his active duty service. The Board finds that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran's current asthma is related to his active duty service and remands this issue for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and therefore no service connection decisions were made for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's GERD with Barrett's esophagus and hiatal hernia is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of symptoms warranting such an increase.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as due to the lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder strain is granted. The initial rating for his TBI with dizziness and unspecified depressive disorder remains at 40 percent, but the initial rating for headaches is increased to 50 percent. His ratings for bilateral knee ITB syndrome remain denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disability, left knee disability, and GERD due to service connection issues. The claims are pending further development.