GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's GERD was granted a 60 percent rating effective October 20, 2021. For the period from August 31, 2015 to October 19, 2021, his GERD was denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's bilateral heel pain, plantar fasciitis, and pes planus are rated at 50 percent effective November 21, 2018.,GERD is remanded for further development to determine the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis. The issue of GERD secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2 and the housebound status prior to May 8, 2013 have also been remanded.,Further medical opinions are needed regarding whether GERD is proximately due to or aggravated by diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hiatal hernia was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,Service-connected hypertension has not been rated higher than noncompensable since the onset of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to failure to substantially fulfill its September 2022 remand instructions regarding the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected GERD, IBS, and gastritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, a low back disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's right hip disability and GERD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been reopened, and both conditions are now granted. The appeal is also granted for the evaluation of left shoulder tendonitis and left clavicle spur, lumbar spondylosis and osteophytosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), uterine fibroids, migraines, hypertension, residual scar from ventral hernia repair, anxiety, memory loss, sleep disturbances, knee disorder, and fibromyalgia. The appeal is remanded for further evaluations and determinations on these issues.

The Board has determined that new and significant evidence has been added to the claims file since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) issued in June 2019. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities may affect his ability to work, which is considered part of the TDIU claim. Therefore, all issues are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's hypertension, COPD, and stomach condition are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. However, the effective date of service connection for these conditions is limited by the PACT Act of 2022, which grants presumptive service connection from August 10, 2022. The claims for hypertension prior to this date and for COPD and stomach condition are remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for a schizoaffective disorder and ED, but denied the claim for acid reflux.,The Veteran's ED is secondary to his service-connected schizoaffective disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD and denied service connection for all other conditions, including lung disability, upper extremity disorders, lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, kidney stones, benign prostate hypertrophy, low back disorder, hip disorders, and knee disorders. The Veteran's claims are based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's GERD was diagnosed during service and has persisted since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's GERD and back disability are remanded for further examination, while the right and left lower extremity radiculopathy ratings remain under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of gastrointestinal and gastroesophageal disorders, including IBS and GERD. The Veteran's presumed toxic exposure under PACT Act is acknowledged, but a TERA examination and medical opinion are needed to assess his gastrointestinal symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with Barrett's esophagus are remanded due to the need for new examinations.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected COPD, which renders him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation. The decision is granted from May 29, 2011.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and continuity of the Veteran's psychiatric and esophageal disorders, as well as their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of bronchitis and cervical radiculopathy in both upper extremities. The PACT Act presumption has been applied to sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and gastroesophageal reflux disease due to inadequate opinions in the original VA examinations. The case will be returned to the Board after completion of further examination.