GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and GERD are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA clinician regarding whether these conditions are related to herbicide exposure or medications taken for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and depression, left lower extremity radiculopathy, depression, a cervical spine disability, and right and left shoulder disabilities. The Veteran's left knee disability is remanded due to conflicting evidence from VA examinations. His GERD is also remanded as new symptoms have been reported.

The Veteran's PTSD and GERD, gastritis, and duodenitis have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also receiving a 30% rating for his GERD, gastritis, and duodenitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, COPD, irritable bowel syndrome, and diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience. The TDIU claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back condition, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, hypothyroidism, and a stomach condition (GERD), all potentially related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's application to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection for a stomach condition (now claimed as GERD) was denied. Service connection for hypothyroidism with intermittent hoarseness is also denied, but the right foot condition with bone problems is granted.

The Veteran's GERD disability was rated at 10% since June 17, 2011. The claim for an increased rating was granted and the effective date is set to October 12, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, low back disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Service connection was granted for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's anxiety disorder claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for panic disorder, coronary artery disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), insomnia, and fatigue have been denied. The VA examiners found no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty.,Service connection cannot be granted as there is no clear and specific diagnosis with known etiology during service or within one year of separation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has denied service connection for GERD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are not due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness. The appeal is remanded for further examination and rating of PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, hypertension, acid reflux, pain in the bilateral feet, pain in the bilateral legs, and a nerve disability have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions during active service or within one year following discharge.,While some medical records suggested possible diagnoses, they were not sufficient to establish continuity of symptomatology or a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, GERD, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, bladder disability / urinary frequency, skin disability of the hands and feet, and diarrhea due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as there were no findings of dysphagia or significant impairment of health.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the ratings of GERD and major depressive disorder were denied as there was no factual basis to grant an earlier date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 20, 2012. An effective date of December 20, 2012 is granted for the award of total disability rating due to service-connected disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disorders, hypertension, gastrointestinal disabilities, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected. The claims for unstable angina, hypertension, umbilical hernia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic renal insufficiency are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and COPD as aggravated by service-connected disabilities, and gastrointestinal disorders including GERD, hiatal hernia, and H. pylori gastritis are also granted as aggravated by service-connected conditions. Service connection for diabetes is reopened but not yet decided.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The Veteran also sought TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities but was denied as his combined disability rating does not meet the threshold for a total rating.