GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's GERD is granted service connection as it was aggravated by aspirin used for his service-connected headaches. The claims for right ankle, bilateral hip disabilities, and acquired psychiatric disability are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missing VA examinations and insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for GERD due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation while in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's digestive disorder, including chronic diarrhea and/or loose stools, is related to his service. The examiner must address if the Veteran currently has a digestive disorder or a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness manifested by diarrhea and/or loose stools, and if so, whether it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, hypertension, gastrointestinal condition (hiatal hernia and acid reflux), arthritis of the upper extremities, and left ankle condition have been dismissed as moot due to the grant of these conditions in a prior rating decision. The appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has also been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for PTSD and GERD due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's conditions, specifically focusing on the impact of his symptoms prior to his divorce and the inconsistency in his reported chest pain.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, acid reflux, and heart disorder (hypertensive heart disease) are granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and OSA, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's OSA was aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's right fourth finger fracture is currently rated noncompensably disabling, as the disability does not meet criteria for a compensable rating.,For GERD prior to November 15, 2019, the Veteran was granted an initial noncompensable rating. The Board found no evidence of symptoms warranting a higher evaluation.,Beginning November 15, 2019, the Veteran's GERD is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board noted that while the Veteran has infrequent episodes of epigastric distress and vomiting, these do not meet criteria for a higher rating.,For migraine headaches prior to November 15, 2019, the Veteran was granted an initial noncompensable rating. The Board found no evidence of prostrating attacks warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations. The issues include left shoulder, right shoulder, right ankle, stress disorder, GERD disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and keratosis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of September 7, 2010.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the Veteran not being afforded VA examinations, and additional development is needed.

The Veteran's initial claim for allergic rhinitis was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,For GERD, the Veteran's condition prior to July 2, 2021 was rated noncompensable. After that date, he received a 10 percent rating which is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to the receipt of additional relevant evidence after the issuance of the October 2016 and April 2017 Statements of the Case. The AOJ is instructed to consider this new evidence in its first instance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his combined rating of service-connected disabilities has been at least 100 percent throughout the appeal period, and he was not found to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sciatic pain, low back disability, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) based on the evidence showing these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 7, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hiatal hernia, GERD, and sleep apnea due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal and prostate disabilities due to incomplete VA examination opinions. Additional development is needed to determine if any current gastrointestinal or prostate disability is related to service, including food poisoning and hepatitis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for acid reflux and a respiratory condition, including sinusitis and rhinitis, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.