GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's right ring finger fracture is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has not assigned a separate rating for his gastrointestinal condition due to lack of evidence supporting the need for such. The appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination in March 2005, which did not adequately discuss whether the Veteran's GERD was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The case is now being returned for a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining additional medical evidence and scheduling appropriate VA examinations to address the issues raised.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and was not exposed to herbicides during his active service. None of the disabilities at issue were present in service or until years thereafter, and none are etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Board has also granted service connection for GERD.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if any current disorder manifested by nausea is caused or aggravated by medications taken for service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus Type II with erectile dysfunction and bilateral cataracts, nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper and lower extremities, a cerebral vascular accident associated with his diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that there is an approximate balance of favorable and unfavorable evidence regarding whether the Veteran's GERD is caused by his service-connected partial small bowel obstruction. Resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board grants secondary service connection for GERD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, a stomach disability to include gastroesophageal reflux disease, and a low back disability. The Board found that diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of chronicity after service. The current stomach disability and low back disability are also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a current VA examination and updated medical records, as his symptoms have worsened since the last examination in September 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD with hiatal hernia and Barrett's esophagus has been rated at 10 percent since June 1, 2006. The Board found that the condition warrants a higher rating of 30 percent due to symptoms including epigastric distress, regurgitation, substernal pain, and significant impairment of health.

The Veteran's service connection for headaches and fatigue has been granted. Headaches are deemed to have been incurred in service, while fatigue is secondary to his service-connected GERD.

The Veteran's GERD is evaluated at a 10 percent rating, but no higher.

The Veteran's dry eye disability is service-connected and warrants a 10% rating.,Prior to July 27, 2009, the Veteran's hiatal hernia disability warranted a 30% rating based on severe symptoms. After July 27, 2009, it warrants a 60% rating due to significant weight loss and other severe symptoms.,The Veteran's headaches are characterized by very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability and warrant a maximum 50% rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding that there was no evidence to support a secondary relationship between these conditions and his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a liver disorder and digestive disorders, including diverticulitis and GERD, finding that there was no current diagnosis of these conditions other than hepatitis. The Board also found that any such conditions were not caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal conditions, including GERD and hiatal hernia, duodentitis (stomach ulcer and duodenal condition), erosive gastritis, and asthma are not related to his service-connected anxiety disorder. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of multiple joints, and acid reflux disease were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The disorders are presumed to be related to his military service due to exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his shoulder disabilities and GERD.

The Veteran's GERD and sleep apnea are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was not shown to be related to service, and the Board found no evidence of a nexus between GERD and his military service.