GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, IBS, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, and residuals of a neck injury are all denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is remanded due to the absence of a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a digestive system disorder, bilateral inguinal hernias, right knee strain, and scars of the oblique left and right pubis are being remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his digestive system disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disorder other than irritable bowel syndrome and immune deficiencies, to include low vitamin D and B-12 deficiency. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's GERD and pilonidal scar claims are both denied as the evidence does not support the assignment of any compensable ratings.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorders, including Barrett's disease, GERD, and hiatal hernia, are being remanded for further examination to determine their onset during service or as related to service-connected disabilities. The nature and etiology of the gastrointestinal disorders will also be evaluated.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient development and compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the service-connected gastrointestinal disorder and denied an increased disability rating for hiatal hernia with GERD and Barrett's esophagitis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left upper extremity disability, left knee disability, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to insufficient evidence of improvement in his conditions under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's GERD.

The Veteran's chest pain, GERD, COPD, asthma, and chronic bronchitis are being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's GERD and Barrett's esophagus, as well as their relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, anxiety disorder, and chronic cough to obtain additional medical records and provide examinations.,An effective date prior to January 16, 2014, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board denies his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for gout of the left and right ankles, lumbar spine disability, sinusitis, acid reflux, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, and hypertension as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral eye disorder secondary to service-connected chronic sinusitis is denied.,An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hiatal hernia with GERD prior to July 7, 2022 is denied.,An evaluation in excess of 30 percent for hiatal hernia with GERD beginning July 7, 2022 is denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for higher evaluations and earlier effective dates for his service-connected conditions is remanded due to the need to obtain relevant private treatment records from Dr. R.T.H.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether GERD is related to service and military environmental exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diverticulitis, and diverticulosis due to a lack of discussion regarding the Veteran's report that he initially began experiencing symptoms shortly after service in early 1993. The nature of these conditions as functional or structural gastrointestinal disorders must also be clarified.