A service-connected disability rating for GERD can be aggregated with your primary disability using VA math. This means that if you have two disabilities rated at 30% each, they will produce an overall disability rating of 50%.
What Is GERD?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus. It is a common condition that affects many veterans. In a VA disability claim, GERD is usually rated analogous to a hiatal hernia in the Schedule of Rating Disabilities. This means a veteran’s GERD could be awarded a 10% to 60% disability rating depending on various symptoms and severity.
It’s possible to receive higher ratings if you prove a secondary service-connected condition caused your GERD. For example, PTSD often causes the overproduction of stomach acid, which can lead to GERD.
What Causes GERD?
When you eat, the LES opens, allowing food and liquid to enter your stomach. The LES closes again after your belch. Your stomach lining is tough enough to withstand the acid and enzymes that break down proteins, starch, and fat in food.
Many veterans who suffer from GERD can obtain service connections on a secondary basis by proving that it developed due to chronic irritation of the esophagus caused by a pre-existing respiratory condition or by medications used to treat that primary condition.
Can a Veteran’s Service Cause GERD?
Many veterans claim GERD as a secondary disability. It can be easier to receive compensation for this condition than to provide a service connection for GERD alone.
GERD can be classified as a 10% to 60% handicap, depending on the frequency and severity of symptoms. To receive a rating of 30%, a veteran must have recurrent epigastric distress, regurgitation, pyrosis, or other symptoms that cause significant impairment of health.
A rating of 60% requires the same symptoms but at a higher severity level. A combination of respiratory conditions like COPD and medications to treat these illnesses can often lead to GERD. This is called a medical nexus.
Can a Veteran’s Service Cause GERD as a Secondary Disability?
Although GERD and acid reflux are not independent disabilities, they can be linked to other conditions. For example, suppose a veteran is service-connected for a respiratory condition. In that case, they may develop GERD due to chronic irritation of the esophagus from that primary condition or from medications that treat their COPD.
For a secondary disability, the veteran would need a medical expert’s favorable opinion that the GERD developed secondarily to the other condition. This can be supported by evidence such as chart notes, a rating exam report, and symptom documentation.
A nexus between veterans’ military service and their GERD or acid reflux development must be established. This typically requires a connection to an injury event or diagnosis in military medical records that occurred during service.
How Can a Veteran’s Service Cause GERD as a Primary Disability?
Many veterans can receive VA disability for GERD benefits if they can prove their GERD is related to military service. This is often done by submitting a medical nexus letter from their doctor.
Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and persistent coughing, for example, may have GERD symptoms associated with their military service. The symptoms of PTSD can cause the esophageal muscle to relax, allowing stomach acid to flow into the throat.
A veteran can also get a secondary disability rating for GERD if they are already service-connected for another respiratory condition. This is because medication used to treat these conditions can lead to GERD.
What is the VA’s Rating Schedule for GERD?
As with other disabilities, GERD is rated using the VA’s schedule of rating disabilities. However, GERD does not have its diagnostic code, meaning that the VA must use a “piggyback” method to rate it.
The VA must establish a service-connected primary disability and then provide a nexus letter linking that primary disability to your GERD. Once the VA has established this connection, it will evaluate your GERD symptoms and assign you a rating.
What is the VA’s Rating Schedule for GERD as a Secondary Disability?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease can cause many problems, including dysphagia and heartburn. However, it is not a disabling condition in its own right under VA protocol.
The VA assigns a disability rating percentage that indicates the severity of your condition. This percentage determines the monetary amount you will receive as compensation for your GERD and acid reflux symptoms.
The lowest GERD rating is 30% for a combination of symptoms that produces “considerable impairment.” This includes persistent epigastric distress with difficulty swallowing (known as dysphagia), heartburn, and regurgitation, accompanied by chest or arm pain.