GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is not related to his active service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's digestive disabilities, specifically related to exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for IBS, GERD, and rhinitis. The deviated nasal septum claim is denied. The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right ankle sprain, tinnitus, meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis of the left knee, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and others, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to address the issues of service connection and rating for various conditions, including liver disability, respiratory disability, cardiac condition, GERD, allergic rhinitis, and hypertension.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and OSA are granted service connection, while gastrointestinal issues and foot neuropathies are denied. The case is remanded for further examination on bilateral foot neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for GERD and ED, as well as the initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence. Further development is needed including medical examinations.

Service connection is granted for allergic rhinitis and bilateral tinnitus, but denied for hearing loss disability.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease remains under review due to potential toxic exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and joint pain are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the onset of symptoms during active duty and potential exposure to Gulf War toxins. The VA will also obtain any outstanding records and provide a TERA examination if necessary.

The Veteran's DMII and hypertension were granted service connection due to in-service herbicide agent exposure.,Her glaucoma, sleep apnea, lung condition (including COPD and asthma), GERD, breast cancer, IBS, endocrinopathy, hypothyroidism, tinnitus, blood clots, heart condition, and bilateral hearing loss were all remanded for further development due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for a gastrointestinal disability and chronic fatigue, as new and material evidence was received.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA are dismissed as the AOJ has already granted these benefits with an effective date of June 3, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for fatty liver, right eye macular degeneration with cataracts, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), rosacea, and malignant melanoma. The Veteran's conditions are presumed to be related to exposure to contaminants at Camp Lejeune.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's GERD was not productive of considerable impairment of health prior to June 10, 2020. Beginning June 10, 2020, the Veteran's GERD manifested symptoms that were productive of considerable impairment of health but did not more nearly approximate a combination of symptoms productive of severe impairment of health.,The Veteran's hypogonadism has not manifested atrophy of the testes during the period on appeal. The right foot calcaneal spur manifested symptoms including pain, and did not manifest symptoms greater in severity than moderate.

The Veteran's GERD, including hiatal hernia, is rated at 30 percent for the entire period on appeal due to symptoms of persistently recurring epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal pain.

The Veteran's Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery for GERD with Barrett's esophagitis and esophageal spasm required at least one month of convalescence, meeting the criteria for a temporary total disability rating (100%). The Board found that the surgery was appropriate treatment for his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause and aggravation of the Veteran's chest pain, which is currently service-connected. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss were denied as there was no evidence of a claim prior to February 24, 2020.,The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss was denied due to the average puretone threshold being at Level II (noncompensable).,Service connection for esophageal disorder and IBS were denied as there is no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and service.,Service connection for a back disability, right shoulder disability, respiratory disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder were granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The claim for a respiratory disability (originally claimed as sarcoidosis) was reopened, but the service connection for COPD remains denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for various conditions.