Acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are common service-connected disabilities affecting many veterans who receive VA disability compensation. Veterans developed GERD from military service—occupational exposures, stress, dietary changes during service, and presumptive conditions related to military service cause acid reflux affecting veterans. Many veterans experience chronic heartburn, esophageal damage, and functional impairment from service-related GERD. Yet many veterans don’t realize they qualify for VA disability benefits for acid reflux or don’t understand how the VA rates GERD in veterans. This comprehensive article explains how veterans develop service-connected GERD, how veterans can file disability claims for acid reflux, what disability ratings veterans with GERD receive, and how veterans can maximize compensation for GERD disabilities.
How Veterans Develop Service-Connected GERD
Veterans develop GERD through various service-related pathways:
Occupational Exposures: Veterans exposed to burn pits, chemicals, or hazardous materials during military service sometimes developed GERD from the exposure. Chemical inhalation or ingestion affected the veteran’s digestive system.
Service-Related Stress: The chronic stress of military service, combat exposure, or military training contributed to GERD development in many veterans. Stress-induced acid reflux affected the veteran during and after the veteran’s military service.
Dietary Changes: Military service involved significant dietary changes from the veteran’s civilian diet. Dining facility food, field rations, and meal timing during the veteran’s military service contributed to GERD in veterans.
Medication Side Effects: Some medications the veteran took during military service caused or aggravated GERD affecting the veteran. Certain pain medications, antibiotics, or other drugs triggered acid reflux in the veteran.
Secondary GERD: Many veterans develop GERD secondary to other service-connected conditions. A veteran with service-connected PTSD might develop GERD from stress and anxiety. A veteran with service-connected back or spinal injuries might develop GERD from altered body positioning affecting the veteran. These secondary GERD conditions in veterans qualify for disability benefits.
Presumptive Service Connection: Some veterans qualify for presumptive GERD benefits. For example, Gulf War veterans may qualify for presumptive GERD. Veterans exposed to burn pits might qualify for presumptive gastrointestinal conditions affecting the veteran.
Symptoms of GERD in Veterans
Veterans with GERD experience various symptoms affecting the veteran:
Heartburn: The primary symptom of GERD in veterans is heartburn—a burning sensation in the veteran’s chest or throat. The heartburn in veterans occurs when stomach acid backs up into the veteran’s esophagus.
Regurgitation: Veterans with GERD frequently experience regurgitation where food or liquid backs up into the veteran’s throat or mouth. This regurgitation in veterans is uncomfortable and affects the veteran’s daily activities.
Difficulty Swallowing: Some veterans with GERD develop difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) from esophageal inflammation. The swallowing difficulty in the veteran affects the veteran’s ability to eat properly.
Chest Pain: GERD-related chest pain in veterans can mimic heart pain, causing concern in the veteran. The chest discomfort from GERD affects the veteran’s occupational capacity.
Chronic Cough: Some veterans develop a chronic cough from GERD causing irritation in the veteran’s throat. This cough in the veteran can persist and affect the veteran’s daily functioning.
Sleep Disturbances: Nighttime acid reflux disturbs the veteran’s sleep, affecting the veteran’s rest and daytime functioning. Sleep disruption from GERD in the veteran may contribute to secondary sleep disorders.
Service Connection for Veterans with GERD
Veterans can establish service connection for GERD through several pathways:
Direct Service Connection: Veterans can establish direct service connection by showing that GERD resulted from military service factors. A veteran exposed to hazardous substances during the veteran’s military service can establish service connection for the veteran’s GERD.
Secondary Service Connection: Many veterans establish service connection for GERD as a secondary condition to PTSD, anxiety, back injury, or other service-connected conditions. Veterans show how their primary service-connected condition causes the veteran’s GERD.
Presumptive Service Connection: Some veterans qualify for presumptive GERD benefits. Gulf War veterans may have presumptive gastrointestinal conditions. Veterans exposed to burn pits might qualify for presumptive GERD affecting the veteran.
Disability Ratings for Veterans with GERD
The VA rates GERD in veterans based on severity and functional impact. GERD ratings in veterans range from 0% to 20%, though some veterans with severe complications may receive higher ratings.
0-10% Rating for Veterans: Veterans at this level have GERD with minimal functional impairment. The veteran experiences occasional heartburn controlled with diet or medication that doesn’t substantially affect the veteran’s work or daily functioning.
20% Rating for Veterans: Veterans receiving 20% for GERD have GERD causing regular symptoms affecting the veteran’s functioning. The veteran experiences frequent heartburn requiring medication and the veteran’s GERD impacts the veteran’s diet and daily activities.
Filing for GERD Disability Benefits as a Veteran
To file for VA disability benefits for GERD, veterans submit VA Form 21-0960 (Application for Disability Compensation) indicating GERD or acid reflux as the claimed condition.
Veterans filing for GERD should include:
- Medical records documenting the veteran’s GERD diagnosis
- Gastroenterology consultation reports if the veteran saw a specialist for GERD
- Endoscopy results if the veteran underwent upper endoscopy showing esophageal damage
- Documentation of the veteran’s symptoms and frequency of acid reflux
- Records of treatments the veteran tried for the veteran’s GERD
- A personal statement from the veteran describing how the veteran’s GERD affects the veteran’s daily life and work
- If filing for secondary GERD, medical evidence showing how the veteran’s primary service-connected condition causes the veteran’s GERD
- Information about the veteran’s military service and potential exposures causing the veteran’s GERD
Veterans should clearly explain how the veteran believes the veteran’s GERD is service-connected.
