GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension. The issues are inextricably intertwined with his claim of service connection for a psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's claim for a separate disability rating for impairment of sphincter control was denied as the evidence did not show complete loss of sphincter control or frequent involuntary bowel movements.,The Veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating for service-connected IBS with GERD from April 3, 2014, was also denied. The Board found that the available schedular ratings adequately addressed his disability picture.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence regarding his current mental health and gastrointestinal disabilities. The VA will need to conduct further examinations and provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims of service connection for headaches, GERD, IBS, pterygium, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left shoulder disabilities. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder (including GERD and diverticulitis) and a colon resection, finding no evidence of such conditions being incurred in or caused by service. The Veteran's current conditions are considered to be unrelated to his active service.

The Board has remanded the claim for hypertension due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, skin cancer, diabetes mellitus, and thyroid cancer due to insufficient evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, generalized anxiety disorder, GERD, sleep apnea syndromes, and hypertension due to incomplete service records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, respiratory disorders, lung nodule, gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, and irritable bowel syndrome are all granted service connection. The hypertension claim is denied.,Service connection for the acquired psychiatric disorders (PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder, and nightmare disorder) is granted based on in-service stressors and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied service connection for an intestinal disability, to include IBS, and a gastroesophageal disability, to include GERD.,Both conditions were found not related to active service or any incident of service.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including GERD, left knee condition, right hip strain, thoracolumbar spine, gastric ulcer/gastritis, left talus non-displaced fracture, right ankle tendonitis, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis. The decision also includes a request for new VA examinations for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issues of service connection for GERD, neuropathy, and DJD of the left hip are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,For GERD, the claim is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its onset during service and whether it is aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis, right hip condition, left hip condition, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The claims are being remanded to determine the current level of disability for hearing, address whether the lower back condition is related to service or proximately caused by hip conditions, and consider in-service use of NSAIDs for other conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for prostate, hypothyroidism, gastrointestinal disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease due to lack of evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his GERD, HP with gastritis (claimed as duodenal ulcers), and hiatal hernia.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's GERD during the appeal period, and additional development is required.

The Veteran's duodenal ulcer, GERD and hoarseness are granted a 60 percent rating.,A 10 percent rating for left hip disability due to limitation of abduction is granted effective March 15, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's Barrett's esophagus and acid reflux symptoms are related to his military service. The Veteran needs to be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if there is a link between his current condition and his active duty.

The Board has denied an initial increased rating above 60 percent for GERD associated with PTSD, and the case is remanded for further development regarding entitlement to TDIU and SMC.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his claims for increased rating for left knee bursitis and service connection for sleep apnea, GERD, headaches, and sacral radiculopathy. The Board dismissed these claims as the appellant has withdrawn them.