GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected panic disorder without agoraphobia alone prevents him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and he is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective April 27, 2009. Additionally, the Veteran has additional service-connected disabilities independently rated at 60 percent or more, qualifying him for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis, GERD, and erectile dysfunction were denied as new evidence did not support the readjudication.

The Veteran's GERD and gastrointestinal issues are found to have begun during service and continue since, granting service connection.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence supports readjudication of the claims for service connection for a bilateral foot condition, GERD, and migraine. The claims are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, left knee/left lower extremity condition, and right knee/right lower extremity condition.

The Veteran's GERD and OSA are granted service connection, with the GERD being related to his PTSD and OSA being proximately due to or related to his PTSD.

Service connection for headaches is granted, and a disability rating of 10 percent for GERD is granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, IBS, right upper extremity radiculopathy, and left upper extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance/housebound due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the criteria of needing regular aid and assistance or being permanently housebound.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is at least as likely as not caused by her service-connected lumbosacral strain, and thus grants service connection for GERD secondary to her service-connected condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for gastroesophageal reflux disease, erectile dysfunction, and loss of teeth.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have diagnosed right upper extremity radiculopathy and denied his claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD. The appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for erectile dysfunction and GERD as secondary to service-connected PTSD due to a duty to assist error in obtaining an addendum opinion addressing whether these conditions were aggravated by the service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 30 percent, but no higher, effective from May 12, 2020.

The Veteran's GERD is granted a 60% disability rating from June 17, 2021. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for OSA due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's tinea pedis and GERD are granted as secondary to their respective service-connected conditions. The Veteran's OSA with asthma and bronchitis is denied an increased rating.

The Board has determined that there is a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands the case for further clarification of the Veteran's GERD diagnosis and its relationship to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disability, sleep apnea, GERD, and bilateral hearing loss disability due to a lack of current disabilities as required by the first element of service connection.

The Board has decided that service connection for migraine headaches is granted as secondary to the service-connected tinnitus. The low back disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and adjustment/mood disorder claims are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if any digestive disorder, including acid reflux, is related to service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error and obtain an additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for GERD as secondary to PTSD should be remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and inadequate medical opinion.