Va disability rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease

Hiatal hernia describes when the upper part of your stomach bulges through your diaphragm, the muscle separating your abdomen from your chest. Your diaphragm has a small opening through which the esophagus can pass, called the hiatus, into which the stomach will bulge.

There are two main types of hiatal hernias: sliding and paraesophageal. A slicing hiatal hernia is less severe, and occurs when the lower part of the esophagus and upper part of the stomach together push through the hiatus and into your chest. Paraesophageal hiatal hernias are more severe, and occur when a part of your stomach slides up into your chest and sits next to your esophagus.

Causes and Symptoms of Hiatal Hernia

Hiatal hernias are caused when muscle tissue is weakened enough that your stomach is able to bulge through. It’s never really clear why this may happen, but there are a number of risk factors that make a hiatal hernia more likely for some people.

Such risk factors include:

• Being born with a larger-than-average hiatal opening
• Changes to your diaphragm as you age
• Persistent, intense pressure on surroundings muscles, such as from pregnancy, obesity, coughing, excessive use from heavy lifting, or straining to make a bowel movement

It’s possible to have a hiatal hernia and not even know it. You may not notice any symptoms related at all. However, if your hernia is more severe, you may experience some of the following:

• Heartburn cause by acid reflux (GERD)
• Regurgitation of food or drink into your mouth
• Chest pains
• Upset stomach
• Bloating and burping
• Bad taste in your mouth
• Trouble swallowing
• Shortness of breath
• Vomiting, possibly of blood
• Black stools, which is indicative of gastrointestinal bleeding

If any of these symptoms are persistent and troubling enough to warrant attention, you’re encouraged to contact your medical doctor right away.

VA Ratings and Benefits

In order to earn a VA rating and receive monthly compensation for a hiatal hernia, you’ll first need to have a current medical diagnosis, an in-service event, injury, or illness, and a medical nexus that connects your diagnosis to the in-service occurrence. If you’re experiencing symptoms of acid reflux, you’ll want to be sure of its most likely cause, since a hiatal hernia may not be what’s troubling you. Veterans with PTSD in particular may have GERD brought on my severe stress.

If you do, however, have a hiatal hernia, VA rates this condition under 38 CFR § 4.114 at either 10, 30, or 60 percent. The rating is based on the severity of your condition and may be subject to change based on your changing condition. If your hernia is causing your GERD, it’s possible to get a secondary service connection for that, too.

Assistance with your claim

Hiatal hernias may not seem to do you any harm, but if you have an active diagnosis and a reason to believe it’s due to an in-service event, seek disability benefits right away. Get the best start on your claim, or get help appealing your denied claim for hiatal hernia, by contacting us online or at 844-VET-LAWS now.

Posted by Berry Law on May 26, 2020 in Veterans Disability

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an often chronic condition in which the stomach allows gastric acid to flow into the esophagus. GERD creates a burning sensation that may be felt from the chest to the back of the throat. While GERD is associated with heartburn, it is more painful and can cause discomfort on a nightly basis. The condition is fairly common among Veterans.

GERD can often be treated by lifestyle changes pertaining to diet, weight control, and cessation of smoking and drinking. However, many cases involving GERD require over-the-counter or prescription medication. In serious cases, Veterans with GERD may benefit from a VA-developed surgical procedure to correct the defect causing GERD.

Many Veterans have a GERD diagnosis as part of their VA rating as a secondary disability claim. Often, GERD is secondary to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) because medication taken to manage symptoms of PTSD can cause GERD. Other medical conditions and medications can lead to GERD as well.

If you are a U.S. military Veteran who suffers from digestive issues that may be GERD and the condition is not already a part of your VA rating, you should discuss a GERD diagnosis with your doctor. If your disability claim for GERD has been denied, contact Berry Law Firm to speak with a VA appeals lawyer. Berry Law is a national law firm that helps Veterans across the country appeal denied VA claims. Our VA disability benefits attorneys, most of whom are themselves Veterans, can help you appeal a denied VA disability claim and seek the full VA benefits available. Call (888) 883-2483 to speak to a VA compensation lawyer on our team.

Are My Heartburn Symptoms Really GERD?

GERD, or acid reflux, can be triggered by eating certain foods or by consuming large meals. It also can be caused by eating soon before lying down, such as within a couple of hours of bedtime.

Many Veterans who try to live with frequent heartburn actually suffer from GERD. Heartburn, a burning sensation in the chest or upper abdomen, is a symptom of GERD. Both are caused by the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach weakening and loosening to the extent that it allows gastric acid to travel up the esophagus.

With GERD, the burning sensation is more intense and typically causes irritation up into the throat and sometimes into the back of the mouth. GERD may be accompanied by stomach spasms that produce vomiting.

Frequent GERD can damage esophageal tissue and, over time, increase the risk of esophageal cancer. An individual with GERD is also at risk for aspirating gastric acid or vomit into the lungs, particularly while lying down or sleeping. That can cause pneumonia or more extensive damage.

