GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for GERD and its relationship to sinusitis. The Veteran's lay statements are considered, as well as his in-service diagnoses of gastritis.

The Board has determined that the VA examination opinion is inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's gastritis, right upper quadrant pain, or GERD was incurred in service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected GERD, finding that the medical literature supports a causal relationship between the two conditions.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU and SMC based on housebound status from April 15, 2015 due to service-connected mental disorders and additional disabilities independently rated at 60% or more.

Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), gastrointestinal disorder disability other than GERD, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) with vertigo and dizziness are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee anterior cruciate ligament tear and instability are denied as the evidence does not show compensable limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatic steatosis, scleroderma, and GERD due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Additional evidence is needed, including private treatment records from Baton Rouge General Hospital, and a new VA examination and etiological opinion are required.

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia is rated at a 30 percent rating from April 1, 2005 to April 4, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee meniscal tear. The issues of service connection for right knee disability, hypertension, skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma), and gastroesophageal reflux disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's gastrointestinal conditions and his service, specifically his presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's initial rating for left ankle disability is granted at a 20 percent level. Service connection for cold injury to the hands and hematosis acid reflux indigestion (GERD) are remanded due to inadequate nexus opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his lumbar spine, knee, and shoulder disabilities are being remanded to obtain additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for migraine headaches, stroke residuals, back disorder, left knee disorder, sleep apnea, GERD, and heart disorder due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for pseudofolliculitis barbae, right and left knee disabilities, bilateral foot disability, migraine headaches, psychiatric disability, hypertension, stomach disability (acid reflux), cervical spine disability, low back disability, sleep apnea, hemorrhoids, surgical scar on lower back, neurological disability of the left lower extremity, and neurological disability of the right lower extremity. Additional development is required to obtain updated VA medical treatment records and properly executed releases for any private care providers who have treated the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for acid reflux and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal and gastroesophageal disorders due to inconsistencies in a previous VA examiner's opinion. The Veteran will need to provide additional evidence, and a new VA examination is required.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety, is related to his service. The issues of gastroesophageal reflux disease and ischemic heart disease have been withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, migraines, chronic bronchitis, hemorrhoids, acid reflux, and insomnia have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service occurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, with a higher rating of 30 percent.,The Veteran's left foot pes planus (flatfoot) is granted an increased rating to 30 percent.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted an increased rating to 30 percent.