GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for deviated nasal septum and granted it. The other issues were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Veteran was granted a non-compensable evaluation for his hearing loss in the right ear, but his claim for an initial compensable rating for his hearing loss in the left ear remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied as the earliest factually ascertainable date that he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities was June 14, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees, esophageal stricture, and hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease were granted. The Veteran was assigned a 10 percent rating each for his knees and a 30 percent rating for his esophageal stricture and a 10 percent rating for his hiatal hernia.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin disability/skin problems and stomach condition/gastrointestinal symptoms, finding that these conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, reopening the previously denied claim. The Veteran's sleep apnea and GERD are found to be related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of GERD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for gastrointestinal disorder, migraine headache disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and disorders other than PTSD), and left foot disorder. However, the claims remain denied as new and material evidence was not provided to substantiate these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and consideration of his contentions under Jandreau v. Nicholson, 492 F.3d 1372 (Fed. Cir. 2007) and Davidson v. Shinseki, 581 F.3d 1313 (Fed. Cir. 2009).

The Veteran is seeking service connection for GERD and IBS, which she claims are related to her PTSD. The case has been remanded due to a hearing issue.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to have been incurred during service and is related to exposure to traumatic events in service. Service connection for PTSD has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of migraine headaches has been granted, with the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent. The claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is pending and will be readjudicated after obtaining recent VA treatment records. The low back disability claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last denial in September 2002.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye disorder, initial evaluations for low back disorder with radicular foot pain and GERD, evaluations for right and left heel spurs and plantar fasciitis, and evaluation for right wrist tendonitis were all denied. The Veteran was not granted any new or material evidence to reopen her previously denied claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal on his initial evaluations for GERD with small hiatal hernia and contact dermatitis is withdrawn. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was not incurred in or related to his active service, and is not caused by or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, finding that it is less likely than not caused or aggravated by his sinusitis. The matter of entitlement to service connection for IBS (presumably due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability) is inextricably intertwined with this issue and has been referred back to the RO.

The Veteran's service-connected sinusitis and GERD are currently rated at the lowest possible levels. The Board finds that there is no evidence of incapacitating episodes or significant symptoms warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for GERD and a temporary total disability rating were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an extension of the temporary total disability rating due to lack of medical documentation indicating continued need for convalescence beyond April 30, 2006.