GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development due to failure to substantially comply with previous instructions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the current disability ratings adequately reflect the severity of her conditions.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal of the issue of entitlement to an increased disability rating for post-operative injury, left foot, with bunion, scars, and complex regional pain syndrome of the left lower extremity.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravates his GERD, and grants service connection for GERD as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the RO. The issues include increased ratings for spondylolisthesis L5-S1 with left sciatica and hypertension, service connection for acid reflux, depression, and a skin rash, and an earlier effective date for total disability rating based on individual unemployability and Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C.A. Chapter 35.

The Veteran's appeal involves the issue of whether he has a sleep disorder that is related to his service-connected GERD or TBI with panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and mood disorder. The Board finds additional development is needed as there may be an undiagnosed illness component.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50% prior to January 14, 2014 and his GERD with IBS is rated at 10% since November 4, 2013. Both conditions meet the criteria for their respective ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's additional disability was not caused by VA's carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill in performing a revision to his Nissen fundoplication. The surgery did not result from an unforeseeable event.

The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and a gastrointestinal or gastroesophageal disability are reopened. The case is REMANDED for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's use of NSAIDs for his service-connected disabilities has aggravated his GERD, and as it is not possible to distinguish what degree of aggravation is caused exclusively by the Veteran's NSAID use, all symptoms are attributed as being of service-connected origin. Therefore, the claim for service connection for GERD secondary to medication taken for service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability has been granted service connection with an effective date of June 12, 2013.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have each been granted a separate evaluation at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease, GERD, and urinary system disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling new examinations. The claims will be reconsidered based on this additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder injury did not originate during service and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.,Service connection was granted for GERD as it is established to have originated during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability, and the Board finds that his claimed disabilities are not related to military service. The Veteran has also had his claims withdrawn for gastroesophageal reflux disease, sleep disorder, rib injury, and kidney injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, sleep apnea (secondary to GERD and PTSD), diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and TDIU are denied. The Veteran's residuals of a left ankle condition do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's GERD with Barrett's esophagus and hiatal hernia was granted an initial rating of 10 percent, effective August 21, 2009. Service connection for peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities was denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including the reopening of a skin disorder claim and service connection claims for various disabilities due to herbicide exposure. The Board is dismissing the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to determine the current severity of her service-connected GERD, right ankle instability, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.