GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VR&E services due to his meeting the threshold requirements for entitlement but not having an employment handicap, as determined by a VA counseling psychologist (CP) or VRC.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the proposed decreases in ratings for various conditions and the propriety of discontinuing SMC benefits. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as proximately due to his service-connected major depressive disorder, while other issues are denied.

The Veteran's GERD is granted a rating of 30 percent effective November 1, 2020. Service connection for esophagitis and hypertension are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the AOJ failing to comply with prior Board directives.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to a failure to obtain VA examinations that addressed the severity of his psychiatric disability, as well as whether any service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated hypertension and GERD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on remand have been denied due to lack of evidence supporting the claimed conditions.,An effective date prior to March 28, 2018, for PTSD and an increased rating for tonsillectomy are also denied.

The Board has granted a request to readjudicate the claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. Service connection is granted for GERD and tinnitus, but the claims are remanded for further development regarding lumbosacral strain and bilateral hearing loss.

Service connection for a right knee disability, dermatitis, and thyroid cancer has been granted due to new evidence received after the April 2020 denial. Service connection for GERD is remanded as secondary to tooth condition.,The Veteran's right knee disability had its onset in service, while his dermatitis began shortly after discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for peptic ulcer and gastroesophageal reflux disease, as well as service connection for bilateral leg and shoulder disorders are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The RO must schedule the Veteran for new VA examinations to address these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep apnea, and migraine headaches due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected PTSD. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the claims on appeal due to incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's complete medical and personnel records from the Texas Army National Guard are requested.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for his service-connected GERD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection for frontal sinusitis, tension headaches, allergic rhinitis, GERD, and IBS are being remanded due to incomplete VA records and the need to determine TERA exposures under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is being remanded due to a duty to assist error and the need for an addendum opinion. Additionally, a TERA examination may be needed as the Veteran engaged in toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) during his deployment to Bahrain.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) based on the Veteran's credible statements of in-service symptoms and their continuity since discharge.

The Veteran's GERD and gastrointestinal condition, including IBS with chronic gastritis and gastroparesis, are granted as service connection is established based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted the restoration of a 30 percent rating for service-connected GERD with Barrett's esophagus status post halo ablations and hernia repair and fundoplication, finding that the evidence does not make reasonably certain that the disability on appeal has improved materially in a way that will be maintained under ordinary conditions of life.

The Board denied service connection for IBS, a left hip disability (secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability), GERD, and migraine headaches as there was no current diagnosis or evidence of qualifying chronic disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for fibromyalgia but granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Veteran's GERD was found to have onset during his military service.