Understanding your VA disability rating for GERD is an important first step if you live with chronic heartburn, acid reflux, or other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).GERD can interfere with eating, sleeping, working, and your overall quality of life.

Many veterans develop GERD during or after military service. In some cases, it begins while serving on active duty. In others, it develops because of another service-connected condition or as a side effect of medications used to treat one.

The good news is that GERD may qualify for VA disability benefits. The challenge is proving that your condition is connected to your military service and presenting the evidence the VA needs to approve your claim. At VetLaw, our VA-accredited attorneys help veterans understand their rights, strengthen their claims, and appeal unfavorable VA decisions.

What Is GERD?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic digestive condition that occurs when stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the esophagus. Over time, this acid can irritate and damage the lining of the esophagus, leading to persistent symptoms and, in some cases, long-term complications.

Occasional heartburn after a large meal is common. GERD is different. It is an ongoing medical condition that often requires lifestyle changes, medication, or other treatment to manage. Common symptoms include:

Some veterans experience mild symptoms that come and go. Others struggle with daily discomfort that makes it difficult to eat, sleep, or perform routine activities. Before the VA assigns a VA disability rating for GERD, you must first establish that your condition is connected to your military service.

Can GERD Be Service Connected?

Yes. The VA recognizes GERD as a potentially service-connected disability. However, unlike some conditions covered by presumptive service connection, GERD is not automatically presumed to be related to military service. Instead, you’ll generally need evidence showing that your condition is connected to your service. Most successful claims include three basic elements:

The exact evidence needed depends on how you’re establishing service connection.

Three Ways Veterans Can Establish Service Connection for GERD

Direct Service Connection

Direct service connection applies when your GERD began during military service or was caused by something that happened while you were serving. For example, your service treatment records may document repeated complaints of heartburn, reflux, or other digestive symptoms. Even if you were not formally diagnosed while on active duty, those records can help establish that your condition began during service.

Medical records created shortly after discharge may also help demonstrate that your symptoms have continued since leaving the military.

Secondary Service Connection

Many veterans receive benefits for GERD through secondary service connection.

A secondary condition develops because of another disability that the VA has already recognized as service-connected. Examples may include:

Certain medications, including some anti-inflammatory drugs and other long-term prescriptions, may also contribute to digestive problems in some veterans. If your GERD developed because of one of these conditions or its treatment, you may be entitled to additional disability compensation.

Service Connection Based on Aggravation

Sometimes a veteran had digestive problems before entering the military or before developing another service-connected disability. If military service or another service-connected condition permanently worsened your GERD beyond its natural progression, you may still qualify for benefits. Medical evidence is especially important in aggravation claims because the VA must determine how much additional disability resulted from the worsening.

What Evidence Helps Support a GERD Claim?

Strong evidence often makes the difference between an approved claim and a denial. Helpful evidence may include:

Your personal statement should explain more than simply listing symptoms. Describe how often you experience reflux, how it affects your sleep, whether certain foods trigger symptoms, and how the condition impacts your daily life.

Is GERD a Presumptive Condition?

No. GERD is not currently included among the VA’s presumptive conditions. That means veterans generally must prove the connection between their GERD and military service.

However, this does not mean toxic exposures are irrelevant.

For example, if a veteran develops a presumptive respiratory condition related to burn pit exposure and later develops GERD because of that respiratory condition or its treatment, GERD may qualify as a secondary service-connected disability.

How Does the VA Rate GERD?

Understanding how the VA evaluates digestive conditions is essential because your VA disability rating for GERD determines the amount of monthly compensation you may receive.

The VA updated its rating criteria for GERD in 2024. Today, GERD is evaluated under Diagnostic Code 7206 rather than being rated by analogy to a hiatal hernia. The new criteria place significant emphasis on documented esophageal strictures, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), and the treatment required to manage those complications.

The VA disability rating for GERD you receive depends on the medical evidence documenting the severity of your condition and how it affects your daily life. Possible disability ratings include:

Because the rating criteria changed in 2024, a veteran’s VA disability rating for GERD may be different today than it would have been under the previous regulations. If your claim was pending before the rating changes took effect, the VA may be required to consider both the old and new rating criteria and apply whichever is more favorable to you.

What Happens During a VA C&P Exam?

Many veterans filing a GERD claim will be scheduled for a Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination. The examiner may ask questions about:

Be honest and thorough. Don’t minimize your symptoms because you’ve learned to live with them. At the same time, avoid exaggerating them. Explain what your typical days actually look like and how often your symptoms occur. The information gathered during your examination can play a significant role in determining your VA disability rating for GERD.

Why Are GERD Claims Denied?

Many veterans seeking a VA disability rating for GERD receive denials because the VA determines there is insufficient evidence connecting the condition to military service or documenting its severity. Some veterans never receive a formal diagnosis before filing. Others submit evidence showing they have GERD but fail to establish the required connection to military service. Claims may also be denied because the medical opinion provided by the VA examiner is unfavorable or because there simply isn’t enough evidence documenting the severity of the condition.

A denial does not necessarily mean your claim lacks merit. In many cases, additional medical evidence or a stronger nexus opinion can address the issues identified by the VA.

What If the VA Denies Your GERD Claim?

Receiving a denial can be frustrating, but it isn’t always the end of the process. Depending on your situation, you may be able to:

The best option depends on why your claim was denied. Reviewing the VA’s decision carefully can help identify whether additional medical evidence, an independent nexus opinion, or legal arguments may improve your chances of success on appeal.

Talk to a VA-Accredited Lawyer for FREE

If you’re living with GERD that began during military service or developed because of another service-connected condition, you may be entitled to VA disability benefits. Whether you’re filing your first claim, appealing a denial, or pursuing a higher VA disability rating for GERD, the VA-accredited attorneys at VetLaw can help you understand your options and pursue the benefits you’ve earned.

The VA-accredited attorneys at VetLaw focus exclusively on helping veterans and their families pursue the benefits they’ve earned. We’ll review your claim, explain your options, and help you build the strongest case possible.

Contact VetLaw today online or at (855) 905-1735 for a FREE case evaluation and learn how we may be able to assist with your claim. We proudly help veterans in all 50 states.