GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2022

The Board has denied service connection for cerebellar ataxia, prostate cancer, kidney stones, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hypertension as these conditions were not incurred during active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need to obtain updated VA treatment records since January 12, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for gastrointestinal disability, including gastritis, GERD, Barrett's Esophagus, pyrosis, and hiatal hernia. The evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability had its onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD and secondary service connection for a stomach ulcer. The Veteran's GERD was incurred during his active service, and the stomach ulcer is proximately due to his GERD.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his initial compensable evaluation for GERD with hiatal hernia is being remanded due to the VA examiner's failure to explain why she discounted the Veteran's reported symptoms and their frequency and severity, as well as the addition of records pertinent to his condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for a dental disability for treatment purposes, but has remanded the issue of service connection for gastrointestinal disorders.

The Board has determined that additional development and examination are needed for the issues on appeal due to outstanding private treatment records, worsening symptoms of GERD, and assertions regarding undiagnosed illnesses. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to active service.,For skeletal arthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bowel disability, the Board also denied service connection as there was no persuasive evidence of their onset in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the VA opinions obtained in October 2021 are inadequate for several of the issues, and thus these claims must be remanded again to obtain new medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep apnea, back condition, GERD, dyspepsia, headaches, and erectile dysfunction will need to be addressed based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral eye disability, headaches, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and chloracne. The decision also noted that an effective date earlier than March 24, 2017, for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, unspecified anxiety disorder, and mood disorder due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the current disabilities and service. Service connection was also not granted for GERD or HTN as there is insufficient information to verify in-service stressors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current GERD and his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of a headache disability and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of sleep apnea and GERD, as they involve secondary service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and pes planus have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise as to whether these conditions began during military service, thus granting service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for an independent medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran developed additional disabilities as a result of his May 2012 hiatal hernia surgery, and if so, whether these were caused by VA's carelessness or negligence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he can perform the tasks required in sedentary employment with reasonable accommodations.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the current condition.,Service connection was also denied for a joint condition (fibromyalgia), vertigo, sinus condition, headache condition (migraines), and gastrointestinal disability (GERD and hiatal hernia).

The Veteran's lung condition, including asthma and GERD, is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding his exposure to burn pits in service and whether his medications have caused or aggravated his GERD and asthma.