Digestive system · 38 CFR 4.114
Digestive Conditions and VA Disability
The digestive system covers the stomach, the intestines, and the organs that help you digest. GERD, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, and hernias are the claims we see most. The VA rates these under 38 CFR 4.114, and one rule matters a lot here: it usually will not stack two overlapping gut conditions, so the rater picks the one that fits best.
Patriot Path handles the medical side of these claims. Our physicians write the nexus letters and independent medical opinions that connect a digestive condition to your service, or to another condition the VA already covers. The fee is a flat $1,500, and the first consultation is free.
Medically reviewed by the Patriot Path Medical Team
Licensed MD reviewers • Last updated: June 2026
Conditions in this system
These are the digestive conditions veterans claim most. GERD has a full guide now. The rest are on the way.
- GERD
Acid reflux that keeps coming back. As of 2024 it has its own diagnostic code. Often secondary to other conditions and their medications.
DC 7206
- Irritable bowel syndrome
Cramping, diarrhea, and constipation. A Gulf War presumptive, rated on how often symptoms hit.
DC 7319
- Peptic ulcer diseaseGuide in progress
Ulcers in the stomach or upper intestine. Rated on pain, bleeding, and how often they flare.
DC 7304
- Hiatal herniaGuide in progress
Part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm. Rated on reflux and swallowing problems.
DC 7346
- HemorrhoidsGuide in progress
Swollen veins in the rectum. Rated on bleeding, anemia, and prolapse.
DC 7336
- Crohn's disease and colitisGuide in progress
Inflammatory bowel disease. Rated on severity, flares, and treatment.
DC 7323
How the VA rates digestive conditions
Digestive conditions are rated on how often your symptoms hit, how severe they are, and how much they wear you down, including weight loss. The more your condition disrupts eating, digestion, and daily life, the higher the rating.
One rule shapes almost every gut claim. The VA generally will not stack two overlapping abdominal conditions on top of each other (38 CFR 4.113 and 4.114). Instead, the rater looks at your overall picture and rates the single condition that fits best, raised a level if your case is severe. So the goal is the right code, not a pile of codes.
A few conditions changed recently. As of 2024, GERD has its own diagnostic code, 7206, instead of being rated like a hiatal hernia. Knowing the current code matters, because the criteria moved with it.
Connecting a digestive condition to service
There are a few ways to tie a digestive condition to your service:
- Direct. The condition began in service, or an in-service cause led to it. Records of treatment for stomach or bowel trouble while you served help.
- Presumptive (Gulf War). Functional digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome are presumptive for Gulf War veterans (38 CFR 3.317). The VA accepts the link, so you do not have to prove the cause.
- Secondary. Another service-connected condition or its medication caused it (38 CFR 3.310). GERD from the anti-inflammatory drugs taken for a service-connected joint condition is a common example.
For a direct or secondary claim, the VA needs a current diagnosis, an in-service cause, and a medical opinion linking them (38 CFR 3.303). That opinion has to clear the “at least as likely as not” standard, a 50 percent or better chance. That standard is the benefit-of-the-doubt rule under 38 U.S.C. 5107(b), carried out in 38 CFR 3.102. A nexus letter is that linking opinion.
Frequently asked questions
How does the VA rate GERD?
As of 2024, GERD has its own code, Diagnostic Code 7206. It is rated on whether reflux has scarred or narrowed the esophagus, how much trouble you have swallowing, and how often you need procedures to open it up. Many GERD claims are filed as secondary to another condition or its medication.
Is IBS presumptive for Gulf War veterans?
Yes. Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional digestive disorder, and it is presumptive for Gulf War and Southwest Asia veterans under 38 CFR 3.317. If you qualify, the VA accepts the link to service without proof of cause. It is rated under Diagnostic Code 7319 on how often symptoms hit.
Can the VA combine two stomach conditions?
Usually not. Under 38 CFR 4.113 and 4.114, the VA generally does not stack two overlapping abdominal conditions. The rater chooses the single code that best fits your overall picture, raised a level if your case is severe. The right code matters more than the number of codes.
Can I claim GERD as secondary to another condition?
Yes, and it is common. GERD is often caused or worsened by the medications taken for other service-connected conditions, like the anti-inflammatory drugs used for joint pain, or some mental-health medications. A nexus letter ties the GERD to that service-connected cause.
Do I need a nexus letter for a digestive claim?
For a direct or secondary claim, usually yes. The VA needs a current diagnosis, an in-service cause, and a medical opinion linking them. If your condition is a Gulf War presumptive, you may not need one. A nexus letter is that linking opinion.
A digestive condition from service?
Tell us what you are dealing with. The first consultation is free, and we will tell you straight whether a nexus letter can strengthen your claim.
Sources & regulatory references
- VA disability compensation (VA.gov) https://www.va.gov/disability/
- 38 CFR 4.114, Schedule of ratings, digestive system (eCFR) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.114
- 38 CFR 4.113, Coexisting abdominal conditions (eCFR) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.113
- 38 CFR 3.317, Persian Gulf veterans presumptive (eCFR) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-3.317
- 38 CFR 3.310, Secondary service connection (eCFR) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-3.310
- Gulf War illness and Southwest Asia (VA.gov) https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/gulf-war-illness-southwest-asia/