GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information and the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's gastrointestinal issues are being recharacterized as celiac disease, and he is considered to have participated in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current GERD to his military service or any service-connected conditions. The Board concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection and could not establish secondary service connection due to lack of medical opinion supporting such a link.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues except prostate/penis injury and psychiatric disorder claims have been dismissed. The remaining claims are being remanded.

The Veteran's GERD symptoms, including severe shoulder and chest pain, missing and cracked teeth due to acid reflux, and issues with sleep quality, are productive of severe impairment of health. The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for GERD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for GERD with a hiatal hernia due to insufficient compliance with previous instructions and conflicting medical opinions. The case is returned for further development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a left ankle condition and remanded it. The Veteran's left inguinal hernia residual condition is rated at 10 percent, but the Board found no evidence of an active left inguinal hernia in recent examinations and denied a higher rating. The scars from previous surgeries are also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and GERD, as well as service connection for right ear pain, are being remanded due to the addition of new VA-obtained evidence that has not been considered by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for GERD with eosinophilic esophagitis (also claimed as esophageal stricture, spasms, and gastritis) is being remanded due to the RO not having issued a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his reports of in-service symptoms and treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the aggravation of his service-connected ulcerative colitis by other conditions. The effective dates and ratings remain pending further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his heart conditions, which led to his death. The VA is instructed to obtain updated treatment records and provide a medical opinion on this issue.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for GERD is granted. The claims of entitlement to service connection for GERD and IBS are remanded, and a higher disability rating for bilateral plantar fascitis with pes planus is also remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and GERD. The Veteran's PTSD is alleged to have contributed to or exacerbated his sleep apnea, but an addendum opinion is needed regarding whether it caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the remaining issues on appeal. Specifically, a VA examination should be provided to determine the nature and etiology of any gastrointestinal disability found to be present during the pendency of this appeal. The Veteran's entitlement to TDIU rating also requires clarification regarding her current employment status.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's withdrawal of her appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder (other specified trauma stressor related disorder) based on secondary aggravation by the Veteran's service-connected seizure disorder. The claims of service connection for loss of concentration, memory loss, chronic pain syndrome, urinary tract disorder, gastroesophageal disorder, and migraine headaches have been denied.

The Veteran's GERD, abdominal pain, gastric ulcers, and fatty liver did not have their onset in service or within a year of service, are not related to service, and are not due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,Prostate cancer is presumed to be related to service. The examiner should determine if it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's prostate cancer was incurred in or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome has been reopened, and the reduction of his peptic ulcer disease rating from 60% to 20% is restored. Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted with a rating of 70 percent effective September 25, 2019. Other conditions have been granted as well.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for GERD and right knee disability due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.