GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded as there is insufficient evidence or further examination needed to determine the current severity of his conditions, their etiology, and whether they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and bilateral peripheral neuropathy due to new evidence provided by the Veteran. The claim for GERD is being deferred until more information can be obtained regarding the alleged contaminated water and food supply on board the U.S.S. Midway.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection and increased rating for various conditions, including fibromyalgia, TBI, headaches, IBS-GERD, chronic fatigue/hypersomnolence, and sleep impairment (claimed as sleep apnea).

Service connection is denied for fibromyalgia, TBI, and headaches.,Service connection is granted for IBS-GERD with a 30% rating. Service connection is denied for chronic fatigue/hypersomnolence and sleep impairment (claimed as sleep apnea).

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss, but denied for cervical spine DJD, hypertension, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left arm disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder. The TBI, equilibrium disorder, and gastroesophageal reflux disease claims are also denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including chronic low back pain (lumbar spine disability), eustachian tube dysfunction, and acid reflux. The claims are being remanded for VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD and depressive disorder, NOS with PTSD are granted. A 70% rating is assigned for the service-connected depressive disorder from the date of service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for chronic ingrown toenail of the right 5th toe, PTSD and major depressive disorder, and a right foot injury have been dismissed.,The Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for service connection for left knee arthralgia, right knee arthralgia, left ankle arthralgia, and right ankle arthralgia have been granted. The appeals for these issues are remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right foot injury is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases of an extraschedular rating for left knee disabilities and a TDIU claim due to incomplete claims forms. The Veteran was provided with VA Form 21-526EZs to file service connection claims for right knee, left hip, GERD, and lumbar spine.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to June 9, 2015. The Board found that he was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as of June 9, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, as well as radiculopathy, diaphoresis, hypertension, residuals of inguinal hernia, gastrointestinal disability, prostate disability, and peripheral nerve disability (claimed as peripheral neuropathy) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for arm pain (degenerative joint disease of the bilateral shoulder).

The appeal for service connection of a left elbow condition is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus has been granted, but the other issues are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the failure to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) addressing the issues. The SSOC must be issued before further appellate consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of a stomach virus to include gastroesophageal reflux disease, and initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service. The Court had previously held that GERD does not qualify as a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI) under 38 C.F.R. §3.317.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied service connection claims for various conditions was received on June 22, 2014. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at the date of receipt of the claim, which is June 17, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, upper and lower respiratory disability, bilateral knee degenerative changes, left elbow epicondylitis; olecranon bursitis, muscle injuries, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), GERD, and erectile dysfunction. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions or that they were related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of July 28, 2010 for a 30 percent rating for IBS, GERD, and duodenitis. The claim was also denied for an earlier effective date for SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.