Common symptoms
- ▸Persistent heartburn / acid reflux
- ▸Regurgitation
- ▸Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- ▸Substernal pain
- ▸Chronic cough or hoarseness
Common evidence
- ▸GI diagnosis and treatment notes
- ▸Endoscopy report
- ▸Medication list (PPIs, H2 blockers)
- ▸Symptom log
Primary service connection examples
- ▸In-service GI complaints
- ▸Documented dietary issues in service
Secondary service connection examples
- ▸Secondary to PTSD or anxiety
- ▸Secondary to NSAIDs for service-connected pain
- ▸Secondary to sleep apnea
Rating basics
10% (two or more symptoms with less severity), 30% (persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, regurgitation accompanied by substernal/arm/shoulder pain, productive of considerable impairment of health), 60% (symptoms of pain, vomiting, material weight loss, and hematemesis or melena with anemia).
Common denial reasons
- ✕No diagnosis (self-reported heartburn only)
- ✕Missing nexus for secondary claims
- ✕Examiner attributes to diet/lifestyle