GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed for the GERD, high blood pressure, and respiratory disorder claims due to new VA medical records submitted after the transfer of the appeal to the Board. The Veteran's GERD claim will be remanded for an addendum opinion on whether it is aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus type II or obstructive sleep apnea. The high blood pressure claim will be remanded for an addendum opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and obesity, as well as whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus type II or obstructive sleep apnea. The respiratory disorder claim will be remanded for clarification of the presence of a COPD diagnosis during active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for gastrointestinal disorders. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development and consideration.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, hiatal hernia, and HTN. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection as there was no in-service diagnosis or treatment of these conditions.

The appeal for urinary tract infection and urinary retention is dismissed. The appeals for erectile dysfunction and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service connection due to qualifying service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.,Service connection for GERD and gastritis with hiatal hernia is denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examinations and evaluations due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's conditions, particularly in relation to their service connection.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for headaches with migrainous features was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to lack of characteristic prostrating attacks.,A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has a left hip disability, right hip disability, or disorder manifested by pain and itching in the ears related to service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction (to include as secondary to PTSD) and grinding teeth (to include as secondary to PTSD) needs further examination. The examiner should determine if these conditions are caused or aggravated by PTSD.,A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has GERD related to service, and whether it is caused or aggravated by any service-connected disease or injury.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sinusitis, GERD, sleep apnea, and wrist disabilities due to incomplete examination reports and lack of consideration of certain factors. The case will be returned to the Board for further development.

The Veteran's left knee, low back, and right hip disabilities are found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder.,Service connection has been granted for fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), both deemed presumptively due to Southwest Asia service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal should be re-docketed under the Legacy system and his March 2019 VA Form 10182 is accepted as a timely NOD for the issues on appeal. The Veteran must file a VA Form 9 substantive appeal to perfect his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability and obesity as an intermediate step. The evidence is at least evenly balanced on whether the service-connected right shoulder disability and medications caused the Veteran to become obese, which in turn substantially contributed to his GERD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lower back condition, stomach condition, left knee condition, migraine headaches, GERD, and hypertension due to current diagnoses and credible testimony of in-service symptoms.,Service connection is not granted as there are no diagnosed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for an upper gastrointestinal disability, specifically acid reflux, as the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active duty service. The evidence clearly and unmistakably established that the condition pre-existed his second period of active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disorder, gastric disorder (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are not supported by the evidence of record. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding treatment records and the need for VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other health issues, due to the appellant withdrawing her appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA is reopened and granted as the condition is found to be secondary to his service-connected residuals of a nasal fracture.,Service connection for GERD and ED are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service or a service-connected disability, including medication taken for sinusitis and/or residuals of a sinus fracture.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, is denied due to insufficient evidence supporting the claimed stressor.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not productive of flexion limited to at least 30 degrees, extension limited to at least 10 degrees, or ankylosis. The symptoms associated with his GERD prior to November 30, 2015 were not productive of persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation.,Beginning November 30, 2015, the Veteran's GERD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, GERD, and an acquired psychiatric disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hiatal hernia with GERD, lumbar strain with spinal stenosis, disc bulge, and spondylosis, left knee patellofemoral compartment and pain syndrome, right knee osteoarthritis with patella femoral pain syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.