The Veteran's GERD is granted a 10 percent disability rating. The right shoulder disability remains at 20 percent. The acquired psychiatric disorder is granted a 50 percent rating from March 10, 2015 to October 20, 2020 and TDIU is granted prior to August 2, 2016.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's GERD symptoms have been consistently present with multiple symptoms including heartburn, gastritis, reflux, and occasional diarrhea. The right shoulder disability limits arm movement to midway between side and shoulder level. The acquired psychiatric disorder manifested as occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from March 10, 2015 to October 20, 2020.
- Claimed conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Acquired psychiatric disorder, Post-operative and post-treatment residuals of lung cancer, to include COPD and sleep apnea (respiratory condition)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- August 17, 2022
- Citation
- 22046648
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 22046648.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- 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.
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