GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine the validity of his stressor allegations and a VA examination is needed to assess the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric or back disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD, migraine headaches, and DM are all found to be secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran is granted increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's GERD and diabetes mellitus type I are service-connected, but his combined rating is only 40 percent. The Board granted a higher disability rating for GERD to 30 percent, but denied any increase in the rating for diabetes mellitus type I. TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran seeks to establish service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease, which she claims is secondary to her service-connected knee, shoulder, wrist, and foot disabilities. The case is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions of GERD, gout, and diabetes mellitus were not incurred or aggravated during his periods of active duty training or inactive duty training in the Army National Guard. As a result, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including cancers and neurological disorders, all potentially related to exposure to burn pits. The case is being remanded for additional medical records and verification of a claimed stressor.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as her thoracic and lumbar spine disability, gluten enteropathy and GERD, and left foot disability do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the claim for an increased rating was denied. The issue of increased compensable rating for renal insufficiency remains in appellate status.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus effective September 21, 2004. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hiatal hernia with GERD are currently rated at 30 percent each.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for the scar of the right knee and service connection for gastrointestinal disability, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and chronic fatigue, both claimed as due to undiagnosed illness. The evidence submitted did not meet the criteria of being new and material.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, finding that there is new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claim. The Board also found in favor of the Veteran on his claims for increased rating for plantar keratoma and service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD is manifested by difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, episodic regurgitation and pain, as well as pyrosis, esophagitis, and esophageal stricture. Competent medical evidence described these symptoms as 'chronic,' 'severe,' and/or 'moderately severe.' Resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor, these symptom combinations are productive of severe impairment of health.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling him for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected spine disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a compulsive eating disorder (obesity), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as secondary to her service-connected PTSD. The claim for service connection for a complete hysterectomy was remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for stomach disorder, residuals of flu, arthritis with back and leg sciatica, and hepatitis C were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a connection between the Veteran's current GERD and his military service.

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia was rated at 30 percent prior to December 14, 2009 and at 60 percent from December 15, 2009. The Board found that the symptoms warranted these ratings based on the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection were denied. The appellant did not meet the income requirements for nonservice-connected death pension, and her accrued benefits claims were also denied due to exceeding the maximum annual pension rate.