GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a currently diagnosed gastritis, esophagitis, or peptic ulcer disease. The Veteran's current diagnosis of GERD was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected lower back and left wrist disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining complete VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities. The Veteran must also be scheduled for a new examination before service connection can be decided on the merits for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's GERD is manifested by recurrent epigastric distress, pyrosis, regurgitation, accompanied by substernal pain, sleep disturbance caused by esophageal reflux, nausea, and vomiting. The Board finds that the Veteran's GERD symptoms more nearly approximate the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's GERD and hiatal hernia are not related to his service, including his active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions had their onset during or were aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to service, despite his contentions. The VA examinations and opinions concluded that the current left knee condition is less likely than not caused by a service injury.,There is no evidence of a diagnosed left ankle disability in service or at any time since service. The VA examination found the Veteran's left ankle to be normal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for examinations by a gastroenterologist and somnologist to assess the Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD and sleep disability. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis was granted. The appeal regarding an initial rating higher than 30 percent for pancreatitis with GERD and the hearing loss claim were both denied.

The Veteran's GERD was rated at 10 percent since April 20, 2011. The symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 7346.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle tendonitis and arthritis, as well as lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disorders. The acquired psychiatric disorder is not found to be related to his service or any service-connected disability.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for acid reflux, kidney condition, and prostate disorder. The current diagnoses were not shown in service or within one year post-service separation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease was not found to be related to his active duty service or caused by pain medication used for his service-connected disabilities. His bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to October 22, 2015, but the Board determined that a compensable rating is warranted since July 26, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's GERD had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service, including as due to in-service stress and unsanitary conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for hiatal hernia and GERD, finding that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and any pertinent medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and an unspecified anxiety disorder. Service connection is also granted for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for high cholesterol, bilateral eye disorders, gastrointestinal disorder (including acid reflux), and skin disorder are denied.

The Veteran's neck disability and GERD were evaluated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine, but no IVDS was found. The VA examiners noted that the Veteran had DDD in his cervical spine without evidence of IVDS.

The Board found that the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is not related to his service or any service-connected disabilities, and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's IBS was not manifested in service and is not shown to be related to his service-connected PTSD. The claim for GERD secondary to PTSD was remanded.

The Veteran's GERD is found to be secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability, and therefore service connection for GERD is granted.