GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently shown GERD is related to service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's chronic gastrointestinal disorder, including PUD and GERD, is not considered to be caused or made worse by his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and an increased rating for PTSD were denied. The Board finds that further development is needed to ensure all relevant evidence has been considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current gastrointestinal disorders, specifically gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), first manifested during service. The claim is granted as these conditions are considered to be related to his active duty.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of left ear infections, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) have been reopened. However, the new evidence does not provide a valid diagnosis related to confirmed in-service stressors or establish a medical relationship with his pre-existing conditions.

The Board has determined that the April 2010 VA examination report is inadequate and requires clarification regarding the Veteran's GERD and bowel spasms. The case is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to address her gastrointestinal complaints.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.,The Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD is currently rated at 60 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 7346.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a head injury and chest pain were denied as there is no evidence of current disability related to these conditions. The Veteran's headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and hiatal hernia with esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been established but not higher than 10%.,The Veteran does not have residuals from his in-service head injury or chest pain. His headaches are service-connected but do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by an accident, and not due to his service-connected conditions. However, as he had been rated totally disabled for over five years prior to his death, the claimant is entitled to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for various conditions, including lumbar spinal stenosis, Adie's tonic syndrome (right eye), nasal deformity, GERD, keratosis, right trapezius muscle spasms (claimed as right shoulder pain), cervical strain, obstructive sleep apnea, thrombosed hemorrhoids, bladder disorder, prostate disorder, basal cell carcinoma, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not yet determined whether new and material evidence supports a grant of service connection.,Service connection was previously denied for anaphylactic reaction due to lack of chronic disability. The recent medical opinion suggests a possible link between current symptoms and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development due to incomplete medical records and the need to provide proper notice regarding the inability to obtain these records.

The Board has granted service connection for gastrointestinal residuals of H. pylori infection and peptic ulcer disease, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's GERD has been rated at 10 percent since November 16, 2004. The claim for an increased rating is denied as the evidence does not show that his GERD warrants a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7346. For major depressive disorder, the RO awarded a 50% rating effective December 14, 2007, but the associated VA treatment record from November 2007 to December 2007 is missing and must be obtained.

The Veteran's GERD is manifested by occasional chest pains, abdominal discomfort, and heartburn without vomiting, weight loss, dysphagia, hematemesis, melena, anemia or other symptom combinations productive of considerable impairment of health. The criteria for an initial evaluation to 10 percent have been met.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for further development, including an examination and consideration of additional service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's service-connected gastroesophageal disease (claimed as hiatal hernia/acid reflux) from a 30 percent to a 10 percent evaluation was proper.

The Veteran's pre-existing GERD was not aggravated by his second period of active service, and the Board finds that he is not entitled to service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of increased rating for gallbladder removal with GERD, service connection for arthritis of the neck, shoulder, arms, and lung disorder are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia and allergic rhinitis with post-nasal drip were aggravated by his service, warranting service connection.