GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back disability and radiculopathy in both legs, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has referred several service connection claims for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including heart disorder, encephalitis, GERD, pulmonary disorder, hypoxia, and prostate disorder. These claims are remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records and need further evaluation by VA medical experts.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD as secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches, finding that there was no medical evidence linking the GERD to the treatment of his headaches.

The Board denied service connection for GERD, respiratory disorder (other than sleep apnea), bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected back and heart disabilities from August 25, 2014, to March 21, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to January 11, 2015 due to insufficient medical opinions addressing secondary service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Môniére's disease. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is remanded due to inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between service and current tinnitus.,The GERD claim is remanded as there are insufficient opinions on whether the condition pre-existed service or was aggravated by service.,The migraines claim is remanded because the examiner did not consider the Veteran's contentions of stress and anxiety, nor provide an adequate aggravation opinion.,The facial tics claim is remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the relationship between service and current symptoms.,The left lower extremity numbness and tingling claim is remanded as there are insufficient opinions on whether the condition pre-existed service or was aggravated by service.,The right lower extremity numbness claim is also remanded for similar reasons.,The acquired psychiatric disability claim is remanded due to inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between service and current symptoms.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating to 30 percent based on persistent chest pain and other symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for GERD, sleep apnea, back condition, left thigh condition, and left knee condition due to inadequate medical examination and lack of substantial compliance with May 2022 remand instructions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee, left knee, cervical spine disorder, CFS, right fingers, left fingers, right hip, left hip, lumbar spine disorder, right wrist, left wrist, left leg, right shoulder, left lower extremity sciatic nerve disorder, burns of the right tibia/fibula, and GERD disorders due to incomplete service treatment records and lack of confirmation of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and a right wrist condition due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on his in-service injuries, including exposure to toxic substances during deployments.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine strain is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for GERD is being remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a dental condition, inguinal hernia, irritable bowel condition (IBS), and skin rashes. The remaining issues of service connection for a chronic joint condition, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and skin cancer are remanded.

The Veteran's GERD was denied as it is not related to service, while his tension headaches were denied due to lack of in-service onset or relationship.,Service connection for fibromyalgia was granted based on unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI) manifested by back, shoulders, and upper arms pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.,The Board is seeking clarification on the qualifications of the examiner who provided the August and September 2022 opinions, particularly regarding their experience in rheumatology.

The Board has denied service connection for a hiatal hernia with GERD and atypical chest pain, finding that these conditions are not attributable to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), pulmonary embolism, and a bilateral ear condition other than hearing loss and tinnitus.,No determination was made regarding the Veteran's other ear conditions such as impacted cerumen and recurrent ear infections.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his periods of active-duty service.,Service connection is also granted for OSA, with a remand required due to inadequate medical opinion addressing whether the condition was first diagnosed after service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent for the period prior to August 12, 2022. The appeal continues as a higher rating is not assigned.,The Veteran's PTSD is denied for ratings in excess of 70 percent from August 12, 2022 onward.