GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the thoracic spine as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability, effective January 24, 2022. The Board also granted an earlier effective date for GERD.

The Veteran is granted a Level 2 stipend under the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers due to his inability to self-sustain in the community.

The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and remanded the claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions to allow the AOJ to provide notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing and determine if additional evidentiary development is required.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, GERD, hypertension, and sleep apnea to correct a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board granted service connection for GERD, fatty liver disease, and tension headaches based on evidence showing that these conditions began during the Veteran's active service.

The appeal for service connection for GERD has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and a left shoulder disorder, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The appeal was dismissed as the notice of disagreement (NOD) was not timely filed.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and effective dates, including those for tinnitus, wrist scars, lower extremity radiculopathy, bulimia nervosa, psychiatric disability, benign neutropenia, herpes II, GERD, plantar fasciitis, and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic fatigue syndrome was granted a 100% rating beginning September 11, 2019; gastroesophageal reflux disease with irritable bowel syndrome and psychiatric disability were granted ratings of 30% and 70%, respectively; chronic headaches were granted a 50% rating. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability was also granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, left and right hand disabilities, lumbar degenerative disc disease, left and right knee disabilities, hypertension, coronary artery disease, headache disability, vertigo, hiatal hernia/GERD, and effective date prior to June 28, 2018, for the award of service connection for other trauma and stressor-related disorder. The Board granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent, but no higher, for other trauma and stressor-related disorder and a TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for congestive heart failure, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and a bilateral eye condition as they are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung and respiratory conditions, personality disorder, and tinnitus, throat condition, obstructive sleep apnea, and migraine headaches were denied. However, the claim for an increased rating for PTSD was granted, as well as TDIU from February 27, 2018, to December 11, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of an in-service elective vasectomy, to include sperm granuloma and left testicle pain. However, it granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected history of hiatal hernia and possible antral gastritis with GERD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted, while claims for other conditions were denied.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and kidney disease, while denying service connection for a low back disability, hip pain, and a neurobehavioral disorder. The claim for a gastrointestinal disability was remanded for further consideration.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for service-connected GERD and an initial 70 percent rating, but no more, for the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood).

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are analogous to those contemplated by the 10 percent rating. The appeal was remanded for further development regarding the neck disability and upper extremity nerve conditions.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as the Veteran has already been granted service connection for GERD, and there is no case or controversy left to decide regarding OSA.