GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for gastritis with GERD, Barrett's esophagitis, and globus sensation is being remanded due to the need for additional information from a VA examiner regarding his dysphonia and erythema of the arytenoids.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for OSA and its relationship to GERD. The Veteran's OSA is being evaluated again, specifically addressing whether it was aggravated by his service-connected GERD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the failure to obtain VA examinations and private medical records. The issues include sleep disorders, tinnitus, headaches, breathing conditions, digestive conditions, and psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence suggesting a possible connection between the Veteran's service and his cause of death from cancer. The appellant needs a medical opinion regarding this potential link.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and gastrointestinal disorders other than GERD, including irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis with sigmoid resection. The AOJ is to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for arachnoid cyst, dry eyes (residual of PRK), and acid reflux have been granted. Service connection was denied for corneal opacity (residual of PRK) and tinea pedis. The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for hemorrhoids and umbilical hernia repair scar were also denied.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 30 percent effective December 20, 2022.,Prior to December 20, 2022, the Veteran's eczema was rated as noncompensable. Since then, it has been rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's eczema is rated higher since December 20, 2022.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, GERD, right hip osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected right knee osteoarthritis due to outstanding VA medical records. The appeals are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for GERD is being remanded due to the addition of new VA examination and treatment records that have not yet been considered by the RO.

The Veteran's GERD was granted a 60 percent rating effective October 20, 2021. For the period from August 31, 2015 to October 19, 2021, his GERD was denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's bilateral heel pain, plantar fasciitis, and pes planus are rated at 50 percent effective November 21, 2018.,GERD is remanded for further development to determine the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis. The issue of GERD secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2 and the housebound status prior to May 8, 2013 have also been remanded.,Further medical opinions are needed regarding whether GERD is proximately due to or aggravated by diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hiatal hernia was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,Service-connected hypertension has not been rated higher than noncompensable since the onset of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to failure to substantially fulfill its September 2022 remand instructions regarding the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected GERD, IBS, and gastritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, a low back disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's right hip disability and GERD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been reopened, and both conditions are now granted. The appeal is also granted for the evaluation of left shoulder tendonitis and left clavicle spur, lumbar spondylosis and osteophytosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), uterine fibroids, migraines, hypertension, residual scar from ventral hernia repair, anxiety, memory loss, sleep disturbances, knee disorder, and fibromyalgia. The appeal is remanded for further evaluations and determinations on these issues.

The Board has determined that new and significant evidence has been added to the claims file since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) issued in June 2019. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities may affect his ability to work, which is considered part of the TDIU claim. Therefore, all issues are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's hypertension, COPD, and stomach condition are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. However, the effective date of service connection for these conditions is limited by the PACT Act of 2022, which grants presumptive service connection from August 10, 2022. The claims for hypertension prior to this date and for COPD and stomach condition are remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for a schizoaffective disorder and ED, but denied the claim for acid reflux.,The Veteran's ED is secondary to his service-connected schizoaffective disorder.