The Board denied service connection for GERD and a respiratory disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not begin in service or were otherwise related to service. The Board also denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and denied effective dates prior to August 28, 2013 for PFB and March 26, 2002 for degenerative joint disease, right knee.,The Veteran's PFB was rated at 10 percent under DC 7800 due to the presence of one characteristic of disfigurement (hyperpigmentation). The Board found that this did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The competent evidence does not support the conclusion that the Veteran's GERD or respiratory disability began in service or was otherwise related to service. The VA examinations and treatment records provided no indication of these conditions during service, and the December 2018 VA examiner found that the Veteran’s GERD did not have its onset in service but several years later.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Respiratory disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19128334
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,549 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19128334.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, right hand, and GERD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities during service.
- Denied
The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back condition and sinusitis, respectively.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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