GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2026

The appeal concerning the propriety of severance of service connection for bruxism is dismissed. The issues of service connection for central serous retinopathy, an acquired psychiatric disorder, acid reflux, and sleep apnea are remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's GI disorder is related to his service, but the AOJ needs to determine which specific deployment or exposure caused it. The PACT Act requires this determination.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating for residual, scar left medial thigh, status post gunshot wound is granted. The Veteran's PTSD with AUD, Moderate is rated at 70 percent and TDIU based on PTSD alone is granted. Service connection for hypertension, GERD, migraines, COPD, back disability, neck disability, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for gunshot wound right buttock with sciatic nerve involvement (to include peripheral neuropathy right leg/foot), gunshot wound, left thigh, multiple painful scars bilateral lower extremities, and residuals, scar right buttock and lateral leg is remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal as a proposed reduction of the service-connected GERD rating from 10 percent to 0 percent was not implemented and is not an appealable decision.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, including degenerative disc disease with advanced spondylosis and degenerative scoliosis, was caused by an in-service injury. The bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is also due to his thoracolumbar spine disability.,Service connection for adjustment disorder and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been granted.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches, traumatic brain injury (TBI), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and erectile dysfunction (ED) as these conditions were not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's claims for GERD, obstructive sleep apnea, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and vertigo have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,Claims for service connection of a headache disorder, left shoulder disorder, left ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right elbow disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder) are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating higher than 30 percent for service-connected IBS with GERD has been denied. The evidence does not support a higher rating based on the predominant disability picture of IBS.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,Right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis under VA regulations.

The Veteran's GERD, Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, Chronic, Left Heel Stress Fracture, and Right Heel Stress Fracture have been granted service connection effective January 26, 2022. The initial disability evaluation for GERD is 70 percent, the initial disability evaluations for both heel stress fractures are 20 percent, and a TDIU based on adjustment disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, Chronic has also been established.,An effective date of January 26, 2022 has been granted for all service-connected conditions. The Veteran's GERD is rated at the maximum available rating (70 percent), while both heel stress fractures are rated at the minimum available rating (20 percent). A TDIU based on adjustment disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, Chronic has also been established.

The Veteran is found to be eligible for enrollment in the PCAFC program due to his severe and complex medical conditions, which require personal care services.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD. The Veteran's TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all listed conditions has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted from November 7, 2019, due to the service-connected disabilities including PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's bipolar II disorder is granted an increased rating to 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's GERD is granted a non-compensable rating and then increased to 10 percent, also effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion and failure to provide proper notice of the decision.

The Board has determined that there are duty to assist errors in the prior November 2018 rating decision and remands the claims for further development. The issues of service connection for SLE, IBS, GERD, and headaches remain unresolved due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a neurogenic bladder condition and entitlement to a compensable rating for GERD are being remanded due to the AOJ failing to schedule an informal conference with her representative within the required timeframe.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed within one year of the December 16, 2024 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder is found to have caused his current diagnosis of GERD, and the Board grants service connection for GERD as secondary to this condition.