The Mayo Clinic says GERD is mild acid reflux that occurs at least twice a week, or moderate to severe acid reflux that occurs at least once a week. Many GERD sufferers deal with it on a nightly basis or after every meal.

Common symptoms of GERD include:

• A burning sensation in your chest or throat
• Sour and/or acidic taste in the back of the mouth
• Regurgitation of food or sour liquid
• Sensation of a lump in your throat
• Chest pain
• Difficulty swallowing

GERD frequently experienced while sleeping may cause:

• Chronic cough
• Laryngitis
• New or worsening asthma
• Disrupted sleep due to discomfort.

If you experience the symptoms above or take an over-the-counter heartburn medication more than twice a week, you should speak to your physician about a GERD diagnosis. He or she may suggest lifestyle changes and diet modifications such as consuming fewer fatty and acidic foods, and smaller portions, and prescribe medication if you cannot control symptoms on your own.

What Are Some Medications for GERD?

OTC medications often recommended for GERD or acid reflux include omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid), which are proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) that block acid production and heal the esophagus. Stronger prescribed versions are available, as well.

The Department of Veterans Affairs says PPIs are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the VA. Roughly one of every six Veterans uses them to ease digestive disorders, including heartburn and acid reflux. The drugs are effective and well-tolerated when consumed properly. However, long-term use of PPIs carries a risk of serious side effects, such as pneumonia and loss of bone density.

How Is GERD Rated as a Veterans’ Disability?

Because the effects of GERD can interfere with your ability to work, you can obtain a VA disability rating for GERD or acid reflux and receive disability benefits. To do so, you will need:

• A current medical diagnosis of GERD
• An event, injury, or symptom that happened in-service
• A link connecting your current condition to service

There is no specific VA rating for acid reflux or GERD. It is commonly rated under “Diagnostic Code 7346, Hernia, Hiatal” under § 4.114 Schedule of ratings – digestive system. A hiatal hernia is a common cause of GERD.

The VA schedule of ratings allows a disability rating for a hiatal hernia and GERD ranging from 10% to 60%, depending on the severity of symptoms.

A 60% disability rating can be awarded for pain, vomiting, vomiting blood, material weight loss, blood in the stool, and other combinations of symptoms that produce a severe impairment of health.

GERD as a Secondary Condition to PTSD for VA Benefits

A Veteran could have suffered a traumatic injury to the abdomen or an illness while in service that can be linked to their gastroesophageal reflux disease. Information about a service-related injury should be in the Veteran’s military record and serve as evidence of a service connection.

If you didn’t experience symptoms of GERD until post-service, you may still obtain benefits for GERD through a VA disability claim on a secondary basis. This is known as secondary service connection and means that GERD was caused by another service-connected condition.

At Berry Law Firm, our VA disability attorneys have helped many Veterans file appeals and obtain a VA rating for GERD as a secondary condition to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Medical evidence establishes that anxiety, which many Veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder experience every day, can lead to an overproduction of stomach acid. This, in turn, can lead to GERD. In a 2014 study, for example, researchers found an association between PTSD and GERD (and other gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome), among Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is also known that GERD is a common side effect of tricyclic antidepressants commonly prescribed to Veterans with PTSD, such as amitriptyline (Vanatrip, Endep), imipramine (Tofranil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl).

As discussed above, your GERD may be secondary to another primary VA recognized disability, such as a hiatal hernia. Others conditions that can lead to acid reflux include respiratory disorders that cause violent coughing, which can cause GERD, particularly at night, and peritoneal adhesions (§ 4.71a – Diagnostic Code 7301), which can cause GERD when scar tissue between the peritoneum and stomach causes the stomach to twist or contort from its natural position.

Hormone imbalances caused by hazardous chemical exposure cause weight gain, which can also lead to GERD.

Some medications you may have been prescribed for other VA-rated disabilities may cause GERD. For example, bisphosphonates prescribed to treat osteoporosis (§ 4.71a – Diagnostic Code 5013), such as alendronate sodium (Fosomax), ibandronate sodium (Boniva), and risedronate sodium (Actonel), can cause heartburn, nausea, and other gastrointestinal problems.

Do You Qualify for VA Disability Compensation for GERD?

Veterans who have valid VA disability claims for GERD are unfairly denied. But Veterans always have the right to appeal the VA’s decision. Our award-winning VA appeals lawyers can challenge the denial and help you pursue the benefits available.

At Berry Law Firm, we are Veterans fighting for Veterans. We are committed to helping our fellow Veterans in their fight for disability benefits. Our team includes Veterans, former VA employees, and military spouses dedicated to providing Veterans the advocacy they need to get the correct VA disability rating.

If your GERD VA disability claim was denied or rated too low, we may be able to help. Contact us today online or by calling (888) 883-2483 to receive a free case evaluation

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