GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ratings for mast cell activation syndrome, bilateral foot disability, lumbar spine disability, right elbow and shoulder disabilities, scars, gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia, and hemorrhoids. The decision also includes a request for additional evidence from VA and private sources.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding the etiology of the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorders, including GERD, hiatal hernia, peptic ulcer disease, and partial colectomy for adenoma. The examiner is asked to clarify whether these conditions are related to her service-connected status-post cholecystectomy.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, fibrocystic breasts, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), bilateral shin splints, back disability, and left knee disability. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran's claims for neck disability, head injury residuals, shoulder disabilities, and headaches are being reviewed again as the VA examiners did not consider the lay evidence of record.

The Board has denied service connection for a right heel injury and remanded the issues of service connection for GERD and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression disorder).

The Veteran's claims for service connection of acid reflux and diverticulitis secondary to his service-connected status post umbilical hernia repair are remanded due to the need for further development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, GERD, and reproductive issues are granted service connection. The Veteran's GERD is found to be secondary to her service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and the need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's gastrointestinal disabilities are being reviewed again, including considering his military service exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further medical examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions. The issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, as well as service connection for GERD, abdominal tumor residuals, diverticulitis, respiratory condition, headaches, skin rash condition, and joint pains (bilateral shoulder, wrists, knees, lumbar spine) are all remanded.

Service connection for prostate disability, stomach disability (including ulcers and GERD), lung disability (including COPD and asthma), and skin cancer is denied. The Veteran's lung disability and skin cancer are remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left femur fracture.,Service connection has also been granted for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).,However, the claim for gastrointestinal disorder, to include IBS and GERD, is denied. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are due to an undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% and granted a higher rating to 70%. The Board also granted service connection for GERD as secondary to PTSD, and OSA as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran's GERD is remanded for further analysis regarding its relationship to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's GERD is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and acid reflux, as these conditions are secondary to a service-connected disability. The VA will obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The appeal for service connection of a left great toe disability has been dismissed. The appeals for the remaining conditions are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal to the July 1, 2013 rating decision for service connection of various conditions has been granted.

The Board has determined that remand is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for GERD, increased ratings for residual scar of the right great toe and residuals of TBI due to new evidence and examination.

The Veteran's migraine and tension headaches are granted a 50% rating from July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019. A more than 50% rating is denied since July 2, 2019. The Veteran's PTSD with severe alcohol use disorder is granted an initial 70% rating since July 1, 2010. The Veteran's IBS with GERD is granted a combined 60% rating since July 1, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's headaches, night sweats, and gastrointestinal disability. The case will be further evaluated to determine if an extraschedular rating is warranted.