GERD (acid reflux) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and preparing an addendum opinion by a qualified examiner. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral inguinal herniography residuals did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating prior to March 19, 2009. From March 19, 2009, there is no legal entitlement to a compensable rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral inguinal herniography residuals have not required at least one month of convalescence or resulted in severe postoperative residuals as per VA regulations.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD has been rated at 10 percent for the entire appeal period. The Board has determined that his symptoms warrant a higher rating of 30 percent, as they are productive of considerable impairment of health.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder, is at least as likely as not incurred during service. The claim for GERD secondary to service-connected disabilities remains pending.

The appellant requested to withdraw the appeal regarding attorney fees based on a May 2014 rating decision that denied service connection for GERD.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left shoulder and GERD with gastritis are pending. The Board finds the current evidence insufficient to grant these claims at this time.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acid reflux, hiatal hernia, and cancer of the abdomen was denied. The Board is granting this claim.,The Veteran's claims for right shoulder disability and residuals of a chest injury were also granted.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal/esophageal disability, including GERD and Barrett's Esophagus, is being remanded for further development to determine if it is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected diarrhea has been rated at a noncompensable level since the grant of service connection. The Board has determined that the evidence supports a finding of moderate irritable colon syndrome, warranting a 10% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service acoustic trauma. Service connection for GERD secondary to PTSD and diabetes mellitus, type II is also granted. The issue of service connection for umbilical hernia remains pending as it is not clear if it is directly related to service-connected conditions or if it is a separate condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease was denied as the evidence did not show symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's GERD was manifested by symptoms such as dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal pain. He received a 10 percent evaluation for his GERD prior to April 8, 2016, but the Board found that he did not meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent on or after April 8, 2016.

The Veteran's appeals were denied, with the exception of GERD with hiatal hernia and pancreatitis issues which are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, asthma and sinusitis.

The Veteran's other specified trauma or stressor-related disorder, now rated as 50 percent disabling from April 23, 2013, forward, results in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for consideration of new evidence, including a July 2016 VA examination and VA treatment records. The issue of service connection for prostate cancer remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for GERD and lumbosacral strain with thoracic spine DJD and dextro-convex scoliosis, finding that there was no evidence of two or more symptoms necessary to warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7346 (GERD) or Diagnostic Code 5293 (lumbosacral strain).

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle arthritis is not related to his in-service injury and denied service connection for this condition. The stomach disorder claim was also denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the current stomach issues and service. For the skin disorder, while the examiner noted a history of tinea (likely ringworm), they concluded that a nexus opinion was not necessary due to the absence of a current manifestation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for achalasia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been denied. The evidence does not show that the disabilities meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.