GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for throat surgery, right hand injury, broken left leg, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran had a claim for service connection for GERD pending at the time of his death, and that he incurred GERD in service. As such, the claim is granted.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, to include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), was denied. The decision is based on the VA examiner's conclusion that there is not enough evidence to support a link between the Veteran's current GERD and his time in active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, GERD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all denied as there is no evidence that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to address the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling a Board videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's right knee disability is found to be causally related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under VA guidelines. The Board has also granted entitlement to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for GERD and wishes to reopen his claim for left knee strain. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the need for an examination regarding GERD and issuance of a Statement of the Case on reopening left knee strain.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development of the evidence, including a new VA medical examination to assess the current severity of his gastritis with GERD.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA/privately held treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Board can adjudicate the issues on appeal, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the severity of his GERD, as he has asserted that it has worsened since the last examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and high cholesterol, as well as his request for an increased evaluation for duodenitis with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for hypertension. Service connection was also denied for high cholesterol because it is not a disability for VA compensation purposes. The Veteran's duodenitis with GERD was rated at 20 percent, effective from December 2005.

The Veteran's bilateral knee pain and DJD are considered service-connected, while GERD is not. The Board finds that the Veteran's current symptoms of knee pain and DJD are related to his service, including his Anthrax vaccination injections.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for GERD and IBS with constipation was denied. The current disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for dysphagia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), to include as secondary to service-connected PTSD.