The Compensation and Pension Exam for Veterans with GERD
When veterans file for GERD disability, the VA typically schedules a Compensation and Pension exam. During the veteran’s exam, the VA examiner will:
- Review the veteran’s medical records and GERD history
- Ask the veteran detailed questions about symptom frequency and severity affecting the veteran
- Inquire about the veteran’s dietary limitations and how GERD affects the veteran’s eating
- Ask about medications the veteran takes for the veteran’s GERD and effectiveness
- Assess how the veteran’s GERD impacts sleep and daily functioning
- Document the veteran’s occupational limitations caused by the veteran’s GERD
Veterans should prepare for the veteran’s exam by describing specifically how the veteran’s GERD symptoms affect the veteran’s work and daily life, listing all treatments tried by the veteran, and being prepared to discuss foods that trigger the veteran’s symptoms.
Secondary Conditions in Veterans with GERD
Veterans should file claims for conditions secondary to their GERD:
Esophageal Damage: Chronic acid reflux damages the veteran’s esophagus causing strictures or Barrett’s esophagus. Secondary esophageal complications in veterans from GERD can receive separate consideration.
Sleep Disorders: Veterans whose GERD disrupts the veteran’s sleep may develop sleep disorders. Secondary sleep problems in veterans from nighttime reflux can receive separate disability ratings.
Depression and Anxiety: Veterans with chronic GERD may develop depression and anxiety from the burden of managing the veteran’s condition. Secondary mental health conditions in veterans from chronic GERD qualify for separate ratings.
Dental Problems: Acid reflux damages the veteran’s teeth over time. Secondary dental complications in the veteran from GERD may be documented.
These secondary conditions increase the veteran’s combined disability rating.
Combining GERD with Other Veteran Disabilities
Many veterans have GERD combined with other service-connected conditions. For example, a veteran might have a 20% rating for GERD and a 50% rating for PTSD, plus other disabilities affecting the veteran.
All conditions in veterans combine using the VA’s combined rating formula to determine the veteran’s total disability rating. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2026/ to understand exactly how your GERD rating combines with your other service-connected conditions as a veteran. The calculator shows veterans their total combined rating and monthly compensation.
Rating Increases for Veterans with Worsening GERD
Veterans whose GERD worsens over time should file for rating increases. Some veterans develop worsening reflux requiring stronger medications or causing esophageal complications affecting the veteran.
Veterans should file for rating increases when:
- The veteran’s acid reflux becomes more frequent or severe
- The veteran requires stronger medications or additional treatments for GERD
- The veteran develops esophageal complications from chronic reflux
- The veteran’s dietary limitations from GERD have increased
- The veteran’s GERD increasingly impacts sleep and occupational capacity
When filing for a rating increase, veterans should submit updated medical evidence showing the veteran’s worsened GERD condition and current functional impact.
Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2026/ to see how a GERD rating increase would affect your combined rating and total compensation as a veteran.
Understanding Your GERD Disability Compensation
A veteran’s GERD disability compensation depends on the veteran’s GERD rating and any other service-connected conditions the veteran has. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2026/ to determine:
- Your combined rating including GERD and other disabilities
- Your monthly compensation based on your disability ratings
- How a GERD rating increase would affect your total compensation
- How GERD combines with other service-connected conditions affecting the veteran
The calculator helps veterans understand their total compensation when GERD combines with other disabilities.
GERD Treatment and Management for Veterans
Veterans with service-connected GERD should establish regular care with VA gastroenterologists or primary care providers knowledgeable about GERD management. The VA offers veterans:
- Gastroenterology evaluation and diagnosis of the veteran’s GERD
- Medication management for acid reflux in the veteran (proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, antacids)
- Dietary counseling to help the veteran reduce GERD triggers
- Upper endoscopy if the veteran needs evaluation for complications
- Surgical options like fundoplication for appropriate veterans with severe GERD
Veterans should maintain regular VA care both for treatment and to create medical documentation supporting disability ratings and potential rating increase claims.
Occupational Considerations for Veterans with GERD
The VA recognizes that severe GERD affects occupational capacity in veterans. Veterans whose GERD prevents them from performing their previous occupation (especially jobs requiring extended periods without eating or positions aggravating reflux) may need to change careers affecting the veteran.
Veterans with severe GERD limiting occupational capacity should consider filing for Individual Unemployability (IU).
Appealing Denied GERD Claims for Veterans
If the VA denies a veteran’s GERD claim, the veteran can appeal. Many veterans successfully overturn denials by:
- Submitting additional medical evidence documenting the veteran’s GERD diagnosis
- Obtaining statements from gastroenterologists confirming the veteran’s GERD
- Working with a VA-accredited representative who understands GERD claims
- Providing detailed descriptions of the veteran’s symptoms and functional limitations
- Filing for secondary GERD if the veteran’s primary service-connected condition was approved
- Filing additional rating increase claims as the veteran’s condition progresses
Don’t accept a denied GERD claim without appeal—many veterans successfully obtain GERD disability benefits.
Conclusion
Acid reflux and GERD are service-connected disabilities affecting many veterans, significantly impacting the veteran’s ability to eat, sleep, and maintain occupational function. Veterans who developed GERD from military service, occupational exposures, or service-related stress deserve disability compensation. If you’re a veteran with acid reflux or GERD, file a disability claim documenting your condition and how the veteran’s GERD affects your functioning. Document your symptoms, dietary limitations, and any esophageal damage from chronic reflux. File for secondary GERD if another service-connected condition causes the veteran’s reflux. Maintain regular VA gastroenterology care and document your symptoms and functional limitations. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2026/ to understand your combined rating and total compensation when GERD combines with other veteran disabilities. As a veteran with service-connected GERD, you deserve disability benefits recognizing your condition and compensating you for the functional impact on your veteran life.
