GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during its pendency.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease, stomach ulcer, inflammatory bowel disease, and cervical spine disorder. The conditions are found to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal conditions, breast cancer residuals, esophageal conditions, and gallbladder removal due to potential service connection based on secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 1, 2008, for his TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show that prior to this date, his service-connected conditions rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a new VA examination despite the Veteran's testimony that his disability had worsened. The case is now pending and will be reviewed again with a new examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed as she has withdrawn her appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a gastrointestinal disability (other than gastroesophageal reflux disease) is denied. The claims for increased ratings of lumbar spine, right knee chondromalacia with quadriceps and popliteal tendinopathy and osteoarthritis, left knee chondromalacia with quadriceps and popliteal tendinopathy and osteoarthritis, and right knee meniscal tear are all denied. The Veteran's service-connected residual scars, bilateral gynecomastia, status post liposuction and bilateral subcutaneous mastectomy, and residual scars of the anterior trunk and chest do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including xerosis cutis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), intestinal parasite, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral elbow lateral epicondylitis are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The AOJ must consider this new evidence in their readjudication process.

The Board has found that the appellant's hearing loss disability is not more severe for compensation purposes during the period on appeal than demonstrated on the audiological evaluations discussed above.,VA has failed to obtain the appellant's service treatment records and has determined that further attempts to obtain them would be futile.

The Veteran's atopic dermatitis is rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted under either the old or new applicable regulations.,The Veteran's GERD with IBS is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board concludes that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected esophageal cancer. The issue of service connection for a stomach disability, including as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected esophagus and/or GERD, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to secondary service connection being raised by his testimony. The AOJ must arrange VA examinations to consider both direct and secondary service connection, including assessing whether any current conditions are related to active duty service or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation of her GERD and TDIU claims is being remanded due to insufficient evidence in the August 2021 VA examination report. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding private treatment records and incomplete VA opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered remand for new VA examinations due to inadequate previous evaluations and requested addendum opinions. The issues on appeal include increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, an initial rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy, and service connection for a stomach condition (GERD).

The Board denied service connection for prostate disability, diabetes mellitus, colon polyps status post-removal, hypertension, sleep apnea, and acid reflux (GERD) due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service or exposure to contaminated water.,The Board found that none of the claimed disabilities are among the eight diseases presumptively associated with contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, thus denying presumptive service connection on this basis.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions regarding service connection for low back, gastrointestinal, and left knee disabilities. The Veteran's claims are not related to service or environmental exposures.

The Veteran was granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period prior to March 31, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's esophageal disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected panic disorder without agoraphobia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a disability manifested by fatigue, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, for VA compensation purposes. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.