A 30 percent rating is granted for GERD as of December 2, 2015. Ratings in excess of 20 percent are denied for low back and shoulder disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's GERD was found to be productive of considerable impairment of health with symptoms including pyrosis, reflux, regurgitation, substernal pain, nausea, and sleep disturbance caused by esophageal reflux. The examiner observed no esophageal stricture, spasm, or acquired diverticulum of the esophagus.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine, Degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the right shoulder, Degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- November 24, 2020
- Citation
- 20075144
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,162 · Granted: 21% (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 20075144.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's GERD is rated at 10 percent since May 2023. The Board has granted an initial rating of 60 percent for the condition, effective from May 19, 2024.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection of sinusitis is dismissed. The appeals for cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, GERD, and migraine disability are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) is being remanded due to an error in the AOJ decision and a need for a hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's GI disorder is related to his service, but the AOJ needs to determine which specific deployment or exposure caused it. The PACT Act requires this determination.
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