GERD (acid reflux) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including peritoneal adhesions and small bowel obstructions, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment as of March 5, 2018.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including IBS with hiatal hernia and GERD, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, OSA, bronchitis, cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, bilateral pes planus, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Board also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and an ulcer disability.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for esophagus stricture and gastroesophageal reflux disease were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that he had submitted his claims prior to June 13, 2012.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of GERD with Barrett's esophagus on a secondary basis to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected GERD is remanded due to the inadequacy of the January 2019 VA examination, which did not evaluate all symptoms and provide an adequate assessment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and initial disability ratings have been remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The right knee, GERD, and left lower extremity radiculopathy cases require new evaluations by VA physicians.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, anxiety disorder, right rotator cuff tendonitis, chronic bilateral reoccurring anterior uveitis, tinnitus, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, dermatofibroma, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's GERD symptoms warrant a compensable disability rating, and the Board finds that additional development is required to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates earlier than July 25, 2024, for various service-connected disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of gastroesophageal reflux disease, chronic sinusitis, and lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, including those for increased ratings and service connection claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for OSA as secondary to service-connected disabilities and obesity. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, GERD, low back disability, right knee disability, and right hip disabilities are being considered.

The Veteran's GERD was granted a 30 percent rating, but no higher. The claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, headaches, and gastroesophageal disability. The Veteran's TDIU and SMC claims prior to July 30, 2025 are remanded due to the self-cancellation of required VA examinations.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for GERD, but has remanded the issue of whether a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus requires only a restricted diet and an oral hypoglycemic agent, but no insulin injections. The hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on diastolic pressure or systolic pressure predominantly reaching certain thresholds. Service connection has been granted for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's GERD and allergic rhinitis require further examination to determine their current severity, as the examinations from November 2023 did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication.

The appeal of the proposed combination of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and ischemic heart disease with myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, heart block, cardiomyopathy, and hypertensive heart disease under one Diagnostic Code at an evaluation of 30 percent disabling is dismissed.,The appeals for increased evaluations for ischemic heart disease with myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, heart block, cardiomyopathy, and hypertensive heart disease are dismissed. The appeal for earlier effective date for GERD is denied. The appeal for earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The appeals for a compensable rating for GERD prior to May 19, 2024, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD as of May 19, 2024, are dismissed. The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The appeals for a rating in excess of 30 percent for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, secondary to hypertension, ischemic heart disease, CFH, heart block, cardiomyopathy, are dismissed.,The appeal for an earlier effective date for gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) is denied. The appeal for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus was denied because the VA examiner found no current diagnosis of tinnitus and concluded that the Veteran's subjective symptoms were transient ear noise with no impact on his ability to perform any type of occupational task.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was denied because there is no evidence of a current disability, as the Veteran did not provide lay or medical evidence of such.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, GERD, obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service connection claims for irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) effective November 29, 2023, with the condition being rated as mild incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's service connection claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) was also granted a 10 percent rating effective November 29, 2023. The condition is also rated as mild incomplete paralysis.