Question about acid reflux in VA Disability Claims (General) Forum

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Question about acid reflux

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joeyjoeyb	Question about acid reflux		Lead	[-]
Posts: 230 Jul 11 08 4:37 PM	Tags : None I was 0% SC for gastroesphageal reflux with small hiatal hernia. I have another C&P exam later this month for an increase. I am having a real problem with this lately and I know it has gotten worse in the past few years. Has anyone on here ever received a percentage for this?
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brianwl		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 11847 Jul 11 08 4:41 PM Does not play well With others.	There are some here who've been rated more than 0% for GERD which is another name for acid reflux.
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cvs		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 139 Jul 13 08 1:31 AM	I have had a 30% rating since I got back from Vietnam, psychophysiological gastrointestinal reaction, what the heck that all means your guess is as good as mine but I have had to take a lot of anti acid medication to maintain a some what restricted normal life. Remember this was a rating back in the early 70's but now they say I have GERD, reflux and a hiatal hernia but the rating description never changed. I just had a new C&P for it and it was still rated at 30% (I'm 100% plus for other things) but the thing to emphasize is the amount of discomfort and how it screws with your life. You need to mention ever little thing and remember to tell about all you can not do, what bothers you, if when your mentally upset if it causes you problems and for how long. If the medications help and if they have side effects. Check out this link and it'll give you a Idea what they rate you on: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2004/julqtr/38cfr4.114.htm Good luck and take notes with you if you think you won't remember it all.
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Rickz245		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 741 Jul 13 08 3:27 AM	Sounds like you should fall between 10- 30%...unless your symptoms are more severe. 7346 Hernia hiatal: Symptoms of pain, vomiting, material weight loss and hematemesis or melena with moderate anemia; or other symptom combinations productive of severe impairment of health 60 Persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal or arm or shoulder pain, productive of considerable impairment of health 30 With two or more of the symptoms for the 30 percent evaluation of less severity 10
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burkhm		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 414 Jul 13 08 7:47 AM	I am also 0% SC for gastroesphageal reflux with a hiatal hernia. I was diagnosed with GERD in 1995 while on active duty which I believe was caused by over 15 years of taking anti-inflammatory medications. My initial 0% rating was given in 2002 and if you can believe it, still under appeal today. I now have been taking anti-inflammatory medication for over twenty five years, and taking Omeprazole (also known as Losec and Prilosec) for the GERD. Additionally I have been experiencing what I call "panic attacks" which I believe is associated with the GERD and all the anti-inflammatory medications.
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joeyjoeyb		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 230 Jul 13 08 3:10 PM	Thanks for the replies. I was really surprised that I did not get at least 10% when I had my initial C&P exam back in 07. I have 3 of the 4 things going on with me for the 10% rating, so I guess will just have to wait and see. I will just be honest with what is going on with me and have them figure it out.
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joeyjoeyb		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 230 Jul 14 08 7:21 PM	Just wanted to bump one time..... Thanks
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joeyjoeyb		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 230 Jul 18 08 7:00 PM	Well I got my appointment set for next Thursday. Just wanted to get a few more opinions if they are out there.
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Recurve		#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 65 Jul 18 08 9:00 PM	ratings under section 4.114 the digestive system are treated as a "whole" body concept. (aside from a very few other conditions) so basically you can have Gerd (which i believe is considered under the esophagus, cause there is diagnostic code for GERD) and a hiatal hernia the origianl or last exam shows that the hiatal hernia was the "prodominate" disability picture or the worse of the 2 so its rated under the criteria of 7346. (this is commonly called avoidence of pyrimding). Now i dont think there is a 20% rating. its 10 then 30 and 60% when you say 3 of the four things "going on" with me are you meaning the symtoms? Look at your symptoms and read the criteria- "substernal arm or shoulder pain" this is GERD symptoms and they also occur in the facial and chest area too. Regurgitation is Gerd symptoms too. Another common digestive condition that sometimes goes hand in hand with Gerd+haital hernia is gastritis Edited 2 times by Recurve Jul 18 08 9:07 PM.
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Rickz245		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 741 Jul 19 08 2:36 AM	Doctors are investigating the relationship between Sleep Apnea and Gerd. If you are having Panic Attack type symptoms, you should request a sleep study because many folks that have GERD have SA and vice-versa.
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cinammontwisty		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 19 Jul 19 08 9:31 PM	The regulation is pretty simple... If you have at least 2 of the symptoms listed below, you should be 10%. Persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) pyrosis (heartburn) regurgitation (vomit coming up into your throat) Go to your appointment and explain your symptoms. If I were you, I would get a copy of the previous VA exam, or QTC, if that is who did the exam, and review whether you stated two of those symptoms in the prior exam. If so, the claim may have been improperly decided and you can try to get an earlier effective date (i.e., the previous date of claim). Good luck!
