GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's GERD is granted with a 30 percent rating for the entire period on appeal. The RO has remanded cases regarding increased ratings for his left and right knee DJD, as well as traumatic arthritis of both ankles.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded several issues including service connection claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypercholesterolemia has been denied as it does not constitute a disability for VA benefits purposes.,New and material evidence having been received, the claims for hypertension and alcoholism have both been reopened. Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (depression and/or mood disorder), migraine headaches, and sleep apnea on secondary basis to service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's joint pain, coronary artery disease, diabetes, eye disorder, glaucoma, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disorder (asthma), liver disorder, kidney disorder, erectile dysfunction, residuals of TBI, restless leg syndrome, GERD, and other issues have been remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is denied as it was received more than a year after discharge. The rectum sphincter control disability, GERD, and PTSD claims are granted with increased ratings. The hemorrhoids claim is denied. The right wrist and left wrist disabilities, and headaches claims are remanded.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at a 10% disability rating, effective August 1, 2014.,The Veteran's GERD with gallbladder removal is rated at a 30% disability rating, effective August 1, 2014.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, as well as his GERD and depressive disorder have been evaluated but none of the conditions meet the criteria for a higher rating.,All issues related to increased ratings for the Veteran's knee disabilities, GERD, and depressive disorder were denied.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service personnel records, VA Form 21-8940s, and private treatment records.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for left arm and hand numbness was denied. An effective date of January 2, 2017, was granted for an increased rating in the Veteran’s lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with disc bulging.,An effective date of January 2, 2017, was granted for a separate compensable rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy. An effective date prior to March 13, 2017, was denied for an increased rating in the Veteran’s cervical spine degenerative arthritis with disc protrusion and stenosis.,An effective date of March 13, 2017, was granted for a separate compensable rating for right arm nerve impingement. An effective date prior to March 13, 2017, was denied for an increased rating in the Veteran’s cervical spine degenerative arthritis with disc protrusion and stenosis.,A rating of more than 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with disc bulging since January 2, 2017, and a rating of more than 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy since January 2, 2017, were denied.,A rating of 30 percent for GERD since March 13, 2017, and a rating of 50 percent for PTSD since March 13, 2017, were granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PUD with GERD as new and material evidence was not received, despite his previous claims.

The Veteran's service-connected gout arthritis, hearing loss, tinnitus, and GERD disabilities preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lower back disorder, neck disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, pneumonia, upper extremities disorder, lower extremities disorder, bones and joints disorder, dizziness, GERD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction. Additional development is needed to obtain complete service records and private medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD is being remanded for a more contemporaneous examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for service connection of dyshidrotic eczema, IBS, GERD, and a low back disability. The Board finds the claims were not filed until after the relevant time periods.,The Veteran's initial claim was denied in November 1996, but he did not file another claim for these conditions until years later.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of 10 percent for GERD, so the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, including GERD, was granted. Service connection for IBS as a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a back disorder and acid reflux disorder due to insufficient evidence in their initial decisions. The cases are now pending for further review with new examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current lumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, left knee, or right knee disability. The Board also found no in-service injury or disease for any of these conditions.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's cervical degenerative arthritis is granted as service-connected, with a presumption of service connection due to the one-year post-service period.,The Veteran's PTSD prior to May 14, 2015 is denied as not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder.,An initial rating of 30 percent for GERD with clinical chronic gastritis is granted.,A compensable rating (10%) for the scar of the left knee is denied.,A rating in excess of 30 percent for status post left knee injury with medial partial meniscectomy, chondromalacia patella and medical tibial plateau is denied.,A rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder is denied.