GERD / acid reflux DC 7206
Listed in the rating schedule as “Gastroesophageal reflux disease”. VA rates it under diagnostic code 7206 in 38 CFR 4.114. Body system: Digestive.
Also searched as: GERD, acid reflux, heartburn, reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease.
How VA rates it
The schedule allows 5 rating levels for this code: 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, and 80%. VA picks the level whose criteria best match your symptoms and records.
Digestive criteria were revised in 2024; check the current schedule for your symptoms.
Source: 38 CFR 4.114 on eCFR. Read the full criteria there before you file.
Rating levels and criteria
| Rating | What the schedule says |
|---|---|
| 80% | Documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture(s) causing dysphagia with at least one of the symptoms present: (1) aspiration, (2) undernutrition, and/or (3) substantial weight loss as defined by § 4.112(a) and treatment with either surgical correction of esophageal stricture(s) or percutaneous esophago-gastrointestinal tube (PEG tube) |
| 50% | Documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture(s) causing dysphagia which requires at least one of the following (1) dilatation 3 or more times per year, (2) dilatation using steroids at least one time per year, or (3) esophageal stent placement |
| 30% | Documented history of recurrent esophageal stricture(s) causing dysphagia which requires dilatation no more than 2 times per year |
| 10% | Documented history of esophageal stricture(s) that requires daily medications to control dysphagia otherwise asymptomatic |
| 0% | Documented history without daily symptoms or requirement for daily medications |
Criteria text from 38 CFR 4.114, eCFR as of November 10, 2026. The eCFR is the official source if anything here differs.
Notes in the schedule (5)
Note (1): Findings must be documented by barium swallow, computerized tomography, or esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
Note (2): Non-gastrointestinal complications of procedures should be rated under the appropriate system.
Note (3): This diagnostic code applies, but is not limited to, esophagitis, mechanical or chemical; Mallory Weiss syndrome (bleeding at junction of esophagus and stomach due to tears) due to caustic ingestion of alkali or acid; drug-induced or infectious esophagitis due to Candida, virus, or other organism; idiopathic eosinophilic, or lymphocytic esophagitis; esophagitis due to radiation therapy; esophagitis due to peptic stricture; and any esophageal condition that requires treatment with sclerotherapy.
Note (4): Recurrent esophageal stricture is defined as the inability to maintain target esophageal diameter beyond 4 weeks after the target diameter has been achieved.
Note (5): Refractory esophageal stricture is defined as the inability to achieve target esophageal diameter despite receiving no fewer than 5 dilatation sessions performed at 2-week intervals.
Conditions it can lead to
If this condition is service connected, these conditions are often claimed as secondary to it (38 CFR 3.310). Each one still needs its own diagnosis.
Barrett's esophagus DC 7207 Established link
Long-term acid reflux can change the lining of the esophagus, a condition called Barrett's esophagus.
What to gather: An endoscopy with biopsy showing Barrett's esophagus and a medical opinion linking it to your GERD.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); NIDDK (NIH): Symptoms and causes of Barrett's esophagus; NIDDK (NIH): Definition and facts for GER and GERD; 38 CFR 4.114
Esophagus, stricture of DC 7203 Established link
Acid damage can scar and narrow the esophagus (stricture), which makes swallowing hard.
What to gather: An endoscopy or swallow study showing a stricture and a medical opinion linking it to your GERD.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); MedlinePlus: Gastroesophageal reflux disease; 38 CFR 4.114
Laryngitis, chronic DC 6516 Established link
Acid that reaches the throat can inflame the voice box, causing chronic laryngitis and hoarseness.
What to gather: An ear, nose and throat diagnosis of chronic laryngitis and a medical opinion linking it to your GERD.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); NIDDK (NIH): Definition and facts for GER and GERD; MedlinePlus: Laryngitis; 38 CFR 4.97
Asthma DC 6602 Possible link Aggravation
Reflux is a known trigger that can make asthma worse.
What to gather: An asthma diagnosis, records showing it got worse after GERD began, and a medical opinion. VA needs a baseline of how bad the asthma was before.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310(b) (aggravation); NIDDK (NIH): Definition and facts for GER and GERD; AGA clinical practice update on extraesophageal GERD (Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2023)
Commonly claimed as secondary to
If one of these is already service connected, you may be able to claim this condition as secondary to it.
Generalized anxiety disorder DC 9400 Possible link
Long-term psychological distress, including anxiety, is linked with new acid reflux symptoms.
What to gather: A GERD diagnosis and a medical opinion linking it to your anxiety. If you take medicines for anxiety that worsen reflux, ask the doctor to mention that too.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); Psychological distress and new-onset upper GI symptoms in World Trade Center responders (Psychosom Med, 2014)
Major depressive disorder DC 9434 Possible link
Long-term psychological distress, including depression, is linked with new acid reflux symptoms.
What to gather: A GERD diagnosis and a medical opinion linking it to your depression. If you take medicines for depression that worsen reflux, ask the doctor to mention that too.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); Psychological distress and new-onset upper GI symptoms in World Trade Center responders (Psychosom Med, 2014)
PTSD DC 9411 Possible link
Long-term psychological distress, including PTSD, is linked with new acid reflux symptoms.
What to gather: A GERD diagnosis and a medical opinion linking it to your PTSD. If you take medicines for PTSD that worsen reflux, ask the doctor to mention that too.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); Psychological distress and new-onset upper GI symptoms in World Trade Center responders (Psychosom Med, 2014)
Sleep apnea DC 6847 Possible link
NIH lists acid reflux among the conditions sleep apnea can raise your risk for.
What to gather: A GERD diagnosis and a medical opinion linking it to your sleep apnea.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); NHLBI (NIH): Living with sleep apnea
Related medications
Medications that can cause or worsen it
If you take one of these for a service-connected condition, this condition may be claimable as secondary to that condition. You need a diagnosis, your prescription records, and a medical opinion.
NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory pain relievers) (for example ibuprofen, naproxen, meloxicam, diclofenac) Possible link
NSAIDs irritate the esophagus and stomach, and heartburn is a labeled side effect. A link to GERD needs a medical opinion.
Sources: FDA label: Meloxicam (DailyMed); Drug-induced esophagitis (PubMed)
Alendronate (Fosamax, Binosto) Possible link
Alendronate labels warn about esophagus irritation and ulcers. A link to GERD needs a medical opinion.
Sources: FDA label: Alendronate (DailyMed)
Medications prescribed for it
A prescription shows the condition was diagnosed. It still needs its own link to service.
- H2 blockers (for example famotidine, cimetidine, nizatidine). FDA labels: Famotidine (DailyMed)
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (for example omeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole). FDA labels: Omeprazole (DailyMed)
- Metoclopramide (Reglan, Gimoti). FDA labels: Metoclopramide (DailyMed)
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Rating schedule data as of November 10, 2026. Secondary and presumptive links checked November 13, 2026.
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