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joeyjoeyb		#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 230 Jul 19 08 9:31 PM	Yes, I am having 3 out of the 4 symptoms to get the 10% rating. I had that going on with my first C&P. They gave me an upper GI and said they saw the reflux and hernia. Not sure why I just did not get it then. And I have already sleep apnea. Been fighting that one also. :-) Edited 1 time by joeyjoeyb Jul 19 08 9:33 PM.
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cinammontwisty	Symptoms	#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 19 Jul 20 08 12:29 AM	Joey, It is not what they saw on your Esophagoduodenoscopy, it is what symptoms you report at the VA examination. You have to physically state, Dr., I have pyrosis, and I have difficulty swallowing as a result of my GERD. Subjective symptoms are key for many conditions, people. Make it crystal clear for the raters... Sometimes you can state symptoms and the VA doctors will miss it. Again, make it crystal clear!! GERD is rated under Hiatal Hernia 7346. Follow the code....... Persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) pyrosis (heartburn) regurgitation (vomit coming up into your throat)
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Rickz245		#13	[url]	[-]
Posts: 741 Jul 20 08 7:34 AM	There is another really nasty test they can give you to check the motility of in your throat. I've had it done but had to quit 3/4 of the way through it because I just got to tired. They run this cable through your nose had down your throat have you keep swallowing and they take measurements to see where your swallowing trouble is. They found mine...but they have to go all the way to the stomach and the guy doing my test was going really slow and after about 90 min I was wiped out and made them stop. I mention it because it is another test they can use to help determine how severe your case is.
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joeyjoeyb		#14	[url]	[-]
Posts: 230 Jul 20 08 8:29 PM	I pretty much have the heartburn and regurgitation. It says something about substernal or arm or shoulder pain....but I have that all the time!! LOL I do not have difficulty swallowing until I have that regurgitation happen (which has been about once a week)...so we will have to wait and see what happens. I do have my C&P exam results from before, and I do mention heartburn, but that is about it. So maybe said something or maybe I did not. But I do remember telling the examiner that I had problems with gerd and had heartburn and the regurgitation thing, but nothing I can do about that now.
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Rickz245		#15	[url]	[-]
Posts: 741 Jul 20 08 9:33 PM	You may have some loss in esophogeal motility due to the hernia...that is why they gave me the test because you may not be able to perceive it yourself until it gets really bad. It is also one of those tests that do to establish a baseline in conjunction with Endo because H Hernia's can get larger over time.
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joeyjoeyb		#16	[url]	[-]
Posts: 230 Jul 22 08 8:14 PM	Well this week has started crazy. I am unable to make my appointment with the VA for gerd. I was admitted to the hospital yesterday for chest pains. Unreal stress really had me thinking I was having a heart attack. So far, it does not look like I had one. I have a stress test the same day as my gerd appointment with the VA. I thought the stress test was a little more important then the VA appointmetn. So I canx the VA appointment today through the regional office as instructed by the dublin VA. Now, how long do you think I will have to wait for another appointment? I tried chainging my appointment with the dublin VA, but they told me I had to go throught the regional office. Man, this week sucks. Mike
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Recurve		#17	[url]	[-]
Posts: 65 Jul 22 08 8:19 PM	Good to hear your fine. Relax and enjoy yourself-take a breath. Call the the 1 800-827-1000 and request you exam to be re-scheduled.
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brianwl		#18	[url]	[-]
Posts: 11847 Jul 22 08 8:24 PM Does not play well With others.	Mike, Make sure the VARO knows about the chest pains and stress test, in writing. The chest pains are classic symptoms of GERD.
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joeyjoeyb	Brian	#19	[url]	[-]
Posts: 230 Jul 22 08 8:46 PM	So I have to make sure I get a copy of the records of my ER visit and nights stay...plus the results of my stress test? Send all that to my VSO to give to the VA? Will this help with my case for an increase for GERD? from 0% to something? Mike
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brianwl		#20	[url]	[-]
Posts: 11847 Jul 22 08 8:48 PM Does not play well With others.	joeyjoeyb wrote: So I have to make sure I get a copy of the records of my ER visit and nights stay...plus the results of my stress test? Send all that to my VSO to give to the VA? Will this help with my case for an increase for GERD? from 0% to something? Mike That's what I would do, just to make sure the latest event gets in front of the rater and the C&P examiner.
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