GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Board has determined that new medical opinions are required for the Veteran's hypertension, GERD, fatigue (claimed as chronic fatigue syndrome), joint pain (claimed as fibromyalgia), and heart disorder claims due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Board has remanded several issues, including hypertension, which is suspected to be related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA) during his Persian Gulf War service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of GERD due to insufficient information provided by the VA examiner in March 2022. The Veteran's representative asserts that secondary service connection should be granted based on a private medical opinion and the Veteran's lay statements. However, the Board cannot yet adjudicate the claim because the AOJ failed to obtain a medical examination with sufficient information.

The Veteran's GERD was rated at 10 percent from October 1, 2019. The Board found that the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it did not manifest in persistently recurring epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal pain, productive of considerable impairment of health.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent prior to November 8, 2021 and at 20 percent since then.,The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy meets the criteria for a rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and atherosclerosis of the coronary artery with stable angina pectoris are granted as secondary to herbicide exposure. Hypertension is also granted under the PACT Act.,Hypothyroidism and irritable bowel syndrome were not granted due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims due to duty-to-assist errors, including failure to obtain relevant private treatment records and rescheduling of VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS, TMJ dysfunction (jaw pain), tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, GERD, diverticulosis, erectile dysfunction, and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted.,The Board has found that the Veteran had qualifying service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War era and has current diagnoses of IBS, TMJ dysfunction (jaw pain), tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, GERD, diverticulosis, erectile dysfunction, and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims are granted on a presumptive basis under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an adequate clinician's opinion regarding the impact of medication on the Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on his migraine headaches and GERD is denied. The Veteran's PTSD with TBI claim is remanded to obtain additional VA records.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The decision is based on medical opinions that link GERD to the use of NSAIDs due to his left knee condition.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for GERD and TDIU are being remanded due to procedural errors. A new VA examination is required to assess the severity of his GERD symptoms without considering the effects of medication, as well as addressing his statements about severe sleep impairment and vitamin deficiencies.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Unemployability (TDIU) effective from May 28, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for GERD and ED as secondary to a right knee disability due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's neck condition, urinary incontinence, right knee condition, and GERD have all been granted service connection.,A rating for the lumbar spine disability has not been granted.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received, allowing for the readjudication of the claim. The Veteran's current GERD is now considered secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, GERD, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and plantar fasciitis. The issues of right hip disability and skin disability are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

Service connection for a heart condition is granted, and an initial 30 percent rating for GERD during the period prior to January 5, 2023 is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for GERD was dismissed because the AOJ issued a spurious SSOC and the Veteran's attorney submitted an invalid VA Form 10182 in response to it. The matter was already pending before the Board under the modernized review system.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, but denied the claims for erectile dysfunction (ED) and hypertension.