GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rhinitis as a chronic respiratory condition is granted.,The claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus and sleep apnea are found to be related to his active service.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus and sleep apnea. However, the Veteran's GERD and IBS conditions remain unresolved as further examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's IBS with GERD was granted a higher disability rating of 30 percent from December 28, 2007 to February 16, 2022. For the entire period on appeal, a higher disability rating in excess of 30 percent for IBS with GERD is denied.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD is granted a 10 percent rating prior to September 19, 2018. A higher than 10 percent rating for the condition is denied. The effective date of service connection for facial injury is granted as May 4, 2016. Service connection for Vitamin D deficiency secondary to GERD medication is remanded.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 10% and GERD with hiatal hernia is also rated at 10%. The appeals for left elbow olecranon spurs and allergic rhinitis are denied.,No new evidence or changes in the service-connected conditions were presented, resulting in no change to existing ratings.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of infectious hepatitis was denied. The claims for service connection for anemia, stomach problems (gastroesophageal reflux disease and abdominal hole with damage/scarred liver), gastritis, hiatal hernia, rectum pain/leakage, and headaches were all denied as secondary to service-connected hepatitis. The claim for service connection for pes planus was remanded.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and gastroesophageal reflux disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.,Specifically, the Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's hypertension, erectile dysfunction, or gastroesophageal reflux disease and his active duty service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue disorder, and GERD were not granted service connection. The effective date for the grant of a 20% rating for her lumbar spine disability was denied.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis and GERD have been granted service connection. The right ankle disability is remanded for further examination.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disorder and remanded other issues including asthma, GERD, migraine headaches, and insomnia. The Veteran needs to be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's neck disability appeal has been withdrawn and dismissed.,Claims for service connection for right eye glaucoma and left eye glaucoma have been reopened due to new evidence submitted since the September 2015 rating decision.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at 10 percent prior to February 13, 2019 and greater than 30 percent thereafter. The claim for a higher rating remains pending.,The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent. A higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim requires additional medical examination to determine its relationship to service.,Service connection for PTSD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination in April 2019.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy greater than 10 percent are both remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left eye glaucoma secondary to service-connected disabilities must be remanded due to inadequate VA examination in November 2018.

The Board has denied service connection for respiratory disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), headaches, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability. The claims for bilateral elbow and wrist disabilities are remanded.

The Board has vacated the March 23, 2021 decision due to the Veteran's death prior to issuance. Service connection for multiple myeloma, ventricular arrhythmias, GERD, and bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and a rating higher than 10 percent for his left knee disability are denied. However, he is granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee throughout the period under consideration. The remaining claims (for GERD, cervical strain, and sleep disorder) are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and gastrointestinal disability, including GERD and hiatal hernia, both claimed as related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's bowel obstruction and GERD symptoms from June 30, 2010 to June 29, 2011 were rated at 30 percent due to persistent gastrointestinal distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation. The rating was granted as the evidence supported that these conditions caused considerable impairment of health.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, chronic sinusitis, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), all associated with herbicide exposure.,Service connection was also granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Barrett's esophagus, both secondary to service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has denied service connection for a skin disorder and gastrointestinal disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a nexus to active service or exposure events. The case is remanded for further development regarding a newly raised theory of secondary service connection based on a service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU effective November 16, 2020. The appeal is remanded for consideration of TDIU prior to this date.