Stomach & Digestion — VA Disability Ratings

How Stomach & Digestion conditions are rated

The digestive schedule covers the esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas and peritoneum — conditions like GERD, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, hernias, hepatitis, cirrhosis and post-surgical residuals. Diagnostic codes run 7200 through 7357.

The single most important rule in this section is the one that stops you stacking ratings. VA does not combine ratings under diagnostic codes 7301–7329, 7331, 7342, 7345–7350, 7352 and 7355–7357 with each other. If you have several digestive conditions in that range, the rater assigns one evaluation under the code that reflects the predominant disability picture, then elevates it to the next higher evaluation if the overall severity justifies it. Two 30% digestive conditions do not become a combined rating — they become one rating that may or may not be raised a step.

GERD now has its own diagnostic code, 7206. For years it was rated by analogy to hiatal hernia under DC 7346, and older decisions still reference that code. Irritable bowel syndrome is DC 7319. If your rating decision cites an older code for a condition that now has its own, it is worth reading the current criteria before deciding whether to file for an increase.

Evidence that tends to matter here: dated weight records (several codes turn on weight loss, defined at 38 CFR §4.112), endoscopy and imaging reports, how often symptoms occur rather than just that they occur, and prescription history showing what treatment has been required and for how long.