GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's initial evaluations for cervical strain and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were denied. The claims of entitlement to service connection for lower lip pain are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for GERD is granted, with restoration of the 60 percent rating effective June 1, 2021. The claim for an increased rating remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hypertension associated with herbicide agent exposure, bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis, and vasectomy scar residuals have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, prostate disability, skin disabilities, right ankle disability, esophageal disability, hemorrhoids, and left eye disability are being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for recurrent lumbar spine disability (including degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis), recurrent right knee disability (including osteoarthritis), recurrent prostate disability (including benign prostate hyperplasia), recurrent skin disability (including tinea versicolor, tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and eczema), recurrent right ankle disability (including cellulitis), recurrent esophageal disability (GERD), hemorrhoids, and acquired left eye disability (including corneal abrasion and cataract) are being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic tonsillitis and GERD as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions during the period on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to a failure to provide VA examinations and a duty to assist error. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including GERD, IBS, overactive bladder, headaches/migraines, and hypothyroidism, on secondary theories of entitlement.

The Board has found that the RO's adjudication of the claims without obtaining VA examinations is a pre-decisional duty to assist error and requires remanding for further action, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for tension headaches and acid reflux due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records from Social Security Administration, undergo a VA examination, and receive an addendum opinion.

The Board has decided to remand all of the Veteran's claims due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ must obtain her complete service personnel records, including those related to her Pennsylvania National Guard service and verify all active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty of training (INACDUTRA) dates.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The appeal for GERD service connection is dismissed.,Service connection for alcohol abuse as secondary to PTSD is granted, along with service connection for avascular necrosis of the left and right hips as secondary to alcohol abuse.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for allergic rhinitis and GERD, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, were dismissed. The Board also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including MDD, PTSD, insomnia, and GERD with hiatal hernia and IBS, have prevented her from securing or following substantially gainful employment since October 2, 2020. The Board finds that TDIU is warranted from this date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and migraine headaches are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Board requires VA to obtain the private DBQs submitted by the Veteran, or provide him with an opportunity for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remands the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's use of NSAIDs caused or aggravated his stomach and esophagus conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the February 2021 VA examination report, which did not consider the Veteran's lay statements about the onset of his GERD symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and hypertension have been granted. The claim for increased evaluation for tinnitus has been dismissed, while the claims for service connection for low back disability, peripheral neuropathy, scar of the right lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, individual unemployability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all remanded.

The reduction of the Veteran's rating for tension headaches from 30% to 0% was improper, and his prior rating of 30% is restored. The GERD claim requires further development due to inadequate examination.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinions are inadequate and remanded for further examination to determine if GERD is related to service or environmental exposures, including toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).

The Board has granted service connection for GERD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, finding that his use of NSAIDs and muscle relaxants caused his current GERD.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is not service-connected due to dishonorable discharge.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and polysubstance disorder) granted as secondary to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection for GERD granted as secondary to the acquired psychiatric disorder caused by service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for hypertension granted as secondary to the acquired psychiatric disorder caused by service-connected disabilities.