GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Veteran's hiatal hernia and associated symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher rating since January 14, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of active duty service and obtaining VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for left knee disorder, GERD, residuals of cold injury, right lower extremity sciatica, and right ankle disorder will be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders are not related to military service.,Regarding her fibromyalgia, the VA examiner found no history of evaluation, treatment, diagnosis or chronicity of symptoms for fibromyalgia during military service. The examiner also found she currently does not meet the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to inadequate examinations and failure to consider continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional examinations and opinions regarding service connection for various conditions, including benign prostate hyperplasia, an acquired psychiatric disorder, hiatal hernia, GERD, PUD, chronic colitis, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of both hips, degenerative joint disease of both knees, and degenerative joint disease of both feet.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions listed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for Graves' disease, kidney disorder, or GERD and therefore service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD was granted. The appeals on the other issues were dismissed due to withdrawal by the accredited representative.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to her request for withdrawal.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, a left knee disability, a lower back disability, a sleep disorder, hypertension, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, acid reflux disease, a left ankle disability, a right ankle disability, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's GERD was incurred in service and granted service connection. The esophageal disorder other than GERD is related to service, as are asthma and bronchitis. Service connection for a cervical spine disorder and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder were denied.

The Board found that the appellant's preexisting GERD did not worsen during his period of active service and therefore denied service connection.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, including GERD, constipation, gastritis, dysphagia, duodenitis, and esophagitis, is granted service connection. The Veteran's chronic rhinitis is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's currently demonstrated GERD was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and the Board finds that this aggravation is secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, hypertension, gynecomastia, bilateral degenerative arthritis of the knees, tinnitus, peripheral vascular disease (claimed as a bilateral leg condition), degenerative osteoarthritis at L3-4 (claimed as low back pain), left carotid occlusion, and bilateral hand injury have all been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.,The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any complaints or treatment for the claimed conditions. His post-service medical records indicate diagnoses of GERD in 2000, hypertension in 2005, and bilateral degenerative arthritis of the knees beginning in 2004. The Board found no causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and his GERD has been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent. The right knee chondromalacia issue was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to appeal, and TDIU remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 20 percent since March 21, 2005.,The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 30 percent since March 21, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied her claim.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 60 percent rating for his stomach condition, but the Board finds that there is no evidence prior to April 26, 2006, to support such a higher rating. The RO assigned the earliest possible effective date based on when the Veteran filed his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current upper and lower gastrointestinal disorders are not related to service, including her in-service peptic ulcer disease (PUD), and thus denied both claims.