GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a hemorrhoid disorder and did not grant an increased rating for duodenal ulcer with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's GERD with dyspepsia and gastritis, with Barrett's esophagus status post duodenal ulcer is rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 7307 for chronic hypertrophic gastritis.,The Veteran's tinea pedis (athlete's foot) is rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 7806 for dermatitis or eczema.

The Veteran's GERD is found to be aggravated by his service-connected IBS, and he is granted service connection for this condition. His hypertension is rated at 20 percent prior to October 28, 2015, and at 50 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case for a video conference hearing and will not make a determination on the merits of the service connection claims.

The Veteran's GERD with sliding hiatal hernia is currently rated at 30 percent prior to July 14, 2014 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's cervical somatic dysfunction remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's GERD is causally related to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The Veteran's chronic headache disability may have pre-existed service, but the evidence does not clearly and unmistakably show that it was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining results of an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and other relevant VA treatment records. The right ankle claim may require a medical opinion regarding whether the foot condition stems from the same injury as the ankle condition.

The Veteran's appeals seeking increased ratings for GERD and low back disabilities have been withdrawn.,A 10 percent rating is granted for the Veteran's residuals of a left fifth metatarsal fracture.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and granted a rating in excess of 50 percent for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression. Service connection was denied for ED, GERD, OSA, a GI disorder, and a sleep disorder (other than OSA). The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current gastrointestinal disorders, including diverticulosis coli, GERD, and gastroenteritis, are not related to his active military service or herbicide agent exposure. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder as it is not related to the Veteran's service-connected GERD. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a GI disorder other than GERD, which he asserts began in-service. The Board has requested an additional medical opinion to determine if the polyps found during his colonoscopy may have been present or developing during his service years.

The Veteran's GERD with peptic ulcer disease and deformity of the duodenal bulb is characterized by persistently recurring symptoms such as nausea, dysphagia, gas, sleep disturbance, pyrosis, and regurgitation. These symptoms are productive of considerable impairment of health but do not more nearly approximate material weight loss, hematemesis or melena with moderate anemia indicating severe impairment of health.

The Veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal disability is rated at 20 percent, and his low back strain with clinical right L4, bilateral L5 lumbar radiculopathy is currently rated at 60 percent. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, arthritis condition, vision loss, genitourinary disability, liver disorder, multiple sclerosis, and dermatitis are denied as not supported by the evidence of record. The reduction in benefits due to removal of a spousal dependent was found to be proper.

The case is being remanded for further development and adjudication of the intertwined claims, including the claim for vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits. The Veteran's previously denied claim to reopen a service connection issue, as well as other service connection and increased rating claims are also on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolving in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia has not resulted in persistent recurrent symptoms that meet the criteria for a higher rating, and his disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's malaria is not service connected and his GERD has been granted as a result of service connection.