GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's right fourth finger and right shoulder disabilities are granted as related to active duty service.,His hiatal hernia is also granted, with the rating assigned based on his existing GERD condition.

The Veteran's GERD is considered to have started during his active military service while deployed, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disabilities, including IBS, GERD, and gastritis, have been rated at 30 percent. The Board has granted a higher rating of 60 percent for these conditions.

The Veteran's back disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, and GERD have been granted service connection. The Veteran is now rated at 30% for his GERD.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and ulcerative colitis with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/hiatal hernia have been granted initial ratings of 40 percent and 30 percent, respectively, for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal.,Service connection for a back disorder was reopened due to new evidence received since the May 2013 rating decision. The claim of service connection for thoracolumbar disc space narrowing with degeneration and spondylosis and right knee residuals of remote partial thickness tear of the right ACL fibular collateral ligament sprain is granted.,Service connection for headaches is granted as the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether the Veteran has a disability caused by his PTSD.,Service connection for TBI residuals is denied due to lack of competent and credible evidence showing causation.,A 30 percent rating for GERD since February 1, 2018 is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and additional development. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, chronic pancreatitis, and esophageal disability.

The Veteran's application to reopen a previously denied service connection claim for PTSD was received on December 19, 2017. The Board denied the claim in January 2015 and found that there is no presumption of 'secondary exposure' based on being near or handling equipment once used in Vietnam.,Evidence submitted since the January 2015 decision does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's contentions regarding his alleged exposure to Agent Orange are identical to those previously addressed by the Board.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the previous remand directives, and additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims. This includes verifying Southwest Asia service during the Persian Gulf War and providing in-person examinations for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for service connection of IBS with gastritis and GERD with hiatal hernia, and lumbago was dismissed.,An effective date of August 29, 2007, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for radiculopathy, left lower extremity, is granted.

The Veteran's GERD with esophageal gastritis has been rated at 60 percent for the period prior to April 6, 2021 due to persistent symptoms including substernal pain and regurgitation.

The Board dismissed the appeals for gastroesophageal reflux disease and plantar warts removal as the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal.

The claim is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected gastritis with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has found a need for additional evidence to determine if the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is related to his service, and whether it was caused or aggravated by any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial rating for heart disease is denied. Service connection for a cervical spine disability and GERD are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his acquired psychiatric disorder and asthma, prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to August 28, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board is remanding them due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's shin splints affecting the left leg have been rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,The claims for residuals from cold weather injury, right leg shin splints, GERD, sleep apnea, and left knee disability are all remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of all theories raised by the Veteran and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's sleep apnea is being reviewed again, including his exposure to toxins from smoke or fire.

The Veteran's GERD and gastritis have been rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that the symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of considerable impairment of health.