GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's chronic rhinitis, chronic cough, vocal fold atrophy with hoarseness, and GERD are all granted as service-connected due to exposure to burn pits while serving in Iraq.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on the presumption of exposure to environmental agents.

The Veteran's appeals for GERD, irritable colon syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD including a personality disorder, rectal bleeding, and a right testicular condition have been dismissed. The appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. Service connection for asthma pursuant to the PACT Act is also granted.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for back condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, plantar fasciitis, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a left ankle disability, right hip disability status post total right hip replacement, and gastric disability, to include GERD. The AOJ will obtain SSA records, provide an addendum opinion on the etiology of the right hip disability, and schedule a TERA examination for the gastric disability.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to his service in Vietnam.,Service connection for headaches and vision disability is denied. The Veteran's GERD has been rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of claim filing.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and the Veteran's active duty service.

The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) is dismissed. The claims of service connection for fibromyalgia, IBS, and a skin disorder of the bilateral feet are reopened. Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), obesity, and diabetes mellitus are denied. An increased rating for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 6, 2018 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities alone.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she withdrew all remaining issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to VA dental treatment is remanded as the current evidence does not clearly establish whether he has an additional disability caused by such treatment, and further examination is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and Barrett's Esophagus as secondary to GERD are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ is required to obtain VA treatment records from 1997 to 2005 and from 2006 to 2012, and provide an addendum opinion regarding the onset of GERD.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for an esophageal condition, including eosinophilic esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), due to insufficient evidence in the claims file. The Veteran's medical history and lay statements are considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants service connection for GERD as secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was not filed within one year from the May 2018 rating decision, which resulted in a denial for increased PTSD and service connection for right foot pain, sinus nasal congestion, tinnitus, and GERD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were denied as there was no evidence of symptoms warranting a compensable disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to consider post-service treatment records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) in determining whether the Veteran's GERD is related to his service.

The Veteran's GERD is found to be etiologically linked to his active-duty service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for plantar fasciitis in both feet and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and SSA records. The case will be returned to the Board after this information has been obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, GERD, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and tremors has been granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is set at May 4, 2012. A TDIU due solely to PTSD was granted as of May 1, 2022. Service connection for other conditions remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and digestive disorder due to lack of evidence meeting VA standards for a current disability. The Veteran's contentions regarding etiology are not considered sufficient to establish service connection.