GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his shoulder disabilities and GERD are being remanded due to the need for updated examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, gastritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to outstanding VA medical records and private medical records not being obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to locate missing records from 2002-2006.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is being remanded because of incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding whether his pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability claims are being remanded due to the need to locate missing records from 2002-2006 and for inadequate examination opinions.,The Veteran's back disability claim is being remanded because of incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding whether his condition was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's ankle disability claim is being remanded due to incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding the severity of his condition.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is being remanded due to incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding the severity of his condition.,The effective date for service connection for fibromyalgia is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for lack of concentration was dismissed. Service connection was granted for PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, GERD, and benign lipoma.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted service connection. The appeals for the left knee, right knee, low back, and GERD are dismissed.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while his GERD and hypothyroidism are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy, radiculopathy, and cervical spine disorder. The Veteran's GERD, erectile dysfunction, headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder were also remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether they are aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of extensor hallucis longus tendon transsection and non-displaced scaphoid fracture of the right wrist are granted with initial disability ratings, while gastroesophageal reflux disease and celiac disease remain at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's GERD and thoracolumbar spine disability are granted. The GERD is service-connected, while the initial evaluation for the thoracolumbar spine disability was denied prior to March 27, 2018, but a 20 percent evaluation is granted beginning that date.

The Veteran's headache condition is granted a rating of 50% and the Board finds that his GERD symptoms do not warrant an increase in rating.

The Veteran's claim for GERD was denied as there is no current evidence of a digestive disability. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, was granted with an initial evaluation of 50 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was dismissed. Service connection was granted for obstructive sleep apnea, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant is remanded due to the need for further examination and assessment of his service-connected disabilities, particularly those affecting his lower extremities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of PTSD is granted. The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia is evaluated at 10 percent, and the issue of increased evaluation is denied. A remand is ordered for a psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of major depressive disorder.

All appeals regarding service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the lack of an adequate substantive appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of his condition without medication.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with its January 2018 remand and thus the case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for acid reflux, finding that it was not incurred in or caused by active service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for higher initial ratings for atrial fibrillation and hypertension. The remaining issues of service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral ankle sprain, IBS, and GERD are REMANDED.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for right upper extremity radiculopathy and left hip orthopedic disorder. The initial compensable rating claim for a surgical scar of the anterior neck remains under review.