GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and Barrett's Esophagus as secondary to GERD are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ is required to obtain VA treatment records from 1997 to 2005 and from 2006 to 2012, and provide an addendum opinion regarding the onset of GERD.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for an esophageal condition, including eosinophilic esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), due to insufficient evidence in the claims file. The Veteran's medical history and lay statements are considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants service connection for GERD as secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was not filed within one year from the May 2018 rating decision, which resulted in a denial for increased PTSD and service connection for right foot pain, sinus nasal congestion, tinnitus, and GERD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were denied as there was no evidence of symptoms warranting a compensable disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to consider post-service treatment records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) in determining whether the Veteran's GERD is related to his service.

The Veteran's GERD is found to be etiologically linked to his active-duty service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for plantar fasciitis in both feet and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and SSA records. The case will be returned to the Board after this information has been obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, GERD, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and tremors has been granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is set at May 4, 2012. A TDIU due solely to PTSD was granted as of May 1, 2022. Service connection for other conditions remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and digestive disorder due to lack of evidence meeting VA standards for a current disability. The Veteran's contentions regarding etiology are not considered sufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the retrieval of relevant medical records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and GERD with gastroparesis, as well as entitlement to TDIU, have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing these issues from appeal following remand by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection under the PACT Act, while other conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, depressive disorder, TBI, and related disabilities, were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or link to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence for a left eardrum disability. The other issues are being remanded as well.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its remand directives for the claims of service connection for duodenal ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain addendum VA medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the claims file contains newly received relevant evidence and requires a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) to be issued by the RO. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obesity and PTSD, are found to be the cause or aggravation of his CHF. The Board has granted service connection for CHF secondary to these conditions. Additionally, the Veteran is granted a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The claims for GERD and COPD secondary to CHF are remanded.

The Veteran's brain cancer is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims for sleep apnea, lung nodules, asthma, and GERD are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or herbicide agent exposure.