GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an acquired psychiatric condition to include PTSD with depression and anxiety have been granted.,Service connection has been established for these conditions based on new evidence received since previous denial decisions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that there are pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in this case and a VA medical opinion is required on remand to address the Veteran's claims for GERD, IBS, right knee disability, left knee disability, low back disability, and sinusitis.,Specifically, the Board finds that the current evidence does not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, digestive system disabilities (GERD and IBS), back injury, foot issues, right hand nerve damage with chronic pain, and left hand nerve damage with chronic pain.

An effective date of December 10, 2022, is granted for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD (previously rated as unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified depressive disorder with traumatic brain injury and also claimed as depression and insomnia).,The claim of entitlement to a rating higher than 30 percent for GERD is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for IBS with GERD was denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for IBS with GERD was granted as May 28, 2021.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for service connection for various conditions, finding that the appeal was untimely filed.

The appeal for an effective date earlier than August 6, 2023 for service connection of various conditions is denied.

The Veteran's GERD was evaluated under Diagnostic Code 7346, which does not allow for a rating in excess of 10 percent. The Board found that the Veteran did not have considerable impairment of health or symptoms combination productive of severe impairment of health.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) because his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA, which failed to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms and injuries in service. The claims for left wrist condition including fracture, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and residuals of prostate cancer are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and erectile dysfunction (ED), both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for IBS, GERD, and OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder. The evidence is in equipoise on whether these conditions are related to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal includes two issues: a request for an increased rating for GERD and a request for an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The Board has determined that these claims are inextricably intertwined, necessitating remand of both issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease is being remanded due to the need for further review and evidence consideration.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at the intermediate rate based on need for aid and attendance with additional service-connected disabilities combining to 50 percent or more is granted. The claims for higher rates of SMC, total schedular ratings for loss of use of both hands and feet are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has decided that the Veteran and his spouse are not eligible for benefits under the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) due to a lack of evidence showing they need personal care services from another individual. The case is being remanded to allow further development.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), both due to herbicide exposure, is granted.,Service connection for GERD secondary to PTSD is also granted. The Veteran has left lower extremity neuropathy but no current diagnosis of left upper or right lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's GERD and migraine headaches as secondary to PTSD are granted. The initial rating for PTSD is denied.