GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's GERD is rated at a 60 percent disability rating, effective from March 5, 2020. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms of epigastric distress, pyrosis, regurgitation, substernal pain, chronic cough, vitamin deficiencies, and sleep disturbance are productive of severe impairment in health.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple issues are being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease with facet arthritis on L4-L5 and gastroesophageal reflux disease are granted. The claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal, lumbar spine, cervical spine and hemorrhoids disabilities due to incomplete service department records and inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain complete service treatment records and schedule VA examinations to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for GERD and ED secondary to service-connected acquired psychiatric disability due to inadequate VA examination reports. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his current GERD and ED are caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hydronephrosis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the previous rating decision, and requires additional opinions regarding whether the Veteran's GERD is caused or aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The appeal regarding service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's GERD was rated at 10 percent disabling from December 6, 2021. The Board has now granted a 30 percent disability rating for GERD, effective as of the date of the decision.

The appeal seeking to revise or reverse the October 7, 2010 rating decision that denied service connection for GERD is denied. The Veteran did not provide evidence of a chronic disease listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a) and the RO did not err in not applying presumptive service connection provisions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as it is proximately due to his use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in the November 2019 VA examination, specifically regarding secondary service connection for GERD and Migraine Headaches. The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The 100% rating for PTSD with OCD prior to July 16, 2019 was denied as the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment at that time. The GERD and IBS claim had no factual basis for a higher rating or earlier effective date within one year of the claims period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, GERD, headaches, hypertension, sleep disorder, and plantar fasciitis are remanded due to a duty to assist error. A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of statutory or regulatory authority, and the AOJ correctly started payment in October 2021.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for GERD should be remanded due to a failure to consider relevant post-service treatment records and obtain an opinion on the etiology of the condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal and genitourinary conditions are remanded due to a failure to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding whether these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder and ankle disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for a lumbar spine disability due to improper docketing as an AMA appeal. The earlier effective date claims for TDIU and DEA are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and gastrointestinal disorder due to outstanding VA records and a lack of VA examinations. The PACT Act is also applicable in this case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and DM II. The case is being remanded due to inadequate nexus opinions provided by VA examiners.