GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for upper back pain, respiratory disorders, pleural effusion/pneumothorax, ulcers, GERD, erectile dysfunction, infectious mononucleosis, migraines, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, including ulcerative colitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), due to exposure to herbicide agents. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran’s current gastrointestinal disorders are related to his military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations.,A VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran’s chronic kidney disease is related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and service connection for PTSD with secondary uncontrolled angina and GERD is granted. Service connection for COPD is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided for headaches and GERD were insufficient to decide the Veteran's claims. The Board has therefore ordered remand of these issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) claims are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was denied in a June 2009 rating decision and is not reopened.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for acid reflux, to include as secondary to PTSD, has been reopened with the submission of new evidence. The appeal is granted to this extent only.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in a July 2013 rating decision and is not reopened.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened with the submission of new evidence. Service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition has been granted as it is presumed related to his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for breathing problems, a spot on the lung, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, and acid reflux. The issues are inextricably intertwined with his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, GERD, voiding dysfunction due to implant surgery associated with erectile dysfunction, PTSD, and TDIU as part of the increased rating issues. The Veteran is asked to provide updated VA treatment records and complete a VA Form 21-8940. He is also scheduled for VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for shortness of breath, left eye refractive error and incipient pterygium (secondary to right eye disability), left eye blepharitis and incipient nuclear sclerosis (secondary to right nasal pterygium), and hiatal hernia with GERD. The issues have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia and GERD have been rated at a 30 percent disability level for the entire appeal period, considering symptoms such as dysphagia, pyrosis, regurgitation, arm and shoulder pain, and the need to take continuous medication.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's condition did not have its onset during or is otherwise related to service and was not caused by her service-connected GERD.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, chronic fatigue (claimed as tension headaches), and gastroesophageal reflux disease have been granted service connection. The Board found the evidence in relative equipoise for each condition.,Service connection was established for irritable bowel syndrome based on symptoms dating back to active duty. Service connection for hypertension and chronic fatigue were also granted, with the examiner attributing the headaches to Gulf War exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran was entitled to a total disability rating based on unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's GERD and hypothyroidism have been rated based on the severity of their symptoms. The Veteran is not entitled to higher initial disability ratings for these conditions.,For his hypothyroidism, the Veteran was granted a 30 percent rating from August 29, 2007, to October 12, 2009, and denied any increase in rating prior to this period and since October 13, 2009.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for service-connected irritable bowel syndrome with GERD, finding that the symptoms are already contemplated by the existing rating criteria.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD was initially rated at 10 percent prior to February 2, 2017 and is now rated at 60 percent starting from that date. A separate 30 percent rating for esophageal stricture secondary to GERD has been granted since March 14, 2018.,The Veteran was granted a maximum 60 percent rating for urticaria throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder and his service. The claim will be reviewed on a de novo basis with consideration of new treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a compensable disability rating for left arm non-melanoma skin cancer was dismissed. The Board granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and inadequate medical opinions.