GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is being remanded due to a lack of a VA examination and medical opinion, which could provide the necessary information to determine if his current diagnosis was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a failure to fully evaluate his coexisting abdominal conditions, specifically PUD. He will be scheduled for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the current severity of service-connected PUD.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right leg length discrepancy, lumbosacral strain, right ankle strain, left ankle strain, and right knee strain. The decision is based on evidence showing that GERD was caused or aggravated by the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for his service-connected musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Barrett's esophagus, finding that these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by the medications taken for the Veteran's service-connected back and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current audiometric test results.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD), and migraines due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claims must be readjudicated with further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for chronic cough, acid reflux, and a chronic headache condition due to non-compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's conditions are being evaluated again by VA clinicians.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at a 60 percent disability rating, effective from March 5, 2020. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms of epigastric distress, pyrosis, regurgitation, substernal pain, chronic cough, vitamin deficiencies, and sleep disturbance are productive of severe impairment in health.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple issues are being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease with facet arthritis on L4-L5 and gastroesophageal reflux disease are granted. The claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal, lumbar spine, cervical spine and hemorrhoids disabilities due to incomplete service department records and inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain complete service treatment records and schedule VA examinations to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for GERD and ED secondary to service-connected acquired psychiatric disability due to inadequate VA examination reports. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his current GERD and ED are caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hydronephrosis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the previous rating decision, and requires additional opinions regarding whether the Veteran's GERD is caused or aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The appeal regarding service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's GERD was rated at 10 percent disabling from December 6, 2021. The Board has now granted a 30 percent disability rating for GERD, effective as of the date of the decision.

The appeal seeking to revise or reverse the October 7, 2010 rating decision that denied service connection for GERD is denied. The Veteran did not provide evidence of a chronic disease listed under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a) and the RO did not err in not applying presumptive service connection provisions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as it is proximately due to his use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in the November 2019 VA examination, specifically regarding secondary service connection for GERD and Migraine Headaches. The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The 100% rating for PTSD with OCD prior to July 16, 2019 was denied as the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment at that time. The GERD and IBS claim had no factual basis for a higher rating or earlier effective date within one year of the claims period.