GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, and he has a current diagnosis of hypertension. The gastrointestinal condition (IBS and GERD) and psychiatric disability are not service connected. Right knee, left knee, right shoulder, low back, and left middle finger conditions remain on appeal.,Further evaluations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's gastrointestinal condition, psychiatric disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary to address the Veteran's stomach disorder claim due to inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and restless leg syndrome were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10% rating for tinnitus, but his sleep apnea remains at the 50% level. Other conditions remain denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for OSA, IBS, and GERD due to insufficient medical opinions addressing secondary service connection theories.

The Board has denied service connection for an eye disability, skin cancer, gastrointestinal disability (diverticulitis), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.,Specifically, a new opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's skin cancer and gastrointestinal disabilities (including diverticulitis and GERD) began in or are related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all four issues related to service connection for left knee arthritis, GERD, hypertension, and G-6PD deficiency before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a cervical spine disability and service connection for a stomach condition, including GERD, related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The cervical spine issue is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the nature of in-service neck pain. The stomach condition issue is also remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of GERD linked to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's GERD is secondary to her service-connected migraine headaches and/or anxiety disorder NOS. The VA examiner needs to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's obesity, caused by her service-connected disabilities, contributed to her GERD.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on his service-connected neck, low back, GERD, and esophageal stricture disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need for clarification of functional loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's GERD symptoms and their impact on his health.

The Veteran's GERD was granted a 10 percent rating prior to May 10, 2022 and a 30 percent rating beginning on that date.,A 10 percent rating for hypertension was granted prior to January 14, 2019. No higher rating is warranted after that date.,The Veteran's migraine headaches were granted a 50 percent rating effective from May 10, 2022.,No higher ratings are warranted for either GERD or hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including DDD of the lumbar spine, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, GERD, and bilateral lower extremities radiculopathy, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since August 4, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions addressing whether his GERD and IBS conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected asthma disability.

The Board denied SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, finding that her functional impairments were not solely caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed headache, IBS, and GERD disabilities. The Board also denied service connection for his left knee, right heel, and right ankle disabilities as secondary to service-connected PTSD, scar of the right ankle, tinnitus, and/or other conditions. No rating was assigned.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for depression, memory loss, lumbar spine disability, plantar fasciitis, and GERD due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The VA must obtain any relevant medical records and conduct examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the terms of its previous remand instructions. Further remand is necessary to obtain all VA treatment records from 1999 to the present and to verify the Veteran's alleged service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including blurry vision in his right eye, a left elbow scar, IBS, GERD, bilateral knee and arm conditions, joint and muscle condition, paresthesia (claimed as neuropathy), and balance issues. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on issues related to service connection and initial ratings for his diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The claim for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the issue of a higher rating remains denied.

The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of January 28, 2005 for the award of Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.