GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to outstanding VA treatment records and additional attempts to obtain medical records from Walter Reed Medical Center and Branch Health Clinic.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD, Barrett's Esophagus, and chronic gastritis began during his period of active service. The claim for these conditions is granted.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for either sleep disorder or stomach disorder, as there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD and sleep apnea may be related to service, but a new VA examination is needed to provide an opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain updated VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD has not been manifested by symptoms productive of considerable impairment of health. The Board finds that the probative evidence of record is against a finding that current cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, and right elbow disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 23, 2008 for service connection of various conditions were denied as the disabilities preexisted his final period of active duty service and are not shown to have been aggravated during that time.,All awards of service connection and SMC based on these conditions were assigned an effective date of August 23, 2008.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia is related to his active duty service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including CLL, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, hypertension, headaches, GERD, lumbar spine disorder, shoulder disorders, hip disorders, leg disorders, and a psychiatric disorder are denied. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not established as prior to January 23, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bladder condition and erectile dysfunction are not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for GERD is pending as there is insufficient evidence to determine its relationship with service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine spondylosis is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD symptoms more closely align with a 30 percent rating under DC 7346, warranting an effective date for this increased rating since the receipt of his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for medical examinations to assess the nature and likely etiology of her GERD and allergic rhinitis, as well as assessing the current severity of her service-connected low back and neck disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability did not have its onset in service and is not related to his service-connected conditions or Gulf War exposure. The hypertension claim was also denied as there was no evidence of a compensable degree within one year of separation, and it was not secondary to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's duodenal ulcer, gastritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) have been rated at 20 percent since June 7, 2005. The Board has determined that the symptoms warrant this rating based on moderate manifestations of intermittent heartburn, abdominal pain, distention, indigestion, and epigastric distress.

The Veteran's hypertension, GERD, prostate disability (benign prostatic hypertrophy), and lung disability (COPD) were not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition. The Board denied these claims.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for the Veteran's hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding that his sleep impairment caused by esophageal reflux produces severe impairment of health.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current gastrointestinal disorder or heart palpitations due to her active military service.,Service connection for these conditions is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and no medical opinion linking them to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain a comprehensive VA examination and opinion regarding his claimed gastrointestinal disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder.