GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the retrieval of relevant medical records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and GERD with gastroparesis, as well as entitlement to TDIU, have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing these issues from appeal following remand by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection under the PACT Act, while other conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, depressive disorder, TBI, and related disabilities, were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or link to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence for a left eardrum disability. The other issues are being remanded as well.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its remand directives for the claims of service connection for duodenal ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain addendum VA medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the claims file contains newly received relevant evidence and requires a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) to be issued by the RO. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obesity and PTSD, are found to be the cause or aggravation of his CHF. The Board has granted service connection for CHF secondary to these conditions. Additionally, the Veteran is granted a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The claims for GERD and COPD secondary to CHF are remanded.

The Veteran's brain cancer is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims for sleep apnea, lung nodules, asthma, and GERD are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or herbicide agent exposure.

The Board dismissed the appeal of higher initial staged ratings for GERD as it was not within the Board's appellate purview due to a final decision in February 2022.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of GERD, and the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board dismissed all appeals as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for GERD was denied, and his appeal for a higher initial rating for GERD was also denied. The Board found that no evidence existed to support an earlier effective date than March 14, 2014, for the grant of service connection. For the entire appeal period, the Veteran's GERD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7346.

The Veteran's GERD has been rated at a 30 percent rating since September 11, 2018. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran met or more nearly approximated the criteria required for a 30 percent rating under DC 7346 throughout the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for squamous cell carcinoma, hemochromatosis, porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to her in-service lab work, which exposed her to veterans who were exposed to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between his in-service complaints and his current condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to September 3, 2013 was denied as his increase in disability and worsening of symptoms were factually ascertainable on a date specific in the year prior to September 3, 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and has remanded the issue of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 eligibility for a left hand 4th metacarpal condition.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary crown permanently cemented on tooth #30 was denied as there is no current disability.,Service connection for cystitis and thyroid nodular disease were both denied due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's GERD is related to his service. The Veteran was diagnosed with GERD and claims it is linked to a condition he had while in service, but no VA examination has been conducted yet.