GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's GERD is related to his service-connected disabilities of PTSD, bilateral hand strains, and right ankle ligament strain. The Board granted service connection for GERD as secondary to these conditions.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities and is also granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and headaches as secondary to PTSD due to an improper concurrent election.

The Board has denied service connection for gallbladder disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, cirrhosis, and kidney disease as secondary to PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with Barrett's Disease, a heart condition, and melanoma due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has restored the previously assigned 10 percent evaluations for GERD, hypertension, and vocal cord dysfunction status post cyst removal. The Veteran's service-connected conditions have not shown actual improvement in their severity during the period at issue.

The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury are all granted. The case is also REMANDED for further examination and opinion regarding the claim for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board finds that medical clarification is required regarding whether the Veteran needs regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the deferred issue regarding service connection for GERD because it did not constitute an adjudicative determination from which an NOD could be filed.

The VA denied a higher disability rating for the appellant's GERD with Barrett's esophagus, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for rectal stricture, effective February 1, 2022. The evidence did not show that his condition met the criteria for a greater rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder has been granted. The claims for heart condition, upper and lower bowel condition, GERD, and ED have not met the criteria for service connection.

The Board has denied readjudication of the claims for eye condition, right knee condition, and GERD. The claims for neurologic signs or symptoms of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity have been granted.

Service connection is granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, and Barrett's esophagus.,Service connection is granted for cataracts. Service connection is also granted for hypertensive retinopathy as part of the service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in failing to obtain private treatment records from Blessing Hospital and Blessing Physician Services Behavioral Health. The issues include right hand neuropathy, borderline personality disorder, IBS with GERD, right shoulder osteoarthritis, hypertension, and TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with narrowing L4-L5 disc space, radiculopathy sciatic nerve, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, and rhinitis are found to have caused or aggravated the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). As a result, the Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to these pre-existing conditions.

The Board has granted an increased disability evaluation for heartburn (claimed as acid reflux) from 0% to 10%, effective October 5, 2022. The appellant is eligible for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the January 21, 2023, rating decision.

The Board has determined that the VA's duty to assist claimants in obtaining relevant records was not met prior to the August 2022 decision on appeal. The claims for increased ratings are being remanded to allow for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected intestinal disabilities were increased from a 30 percent to a 100 percent disability rating effective July 1, 2022. The Appellant is eligible for attorney fees based on the past-due benefits awarded in the January 2023 rating decision.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the claims of right shin splint, left shin splint, mood disorder, sciatic radiculopathy (right lower extremity), lumbosacral strain, irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophagitis, allergic rhinitis, sciatic radiculopathy (left lower extremity), and bilateral hearing loss.