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Welcome to The Veterans Disability Nexus, where we provide unique insights and expertise on medical evidence related to VA-rated disabilities. Leah Bucholz, a US Army Veteran, Physician Assistant, & former Compensation & Pension Examiner shares her knowledge related to Independent Medical Opinions often referred to as “Nexus Letters” in support of your pursuit of VA Disability every Tuesday & Wednesday at 7AM Central.
Take control of your medical evidence related to your benefits and visit https://podcast.prestigeveteranmctx.info/veteran/ for more information and to connect directly with us!
Hey, guys. It's Leah B from Prestige Veteran Medical Consulting. I am a US army veteran, physician assistant, and former compensation and pension examiner. So today, I wanna come on and discuss gastritis and how that can be related to VA disability. So if you're a veteran dealing with chronic stomach pain, heartburn, nausea, or digestive issues, and you've been diagnosed with gastritis, this video is definitely for you.
Leah B:So we're gonna talk about how gastritis can qualify for VA disability benefits, what evidence the VA looks for, and what medical research says about the condition in veterans. So gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining. It can be acute or chronic in nature, and it often causes symptoms like burning stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and early fullness. For many veterans, gastritis can be linked to service related stress, medication use, alcohol exposure during service, or other gastrointestinal conditions such as GERD or ulcers. The updated VA disability ratings for gastritis are as follows.
Leah B:So the VA now rates chronic gastritis under the revised diagnostic code 7307 based on the frequency, duration, and severity of the symptoms as well as the medical treatment required. Here's how those ratings are currently assigned. At the hundred percent level given to veterans who are recovering from surgery following a stomach perforation or hemorrhage, this total rating is assigned for three months after the procedure. At the sixty percent level, this is gonna be for veterans who experience constant abdominal pain, periodic vomiting, and episodes of either vomiting blood or pat passing black tarry stools. There must also be evidence of anemia, and the condition must have required at least one hospitalization stay in the past year.
Leah B:At the forty percent level, this applies when a veteran has recurring episodes of abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting that lasts at least three months consecutively I'm sorry, at least three consecutive days. These flare ups happen four or more times in a twelve month period and require daily prescribed medication to manage. At the twenty percent level, this is used when a veteran experiences similar bouts of stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting that also lasts at least three days but occur three times or fewer in a year. These symptoms are likewise managed with daily prescription medication. At the zero percent rating, veterans can be assigned this when there is documentation or history of peptic ulcer disease verified by endoscopy or diagnostic imaging, but current symptoms don't meet the threshold for a rating.
Leah B:Essentially, the more frequent and severe your symptoms are and the more intensive your medication treatment is, the higher the rating you may qualify for. So there's several different service connection pathways. So let's talk about how gastritis can be connected to your military service because this is one of the most important parts of a successful VA disability claim. There are several, main types. There's three main types of service connection that might apply to your gastritis.
Leah B:So direct service connection. This may apply when your gastritis started during active duty or was caused by something that happened while you were surfing. For example, you might have experienced severe stress, illness, or dietary changes during deployment that triggered stomach issues, or you may have been prescribed medications such as aspirin or anti inflammatories that irritated your stomach lining. If your service treatment records show complaints of stomach pain, nausea, or similar issues, that may be helpful evidence. Even if you weren't formally diagnosed at the time, consistent documentation of symptoms can support you in your claim.
Leah B:So secondary service connection. This applies when gastritis develops as a result of another service connected condition. Many many veterans with PTSD or chronic pain take medications like ibuprofen, naproxen, and other, anti inflammatories, which can cause or worsen gastritis. It can also be secondary to GERD or anxiety related conditions, both of which can alter stomach acid and contribute to inflammation. To qualify, medical evidence must show that your gastritis is either caused or aggravated by another surface connected issue.
Leah B:So speaking of aggravation of, when we talk about aggravation of a preexisting condition, some veterans may have had occasional some mild occasional stomach issues before service, but their condition became much worse due to military stress, diet, or medication exposure. Under VA law, if your time in service permanently aggravated your gastritis beyond its natural progression, you may qualify for benefits related to this. Evidence that your symptoms, became more severe, more frequent, or required continuous medication after service can help establish this connection. Understanding which pathway applies to your case can help you and your representative gather the right documentation and medical evidence for your claim. So let's I always like to talk about relevant medical literature.
Leah B:So let's talk about what the medical research states and supports related to veterans. So studies show that chronic stress and anxiety can increase stomach acid and weaken the stomach's protective lining leading to inflammation. Research published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology in 2014 found that stress related mucosal injury is common in people exposed to prolonged physical or psychological stress, some something many veterans face during an after service. Long term use of NSAIDs and alcohol consumption, both common in military populations, are also major contributors. According to the American Journal of Gastroenterology in 2010, these medications can damage the stomach lining and lead to chronic gastritis or ulceration.
Leah B:Finally, helicobacter pylori or often referred to as h pylori infections, which cause chronic gastritis, has been reported at higher rates among some veteran populations in VA health studies. Altogether, the evidence shows that stress, medication medication exposure, and environmental exposures during service can directly cause or worsen gastritis in many veterans. So when we consider working with accredited legal professionals, that can often, make a huge impact in the claims process. Of course, veterans are able to navigate the system on their own using the tools va.gov, provides. There's some really great help documents on there, but also working with these accredited legal professionals can sometimes be helpful.
Leah B:So when it comes to filing or appealing a VA disability claim, it's essential to know that only accredited individuals can legal legally represent you before the VA. So accredited representatives include VA accredited attorneys, claims agents, and veteran service officers or VSOs. They're trained, authorized, and held to strict professional standards to help you file, present, and appeal your claim properly. Working with an accredited professional ensures that your evidence organized correctly, that your deadlines are met, and your rights are protected. If you need help finding one, the VA has a public accreditation database.
Leah B:You can search it online at va.gov/0gc/apps/accreditation, and then you can search by name, organization, or location. You can also contact organizations like the American Legion, the DAV or the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign War or BFW, or your state or county veteran service offices, which often provide preaccredited assistance. Partnering with one of these professionals along with strong medical documentation can greatly improve the outcome of your claim in many cases. So if you're a veteran struggling with gastritis or your claim has been denied, don't lose hope. You may be entitled to compensation, and having the right medical and legal support can make all the difference.
Leah B:So at Prestige Veteran Medical Consulting, we're proud to serve veterans and their advocates by providing expert evidence based medical opinions for VA disability claims. You can also ask your treating provider who may be willing to provide support for your for your case. So if this helped you out, please drop some comments. If you know any veterans that may be suffering from gastritis, please, share it with them. Please like and subscribe.
Leah B:And as always, thank you for watching. Alright. See you guys later.