GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding no evidence of in-service occurrence or nexus. The claim for PTSD was dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for a related condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, psoriasis, and acid reflux condition are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's GERD has been rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 7346. During the appeal period, his symptoms have included dysphagia, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, nausea, melena, and hematochezia. The Board finds that a 10 percent rating is warranted for GERD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to preclude substantially gainful employment, as the VA examiners found that her conditions do not prevent her from performing sedentary work.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach condition due to new evidence. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU rating is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the right hip disability.

The Board has found that further action is needed due to possible worsening of the Veteran's service-connected conditions since his last VA examinations in June and November 2015. The Veteran must undergo new VA examinations for evaluation of his GERD and tibia stress fractures of the left and right legs.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, general arthralgia, a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, vertigo and dizziness, tinnitus, gastrointestinal disorders, kidney disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The issues are being remanded due to the need for new evidence or further review.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions including muscle pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, coronary artery disease, joint pain, and gastrointestinal issues. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain relevant VA treatment records and provide medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's duodenal ulcer with vagotomy and pyloroplasty, and dumping syndrome is granted a 60 percent evaluation. The secondary service connection claims for acid reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia are denied as these symptoms have already been considered in the increased rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and restless leg syndrome was withdrawn. The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected deviated nasal septum and allergic rhinitis with sinusitis. A 40 percent disability rating is granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine from March 8, 2013.

The appeal of the service connection claim for a brain abscess is dismissed.,The appeal of the increased rating claim for tinnitus is dismissed.,New and material evidence has been presented, and the claims of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disorder are reopened.,New and material evidence has been presented, and the claims of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C are reopened.,A rating of 40 percent for a seizure disorder is granted, subject to the laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.,The appeal of the service connection claim for fatigue disorder is remanded.,The appeal of the service connection claim for liver disorder is remanded.,The appeal of the service connection claim for digestive disorder is remanded.,The appeal of the service connection claim for hypertension is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, GERD with hiatal hernia, and Umbilical/Abdominal Hernia due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment in a sedentary capacity. The Board denied the claim for TDIU.

This decision grants the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claim for reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) is granted, based on new evidence indicating possible PTSD diagnosis. The claim for reopening of a previously denied claim for service connection for stomach disorder (claimed as GERD) is also granted, due to the presence of GERD diagnosis.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for gastritis, hiatal hernia with GERD. The case of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to missing VA treatment records and unclear private audiograms.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diverticulitis, acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), headaches, and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or relationship to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, high blood pressure, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected diarrhea and gastroesophageal reflux disease are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for brain tumor, headaches, GERD, and neurobehavioral effects due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune have all been denied. The Board found that the submitted evidence did not provide a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's GERD and Barrett’s esophagus are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected psychiatric disability, specifically due to medications he takes for it. As such, the claim is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hearing loss, cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, left and right thigh disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, tinnitus, and GERD. The remaining issues are pending further examination and evaluation.