GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2026

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for acid reflux disorder and irritable bowel syndrome due to inadequate VA examinations and duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing due to her other service-connected conditions and disabilities.

The Veteran's GERD has been rated at a 60 percent disability rating since July 7, 2021. The Board found the evidence to be in favor of finding that his symptoms have caused severe impairment of health.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at a minimum of 10 percent, and the Board finds that she meets the criteria for this rating. The TDIU claim was denied as her service-connected disabilities do not render her incapable of securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not associated with his service-connected PTSD. The issue of entitlement to service connection for GERD was remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the rating decision on appeal. The VA examinations and opinions obtained were inadequate as they did not address whether the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service, including exposure to burn pits or other toxins.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's GERD with PUD prior to October 30, 2020, finding that the evidence did not show an ascertainable increase in disability.

The Veteran's GERD and Barrett's esophagus are due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically pain medication used to treat his shoulder disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for acid reflux, a left foot condition, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence of current disabilities or causal relationships with in-service events.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals due to untimely filing of the appeal requests, as no good cause was shown for the delay.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted, and his service connection claims for various conditions were dismissed. The effective date of the TDIU is not specified in the decision.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for fatigue, right foot pes planus, and higher ratings for thoracolumbar strain with levoscoliosis are being remanded. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for thoracolumbar strain with levoscoliosis, left shoulder strain, and GERD remain denied.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for fatigue, right foot pes planus, and higher ratings for thoracolumbar strain with levoscoliosis are being remanded. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for thoracolumbar strain with levoscoliosis, left shoulder strain, and GERD remain denied.

The Veteran's GERD is granted a 30 percent rating, effective as of the date of this decision. Service connection for fibromyalgia on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient etiology opinions regarding the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease. The VA will need to obtain a new opinion from an appropriate examiner to address whether the condition had its onset during service, is related to service, or was caused by toxic exposure risk activities.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches and right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are found to have worsened his GERD, allowing for service connection. However, the OSA is not considered secondary to the service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, peripheral neuropathy of the left foot, and peripheral neuropathy of the right foot. The claim for a compensable rating for hypertension was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis has been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of its occurrence during or shortly after his military service.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an initial compensable rating for headaches was dismissed due to the lack of timely filing and concurrent election issues. The issue will be remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diverticulosis/IBS (formerly GERD) has been dismissed as it is no longer pending at the Board level after a grant by the Board in February 2025, effective from January 23, 2021.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an initial compensable rating for CTS was dismissed due to concurrent election issues. The issue will be remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD has been granted by the Board in February 2025, effective from January 23, 2021. The appeal is dismissed as this represents a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus/plantar fasciitis and CTS were remanded due to concurrent election issues. These issues will be addressed in a future rating decision.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI was not on appeal as it was predecisional error not to address the current rating issue. The issue is remanded for further consideration.,The Veteran's appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the award of a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches will be considered in a future decision.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is found to cause his gastroesophageal reflux disease, and the Board grants service connection for GERD.

The Board has decided that the case needs further review due to a duty to assist error, and thus remands it for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's GERD.

The Veteran's asthma is related to his service under the PACT Act, and he is granted service connection for this condition.,There is no evidence of OSA during service or a nexus between current OSA and service. The Veteran's claim for OSA is denied.,GERD was not found to be related to service, as there are no in-service complaints or treatment records. The Veteran's claim for GERD is denied.