The Veteran's GERD and low back disabilities were granted an initial rating of 30 percent each, while the knee and hip disabilities were denied higher ratings. The decision also noted that the Veteran’s left and right hip disabilities did not meet criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence supported the grant of a 30 percent rating for GERD based on persistent recurrent epigastric distress with symptoms such as dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation. The low back disability was rated at 10 percent due to flexion limited to 60 degrees.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Lumbosacral strain (low back disability), Left knee disability, Right knee disability, Left hip disability, Right hip disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- June 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19144954
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for chronic headaches, CFS, dermatosis, bilateral RLS, a lumbar spine disability, and sleep apnea but denied a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinitis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matters for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, prostate disability, and kidney cancer due to inadequate medical opinions and potential outstanding VA treatment records.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the claims for an initial compensable rating for left ear sensorineural hearing loss, service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, and a left eye disorder. However, it granted service connection for a back disability and radiculopathy of both lower extremities as secondary to the back disability.
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