GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2024

The Board granted service connection for migraines and GERD, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and potential duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's GERD claim will be reconsidered with a focus on whether it is related to his military service, including exposure to MREs during deployment in Iraq, or any of his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied a rating greater than 10 percent for left CTS from November 3, 2017 to December 13, 2022 and a compensable initial rating for GERD s/p right inguinal hernia surgical repair, right side of abdomen prior to June 27, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for gastritis with gastroesophageal reflux disease is being remanded due to an error in the review of Spanish-language medical records.

The Veteran's GERD, lumbar spine condition, tinnitus, and psychiatric disability are all granted service connection.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on their onset during active duty.

The Veteran's GERD, left ankle pain, erectile dysfunction, and tension headaches are all claimed as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board finds the evidence insufficient to determine if these conditions are related to PTSD.,The VA examiner in June 2021 did not provide a clear opinion on whether the Veteran's symptoms of burning in his throat and stomach, vomiting, and unintentional weight loss constitute a disability and whether any such disability is secondary to his PTSD.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for GERD should be remanded due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion and because most of his service treatment records are unavailable.

The Veteran's GERD and right foot disability are granted service connection. The claims for Raynaud's phenomenon, scleroderma, neck disability, lower back disability, perforated sigmoid colon, and lung condition are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left hip bursitis claim was not granted, as the evidence did not support an increase in rating based on ankylosis or limitation of motion. The right knee arthritis with soleus strain and shin splint claim was also not granted, as the evidence did not show a higher level of disability warranting a 20% rating under current criteria. Service connection for GERD was denied due to lack of service connection and no aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck cancer, xerostomia (claimed as saliva glands problems), dysphagia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are all granted. The cancers are related to herbicide exposure during active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for polyps of colon, transient cerebral ischemia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to his idiosyncratic drug reaction to chloroquine primaquine due to inadequate medical opinions regarding aggravation.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple conditions including GERD, hemorrhoids, chronic headaches, a right hand disability, thoracolumbar spine issues, and radiculopathy in the lower extremities due to the Appellant's dishonorable discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he is currently enrolled in college and has attempted to re-enter the workforce. The Board finds that his unemployability is due to his mental health conditions rather than his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for tinnitus and an increased rating for ulcers with GERD have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as service connected, and his GERD rating is denied. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disability was related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease is denied. The case is remanded for further evaluation regarding service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder is granted. The claims for service connection for short term memory loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, sinusitis, and GERD due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims will be reconsidered on their merits.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for neck disability, erectile dysfunction, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to incomplete service treatment records.