GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to duty-to-assist errors, including a lack of VA examinations related to high blood pressure and GERD.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for GERD due to insufficient medical opinions and duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms are considered, but a VA examiner is needed to provide an opinion on whether GERD was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to outstanding treatment records. The Board requests that the Veteran provide authorization for VA to obtain these records, or submit them directly.

The Board denied service connection for a joint pain disorder, bile disorder, fatigue, GERD, and dyspnea. The appeals for increased disability ratings for the right and left knee disabilities and instability were also denied. The TDIU appeal was dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will obtain new VA medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's GERD and hiatal hernia are caused or aggravated by his service-connected rectal prolapse and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. Specifically, a VA examination is required in accordance with the PACT Act for GERD, and an adequate medical opinion must be obtained regarding the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and her in-service toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs).

The Board has granted service connection for mixed sleep apnea, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a recurrent esophageal disability to include GERD.

The Board denied the claims for increased ratings and service connection, as the Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal or request an extension of time within one year of the December 2015 rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, right kidney disability, right shoulder disability, hemorrhoids, left knee osteoarthritis, and sinus disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board granted a 10 percent initial disability rating for GERD from May 9, 2019, but denied a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for GERD and sleep disorders/disturbances to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for GERD, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities, due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted an initial 30 percent disability rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) based on the Veteran's symptoms of persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal pain.

The Veteran's claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease with obesity as the intermediate step is dismissed because it was granted in a previous decision. The claims of service connection for tinnitus and migraine headaches, to include as secondary to PTSD, are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for sleep apnea, GERD acid reflux, and left hip pain as the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for GERD and a TDIU due to concerns raised in the Joint Motion for Remand (JMR). The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for GERD is remanded because his statement of substernal pain associated with GERD was not adequately addressed. A new VA examination is required to assess the current severity of the GERD.

The Board remands the claims for a rating greater than 20 percent for peptic ulcer disease and greater than 30 percent for PUD and GERD to obtain non-VA medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD has been denied. The Board has also found that the Veteran's GERD is not service-connected, and this issue must be remanded to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, finding that there is no persuasive evidence to support a finding of GERD during active duty or shortly after separation.