GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not preexist his service and was not aggravated during service, leading to a denial of service connection. The GERD claim is also denied as it did not manifest within one year post-service and is not otherwise related to his active military service.

The Veteran's IBS and GERD have been rated at a maximum schedular rating of 60 percent since July 29, 2014. The Board has granted the Veteran a higher schedular rating for her IBS with GERD.

The evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his level of education and occupational experience.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the onset and continuity of the Veteran's GERD symptoms, which were not adequately addressed in the previous examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating for hiatal hernia with GERD, finding that his disability picture does not present such an exceptional or unusual case as to render impractical the application of the regular schedular standards.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for GERD, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to her use of NSAIDs for her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD and right middle ear dysfunction, finding that the Veteran's current conditions cannot be reasonably disassociated from his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and medical opinions regarding service connection claims for an eye disability due to trauma by gunfire flash, and GERD as a result of asbestos exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have gastroenteritis or GERD that was caused by his service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, the maximum schedular rating available under DC 7346. The other conditions have not been found to warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder, low back disorder, and associated upper and lower extremity radiculopathy are service-connected.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and neuropsychological disorder) is service-connected.,The Veteran's sleep disorder, fibromyalgia, multiple joint and muscle pain, hemorrhoids, recurrent headaches, cardiovascular disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, respiratory disorder, and left eye injury are not service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and there is no evidence to support a higher evaluation based on extra-schedular criteria.

The Board has ordered remand due to the need for additional medical records and updated opinions, as well as a review of the claims file.

The Board found that the Veteran's IBS is unrelated to service and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected GERD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for GERD and an increased rating for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and therefore, her claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis/sinusitis was not manifested by at least one incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis; at least three non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting; any sinus surgery, to include radical; constant sinusitis; nor allergic or vasomotor rhinitis with polyps or without polyps but with greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side prior to October 9, 2013.,The Veteran's service-connected GERD was as likely as not manifested by at least mild symptomatology closely analogous for duodenal ulcer prior to October 9, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to address whether each of the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to his active service, and if not, whether they represent undiagnosed illnesses or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illnesses. The claims will be re-adjudicated based on this new information.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is productive of persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal or arm/shoulder pain, causing considerable impairment of health. The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for this condition.