GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remands the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's use of NSAIDs caused or aggravated his stomach and esophagus conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the February 2021 VA examination report, which did not consider the Veteran's lay statements about the onset of his GERD symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and hypertension have been granted. The claim for increased evaluation for tinnitus has been dismissed, while the claims for service connection for low back disability, peripheral neuropathy, scar of the right lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, individual unemployability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all remanded.

The reduction of the Veteran's rating for tension headaches from 30% to 0% was improper, and his prior rating of 30% is restored. The GERD claim requires further development due to inadequate examination.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinions are inadequate and remanded for further examination to determine if GERD is related to service or environmental exposures, including toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).

The Board has granted service connection for GERD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, finding that his use of NSAIDs and muscle relaxants caused his current GERD.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is not service-connected due to dishonorable discharge.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and polysubstance disorder) granted as secondary to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection for GERD granted as secondary to the acquired psychiatric disorder caused by service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for hypertension granted as secondary to the acquired psychiatric disorder caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and hypertension have been granted. The claim for increased evaluation for tinnitus has been dismissed, while the claims for service connection for low back disability, peripheral neuropathy, scar of the right lower extremity, erectile dysfunction, individual unemployability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all remanded.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Board dismissed all the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA medical examinations and records, as well as for VA opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to obtain examinations for all claimed disorders.

The Veteran's claims for GERD and a disorder manifested by diarrhea were dismissed as the evidence did not establish service connection due to lack of nexus between his conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's GERD was found to have begun during his active service and continues to the present. The Board granted service connection for GERD.

The claims for service connection related to the endocrine system, hematologic and lymphatic systems, neurologic conditions and convulsive disorders, infectious diseases, immune disorders, and nutritional deficiencies have been dismissed. The Veteran's entitlement to service connection for sequelae of pericardial effusion, conduction abnormalities requiring ablation and pacemaker, and resultant heart failure, as well as esophagitis and GERD, has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected nasopharyngeal cancer.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate examination opinion, and further investigation is needed to determine if GERD was caused or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's stomach disability, including dysmenorrhea and GERD, is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's GERD is granted an initial 30 percent rating, while the other service connection claims are remanded for further review.