GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's digestive disorder, currently diagnosed as PUD, GERD and esophagitis, is due to a disease or injury that was incurred in active military service. Service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcer disease, as well as a psychiatric disorder other than posttraumatic stress disorder, are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. Further development is needed including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher rating for bilateral pes cavus were denied by the Board. The Veteran was awarded service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease in November 2004, but his claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes cavus remains unresolved.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's peptic ulcer disease, status post vagotomy, with hiatal hernia and GERD, finding that his symptoms warrant this level of disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant's gastroesophageal reflux had its inception during his second period of active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD and actinic cheilitis of the lower lip are currently evaluated as noncompensably disabling. The Board finds that neither condition warrants a compensable rating.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current GERD/hiatal hernia and ventral hernia to his active duty service, nor did it find a direct relationship between these conditions and his prostate cancer. The claims for secondary service connection were denied.

The Veteran's GERD has been granted an initial 10 percent rating, effective December 18, 2007. The Board found that the severity of his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease is now rated at 20 percent effective July 25, 2006. The other issues on appeal are dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current digestive system disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's GERD and tension headaches have been granted, with a 10% rating for each condition. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, specifically Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), had its onset during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 14, 2006 for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine hypertrophic osteoarthritis was denied. The effective date is set at November 18, 2005.

The Board found that the Veteran's current GERD is not related to his service, including any trauma or stress therein. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for a GI disability.

The Veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal disability, which includes GERD, IBS, and a hiatal hernia, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that the predominant disability picture warrants an increased rating to 30 percent due to the severity of his symptoms including daily discomfort from gas, bloating, and constipation.

The Veteran's service-connected gastrectomy and GERD are currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 7308 for postgastrectomy syndromes.,The Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids with anal fistula are currently rated at 30 percent. The RO has determined that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of additional pertinent evidence and for a new VA examination to determine his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer is not related to his service, and thus denied service connection for this condition. For GERD (Barrett's esophagus), the VA examiner found no evidence of a pre-existing esophageal condition during service, and noted that the Veteran's current GERD/Barrett's esophagus may be due to his PTSD. The organic residuals of frostbite issue is not addressed as it was not part of the appeal process.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA medical records and for further examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed psychiatric and gastrointestinal disorders.

The Veteran's GERD was granted service connection as it is at least as likely as not that the condition had its onset in service.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia, claimed as high cholesterol and high triglyceride levels, was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.