GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to appeal the March 18, 2024, and March 25, 2024, rating decisions that assigned initial ratings and effective dates for ED and GERD, as well as the July 25, 2024, rating decision denying TDIU. The Board found no good cause to extend the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Barrett's esophagus and a compensable disability rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease has been dismissed as the appellant requested to withdraw his appeals.

Service connection for GERD is granted and a 10% rating for hypertension is granted.,Disfiguring scars of the face secondary to chloracne are granted with a 30% rating from August 6, 2020. A separate 20% rating for painful scars of the face secondary to chloracne is granted. From June 19, 2025, a higher rating for disfiguring scars of the face and painful scars of the right groin secondary to chloracne are denied.,An increased 20% rating for chloracne is granted.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's persistent somatic symptom disorder is rated at 70 percent from October 26, 2020 to the present. The TDIU claim for July 31, 2021 and earlier is granted with an effective date of July 31, 2021.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and erectile dysfunction (ED), as well as the award of SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ, due to lack of unadjudicated claims prior to October 30, 2021.

The Veteran's GERD condition is related to service and the Board has granted service connection for this disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), as they are related to service-connected migraines. The Veteran needs additional medical opinions regarding both conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of right hip disability. The Veteran's GERD and urinary urgency were granted initial ratings, but no higher.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for GERD was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her claim.,Service connection for migraine headaches is granted, with the condition considered to be related to service based on continuity of symptoms.

The Board has denied service connection for the Veteran's low back condition, and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and right wrist conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for GERD is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for GERD is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a stress fracture of the bilateral lower extremities is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of depression with chronic pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and tinnitus due to a withdrawal by the Veteran's authorized representative prior to the decision being promulgated.

The Veteran's lumbar disorder, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain, is granted service connection. The claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and left knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, GERD, and sinusitis have been granted increased ratings of 50 percent each.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his use of pain medication due to his service-connected cervical degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from March 29, 2012, to April 23, 2025. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.

The Veteran's GERD requires daily medications to control dysphagia, consistent with a 10 percent rating. However, the medical records do not show that his GERD resulted in recurrent esophageal stricture or required an esophageal stent placement, which would be consistent with ratings in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board found no evidence of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture requiring dilation more than two times per year to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examiner's opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities result in loss of use and if so, whether he requires aid and attendance without considering such disability/ies. The Veteran also needs to be considered for SMC R1 based on the need for regular aid and attendance.