GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and major depressive disorder, is granted as secondary to his service-connected traumatic brain injury. His erectile dysfunction is also granted due to in-service urethritis. The Veteran is awarded SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ due to ED. The peripheral vestibular disorder remains at 30 percent, while the migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of proper consideration of evidence submitted after the April 2021 rating decision, and because no VA examiner has provided an opinion addressing whether the Veteran's GERD is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for GERD with IBS, effective from July 14, 2020.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, including headaches, residuals of a fractured left thumb, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and various hip and back conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine if there is any link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to herbicide agent exposure. The claims for right upper extremity, left upper extremity, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are denied due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) have all been granted. The conditions are related to his military service in the Southwest Asia Theater.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors and a need for an adequate opinion regarding the likely etiology of the Veteran's GERD.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected GERD is remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA failed to obtain all treatment records from the San Juan VAMC, where the Veteran receives all his treatment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diverticulosis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding potential exposure to toxins during his Gulf War service.

The Veteran's initial rating for gastroparesis with GERD and hiatal hernia has been granted at a 60 percent level, the highest schedular rating. Additionally, the Veteran is now eligible for TDIU based on his service-connected gastroparesis.

The Veteran's hypertension and gastrointestinal disorder claims are being remanded due to deficiencies in the medical opinions provided. The issues of service connection for these conditions will be reconsidered with new evidence considered.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of September 25, 2020 for increased ratings of PTSD and migraine headaches, as well as eligibility for DEA benefits. The Veteran's appeal is denied in part due to a remand for additional records.

The Veteran's appeals for lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,The Veteran was granted service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder (achalasia with esophageal stricture status-post dilation with GERD) due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD and IBS, finding that these conditions were aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected alcohol use disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition, pes planus of the right foot, and back condition. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding these issues.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart condition was also remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's T-11 anterior wedge compression fracture is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to limited forward flexion.,The Veteran's left knee patella tendonitis is currently rated at 10 percent, and there is no evidence of more than the normal limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder. The GERD claim is denied as not related to service. The psychiatric disorder claim requires further examination due to inadequate reasoning.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Additionally, the Board has also granted secondary service connection for IBS and GERD as related to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's GERD was rated at 30 percent from March 15, 2021, to October 22, 2021, and from January 26, 2022. The Board found the evidence supported a higher rating for these periods.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right hip condition and GERD. The VA will need to provide new medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle and knee disabilities.