GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and GERD as secondary to service-connected PTSD due to insufficient evidence in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations related to various conditions, including PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD, asthma, lumbar degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy, and eye disorders. The appeal is being returned to the RO to attempt to obtain records from the Puerto Rico Army National Guard.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate previous opinions regarding his service-connected duodenal ulcer, with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hoarseness, as well as his left hip disabilities. The Veteran will need new medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, right knee disability, gout, acid reflux, sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding records and need for further examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities from February 13, 2017 to January 29, 2018. The decision is based on the evidence showing that these conditions prevented him from performing physically demanding jobs.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, specifically GERD. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board finds that the evidence is evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's other conditions are related to service, and thus grants them based on this finding.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are as likely as not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, effective June 24, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and dismissed the appeals regarding cervical spine disability and radiculopathy of the upper extremities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's current gastrointestinal, gastroesophageal, and right knee disabilities and his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a left foot disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), right knee disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for GERD, IBS, decreased mobility of the abdomen condition, and service connection for ventral hernia. The effective date for the 20% disability rating for ventral hernia is granted as November 3, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a thoracic spine disability and TDIU has been withdrawn. The Board has granted TDIU effective March 13, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and GERD due to inadequate nexus opinions. Additional evidence, including hyperlinked articles submitted by the Veteran's representative, must be considered. An addendum opinion or examination is needed from a different examiner who can address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected. The case for GERD secondary to service-connected disabilities is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 22, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to Gulf War exposure for cardiovascular disability, CFS, GERD, headaches, and muscle pain and joint pain. The VA is required to obtain all relevant records from the Veteran's service in the Gulf War.

The Veteran's GERD is granted a 10 percent evaluation. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a back condition due to insufficient evidence in the April 2021 VA opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for osteoarthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), colonic polyps, and hypothyroidism as there is no current disability of these conditions separate from other diagnosed conditions. The Veteran's claims are not supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of her service-connected status-post cholecystectomy and common bile duct injury repair with GERD. The Board instructed the RO to obtain an additional medical opinion from a gastroenterologist, based on full consideration of her documented medical history.