GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty to assist error regarding the recoupment of his disability severance pay for the period from March 1, 2020, to February 1, 2021. The AOJ must obtain clarification on whether he received all VA disability compensation benefits he was entitled to receive during this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD may be related to his military service, and a remand is necessary for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for GERD is denied as the evidence does not show considerable impairment of health, persistently recurrent epigastric distress, dysphagia, substernal or arm/shoulder pain, or material weight loss.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the disability rating for GERD from 10 percent to noncompensable was improper and restored the original 10 percent rating. The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD is remanded due to a lack of an in-person examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to deficiencies in the medical opinions provided by VA examiners.

The Veteran's GERD is granted an increased rating to 30 percent, but no higher. Service connection for right ankle tendonitis with lateral collateral ligament sprain and bilateral plantar fasciitis are both denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's GERD, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder pain and remanded the claim for GERD due to a lack of current diagnosis. The Veteran's left shoulder pain is not considered a disability, while his GERD may be related to service based on continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's esophageal adenocarcinoma with Barret's esophagus and GERD, a painful scar on the posterior right upper back, a scar with soft tissue damage on the posterior right upper back, and a scar on the midline abdomen are all granted effective from April 12, 2017. A 60 percent rating is assigned for the period of appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for earlier effective dates for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and erectile dysfunction (ED), as well as special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ, due to an error in not considering the Veteran's arguments regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA medical opinion and the need for a TERA review. The examiner should consider in-service gastrointestinal symptoms, including those noted in service treatment records, and the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's GERD was rated at 10 percent since September 18, 2020. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they were not persistent and did not cause considerable impairment of health.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, headaches, and IBS are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore his claim for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity varicose vein conditions are not service-connected.,The Veteran's GERD is remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate etiology opinion.,The Veteran's tinnitus is remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate nexus opinion.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate secondary service connection etiology opinions.,The Veteran's low back condition is remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to a lack of toxic exposure risk activity memorandum and incomplete assessment in the provided medical opinion. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining a TERA memorandum, providing an addendum opinion from the March 2021 VA examiner, and determining the etiology of GERD with consideration of service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome and back strain.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, sinusitis, hernia with residuals, hemorrhoids, gastritis, bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or current disability for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and GERD, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with dysthymia. The VA examiner must provide an addendum opinion addressing whether these conditions were caused or aggravated by the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at a maximum of 60 percent, effective January 16, 2019.,The Veteran's status post esophagectomy esophageal cancer with Barrett's esophagus residuals are currently rated at 30 percent.