GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection due to potential toxic exposure risk activities. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are both at issue.

The appeal for service connection for adjustment/mood disorder is dismissed as the Veteran has been granted service connection for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder (claimed as anxiety). The appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease and bladder disability are remanded.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to assess the current severity of her service-connected GERD, IBS with constipation, and scar status post cholecystectomy.

The Veteran's service connection claims for GERD, cataracts, sleep apnea, umbilical hernia, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and right shoulder disorder are all granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and insomnia were granted, while the claim for GERD was denied. The effective date for the increased rating of heart palpitations with atrial flutter is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition, characterized by IVDS with DDD and Sacroiliac Condition, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or favorable ankylosis.,The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board granted a 30 percent rating for GERD, effective from February 10, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for scar, status post TENS unit placement has been dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia is currently rated at 40 percent from December 11, 2019. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted due to lack of evidence showing episodic exacerbations or refractory symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating was granted with an effective date of December 18, 2014. However, the actual effective date is set at September 12, 2015, based on the earliest evidence showing entitlement to the benefit.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for GERD, hypertension, skin condition, sleep apnea, nosebleeds, right wrist condition, and left hip condition due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran contends that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for acid reflux, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorders, and bilateral heel pain due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to send the claim file to an appropriate clinician who will provide opinions on whether the Veteran's conditions had onset in active service or are otherwise causally connected to his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headache disability, diabetes, and hypertension were denied. The claim for GERD was granted with a rating of 60 percent but no higher.

The Board has granted service connection for a gastrointestinal condition, including Barrett's esophagus and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding that the Veteran experienced symptoms of reflux during service and these symptoms have persisted since exiting from service.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, vision problems, and dyshidrotic eczema. The Veteran's current conditions were not found to be related to his military service.,For GERD, the Board also denied an initial compensable evaluation prior to March 12, 2020, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on symptoms of persistent reflux and other associated issues.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, previously rated at 50 percent, is now granted a rating of 70 percent effective November 21, 2017.,Service connection for a back disability is remanded due to lack of compliance with the Board's previous directives.,The Veteran's GERD remains rated at 10 percent.

Service connection for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, neck impairment, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and erectile dysfunction has been granted.,Service connection for back impairment, left knee impairment, right knee impairment, and psychiatric impairment has also been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of sufficient severity to produce unemployability, and the Board finds that she is not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due solely to her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's GERD, allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis, migraine headaches, back disability, and sleep apnea are all granted. The claims for service connection for migraine headaches, a back disability, and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as due to conceded herbicide exposure. The issues of service connection for GERD and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher staged ratings for other specified depressive disorder, migraine headaches, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are being remanded due to procedural issues. The AOJ will review the newly-obtained evidence and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case.