Va Service Connection For Gerd

By law there are three evidentiary elements that must be satisfied for sleep apnea secondary to GERD to prove secondary service connection.

Va service connection for gerd. When GERD is approved as a secondary service-connected disability the rating will be combined with the rating for the primary disability using whats often referred to as VA math to arrive at an overall disability rating. If you were diagnosed with GERD while on Active Duty have a favorable medical opinion you can directly obtain service connection. The denial of service connection for duodenitis would not affect the evaluation for GERD since the same evaluation criteria would apply to both conditions. If you are considered to have a service-connected disability then you may be eligible to receive a monthly compensation payment and under certain circumstances you may be eligible to receive additional compensation usually if you have a service-connected rating of 30 or higher and have dependents spouse children andor parents under your care if you have missing limbs or if you have a severely disabled spouse.

A medical diagnosis of sleep apnea confirmed by a sleep study in VA medical records or private records unless you did this already on active duty and its in your service treatment records. Over time you developed GERD due to chronic irritation of the esophagus and due to the effects of the medications that help control your COPD. You can file a VA claim for GERD secondary to COPD. VAs Persian Gulf War presumption regulation does allow for presumptive service connection for functional gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome IBS functional constipation functional vomiting and functional dyspepsia.

Therefore your evaluation will be the same regardless of whether you are service connected for both GERD and duodenitis or just GERD. Gut problems gastric distress can have many causes but the VA has identified a link between irritable bowel syndrome IBS and military service. That means many veterans are entitled to VA disability benefits for GERD and acid reflux either as a primary or secondary service-connected disability. Presumptive service connection is when VA presumes that a veterans current disability was caused by their time in service based on specific requirements such as the time period and location of the veterans service.

Therefore it is important at the beginning of your claim you provide written communication on the severity frequency and number of symptoms you experience. VAs Persian Gulf War presumption regulation does allow for presumptive service connection for functional gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome IBS functional constipation functional vomiting and functional dyspepsia. Erectile dysfunction gastrointestinal conditions and headaches are the most common of these side effects that can be secondarily service connected. Many veterans with GERD or acid reflux especially those who were diagnosed long after leaving the military are eligible under the law for GERD secondary to PTSD.

However GERD is not. If VA grants service connection for GERD they will rate the condition based on the presence and severity of your symptoms. Gastroesophageal reflux disease also called GERD acid reflux or heartburn is a relatively common disorder that affects many veterans. For example if veterans are taking SSRIs to help manage their PTSD symptoms perhaps youre suffering from side effects of those SSRI medications which can lead to digestive system issues.

However acid reflux is not considered to be a functional gastrointestinal disorder. VA Rating for GERD. GERD has many different causes including medications physical trauma and psychological stress. In this particular case we mentioned respiratory conditions as being a risk factor for GERD.

Obtaining irritable bowel syndrome VA disability benefits can be significantly easier for former POWs and Gulf War veterans than for other veterans.