GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2024

Your appeal for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and status post cholecystectomy has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated as 30 percent disabling. The Board found that the symptoms did not more nearly approximate a combination of symptoms productive of severe impairment of health, thus denying an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's GERD with healed distal esophageal ulcer has been rated at 10 percent prior to January 13, 2021, and at 30 percent since that date. The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 13, 2021, and 30 percent since that date.

The Board has identified a duty to assist error and is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records from the Veteran's Army National Guard service and scheduling a VA examination for GERD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and requires a new VA examination to determine if GERD is related to service or in-service exposure to toxins.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spinal stenosis with lumbosacral degenerative disc disease is dismissed. Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is granted.

The Veteran's GERD was denied as not related to service, exposure to radiation, or service-connected PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a gastric condition and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The VA needs to obtain new medical opinions to address whether these conditions are related to service or not.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings for service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and chronic pharyngitis were denied. The GERD claim was denied as the evidence did not show symptoms that would warrant a higher rating.,For the period prior to August 1, 2017, the Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for chronic pharyngitis associated with GERD was also denied. The RO granted a 30 percent disability rating effective from August 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that additional medical opinions are needed to address the etiology of these conditions, given the Veteran's service in Vietnam and his reported exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of GERD, lumbosacral strain, right, knee strain, and tinnitus are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating prior to September 8, 2018, for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected intestinal adhesions with resection of large intestine, diverticulitis, GERD, cholecystectomy and chronic diarrhea are currently rated at 40 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as there was no marked interference with absorption and nutrition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted. The Veteran now receives a rating of 10 percent for right knee instability, 20 percent for PTSD, 30 percent for restless leg syndrome, and 30 percent for GERD from the dates specified.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if there was clear and unmistakable error in the December 2015 rating decision denying service connection for GERD, DM, IBS, a menstrual disorder, and CPS.

The Veteran's GERD rating was reduced from 60% to 10%, and his initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted. The reduction in the GERD rating is upheld as proper based on improvement.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is rated at 50% and GERD at 10%. The Board has remanded these issues for further review.

The Veteran's combined service-connected rating is 90 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder (claimed as nightmares, sleep problems) is granted. Service connection for acid reflux and high blood pressure are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD and assigned a 30 percent disability rating, effective from the date VA received the Veteran's intent to file on March 29, 2019. The Board also found that the evidence supports this rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, GERD, and CFS due to insufficient credible supporting evidence of the claimed stressors.