GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's GERD is related to service. The VA examiner did not address a private treatment record that diagnosed GERD without esophagitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, GERD, Barrett's esophagus, back disability, and bilateral hand/finger disability due to incomplete service records and inconsistencies in medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to November 8, 2016. The Board found that his employment history and education level were sufficient to support his claim of unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's esophageal disability at least as likely as not began during active service or is related to active service. The issues of service connection and rating assigned are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an upper-gastrointestinal disorder other than his already service-connected gastritis with peptic ulcer disease, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as there was no evidence that it was caused or incurred in service, and the medical opinions did not support a secondary relationship to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected GERD prior to November 11, 2021, and in excess of 30 percent disabling thereafter is being remanded due to the AOJ not substantially complying with prior remand directives.

The Board has remanded the case for a new medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's GERD had its onset in service and if it increased during his active-duty period from October 2001 to December 2001. The current opinions are deemed inadequate.

The Veteran's GERD is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes, back condition, glaucoma, GERD, right shoulder condition, and left femur condition due to insufficient evidence on whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran is competent to report his symptoms in service.

The Board has determined that VA must make an additional attempt to obtain the Veteran's treatment records from various VAMCs and provide addendum opinions regarding GERD and hypothyroidism.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's GERD had its onset during service. As a result, the claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for gastric polyps and GERD due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Multiple Sclerosis and Acid Reflux associated with Multiple Sclerosis due to inadequate medical opinions. The claims are also remanded for a determination on entitlement to specially adapted housing.

The Board has remanded the claims for a 30 percent rating for right wrist condition and service connection for GERD as secondary to allergic rhinitis and/or asthma with obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete information in the record.

The Veteran's GERD was granted a disability rating of 30 percent prior to December 30, 2021, and a disability rating of 60 percent from that date. The Board found reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, granting the higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU due to GERD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show symptoms of severe impairment of health, which is required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's request to restore a 30 percent rating for GERD is granted, effective January 1, 2019.,The Veteran's claim for a higher than 30 percent rating for GERD is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his lower back disability is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, GERD, hypertension, IBS, and depression. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service events.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to and had its onset in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.