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Rating guide · Digestive

GERD & IBS: Know the Current Criteria

A lot of online advice about GERD and IBS ratings predates May 2024, when the VA replaced its digestive criteria. Here’s what the rules actually require today.

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GERD criteria now
IBS criteria now
Gulf War presumptive
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38 CFR 4.114 · DC 7206

GERD: Rated on Esophageal Stricture

Reflux alone, controlled with medication, generally rates 0% unless a stricture is documented. 2026 pay for a veteran with no dependents.

Current as of October 2026. Findings must be documented by barium swallow, CT, or upper endoscopy. Existing ratings aren’t reduced solely because the criteria changed.
Rating	VA criteria	2026 pay (alone)
80%	Documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture(s) causing dysphagia with at least one of: aspiration, undernutrition, and/or substantial weight loss, and treatment with either surgical correction of esophageal stricture(s) or a PEG tube.	$2,102.15
50%	Documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture(s) causing dysphagia which requires at least one of: dilatation 3 or more times per year, dilatation using steroids at least once per year, or esophageal stent placement.	$1,132.90
30%	Documented history of recurrent esophageal stricture(s) causing dysphagia which requires dilatation no more than 2 times per year.	$552.47
10%	Documented history of esophageal stricture(s) that requires daily medications to control dysphagia, otherwise asymptomatic.	$180.42
0%	Documented history without daily symptoms or requirement for daily medications.	$0.00

38 CFR 4.114 · DC 7319

IBS: Rated on How Often Symptoms Hit

Current as of October 2026. Also used for functional digestive disorders like dyspepsia, functional bloating, constipation and diarrhea.
Rating	VA criteria	2026 pay (alone)
30%	Abdominal pain related to defecation at least one day per week during the previous three months; and two or more of the following: (1) change in stool frequency, (2) change in stool form, (3) altered stool passage (straining and/or urgency), (4) mucorrhea, (5) abdominal bloating, or (6) subjective distension.	$552.47
20%	Abdominal pain related to defecation for at least three days per month during the previous three months; and two or more of the following: (1) change in stool frequency, (2) change in stool form, (3) altered stool passage (straining and/or urgency), (4) mucorrhea, (5) abdominal bloating, or (6) subjective distension.	$356.66
10%	Abdominal pain related to defecation at least once during the previous three months; and two or more of the following: (1) change in stool frequency, (2) change in stool form, (3) altered stool passage (straining and/or urgency), (4) mucorrhea, (5) abdominal bloating, or (6) subjective distension.	$180.42

Service connection

Paths to Service Connection

Gulf War and post-9/11 deployments: functional gastrointestinal disorders, IBS included, are presumptive for veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, and in certain other countries since 2001. You don’t have to prove the cause.

Medication side effects: GERD often follows years of anti-inflammatories for a service-connected back or knee.

Mental health: both GERD and IBS can be linked to PTSD, anxiety or depression with a supporting medical opinion.

For IBS, start a symptom calendar now. The criteria count days with symptoms over the previous three months.

FAQ

GERD & IBS VA Rating: Common Questions

Is GERD still worth claiming?

It can be, especially if you have a documented stricture or swallowing problems, or as a secondary condition. Under current criteria, medication-controlled GERD without stricture generally rates 0%.

Will my old GERD rating be lowered?

A change in rating criteria by itself doesn’t reduce an existing rating.

I deployed to the Gulf. Is IBS presumptive for me?

Functional gastrointestinal disorders, including IBS, are presumptive under the Gulf War illness rules for veterans with qualifying service.

What’s the best IBS evidence?

A three-month symptom log showing days with abdominal pain related to bowel movements, plus treatment records that reflect it.

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