Living with gastroparesis can have a major impact on your quality of life. If your stomach doesn’t empty properly, it can lead to ongoing symptoms like poor appetite, unintended weight loss, bloating, and pain, making everyday life more difficult.
Veterans coping with these symptoms may question whether they qualify for a gastroparesis VA rating and what benefits could be available to them.
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In this article, we’ll explain what gastroparesis is, how it may be connected to service, and how the VA evaluates gastroparesis when determining disability benefits.
Key Takeaways
- Gastroparesis is a digestive condition in which the muscles in the stomach are weakened, making it difficult or even impossible for the stomach to empty.
- Gastroparesis does not have its own diagnostic code. Instead, veterans with gastroparesis are evaluated using an existing diagnostic code that most closely matches their specific symptoms.
- Diabetes is the most common known cause of gastroparesis.
In this article about the gastroparesis VA rating:
What is gastroparesis?
A healthy, well functioning digestive system is vital to your health and overall well-being. Without proper digestion, getting the energy and nutrients you need becomes very difficult.
Gastroparesis is a digestive condition in which the muscles in the stomach are weakened. Your stomach muscles are supposed to contract to send food through the digestive tract, but in individuals with gastroparesis, muscle movement is slow or may even stop altogether. As a result, stomach emptying is disrupted.
As a result, the stomach either can’t empty or empties very slowly.
Some people with gastroparesis do not have symptoms, but others may experience:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Bloating
- Stomach pain
- Feeling full after eating a small amount or for an extended period of time after eating
- Acid reflux
- Changes in blood sugar levels
- Weight loss
- Malnutrition
The source of a person’s gastroparesis is not always understood, but there are a few known causes. Damage to the vagus nerve, which tells your stomach muscles when to contract, is one common cause of gastroparesis.
Other potential causes include diabetes, viral infections, stomach surgery, and various treatments and medications, like opioids, GLP-1 antagonists, and antipsychotics.
Gastroparesis in veterans
Due to stress and PTSD and environmental exposures, digestive issues are common among veterans.
According to the VA’s 2024 annual report, nearly 1.58 million veterans receive a VA rating for gastrointestinal disorders.
There is little evidence showing whether gastroparesis, specifically, is more or less common in veterans. However, some researchers have begun studying a possible connection between the condition and Gulf War service.
Additionally, there is a strong connection between gastroparesis and diabetes, which has been recognized by the VA. We explain more below.
Gastroparesis and diabetes
Diabetes is the most common known cause of gastroparesis.
In fact, gastroparesis and diabetes have a bidirectional, or two-way, relationship. This means diabetes can lead to gastroparesis, but gastroparesis may also increase your risk of diabetes or aggravate the condition.
Over time, high blood sugar can damage nerves throughout the body, including those that play a crucial role in digestion. When these nerves are damaged, the stomach may not move food properly, causing digestion to slow down.
On the other hand, having gastroparesis can also make it difficult for your body to manage blood sugar levels and know how much insulin you need when eating, potentially worsening diabetes.
Veterans who have both gastroparesis and diabetes may be eligible for additional VA disability compensation if one of the conditions is linked to their military service.
The VA has established a presumptive service connection for veterans exposed to Agent Orange who develop diabetes. The VA also grants presumptive service connection to veterans who develop diabetes within a year of discharge.
Veterans who qualify for one of these presumptives may have an easier time getting VA benefits for gastroparesis and diabetes, but they are not the only path to benefits for vets with this combination of illnesses.
Gastroparesis VA ratings
Veterans with gastroparesis may be eligible to receive VA benefits for their condition.
However, gastroparesis does not have its own diagnostic code. Instead, veterans with gastroparesis are evaluated using an existing diagnostic code that most closely matches their specific symptoms. This is known as an analogous rating.
Possible analogous ratings that may be used to evaluate gastroparesis include:
- Diagnostic code 7301 for peritoneal adhesions caused by trauma, surgery, disease, or infection
- Diagnostic code 7304 for peptic ulcer disease
- Diagnostic code 7308 for postgastrectomy syndrome
- Diagnostic code 7346 for hiatal or paraesophageal hernia
- Diagnostic code 7356 for gastrointestinal dysmotility syndrome
This list is not meant to be exhaustive, and is based on past BVA decisions evaluating service-connected gastroparesis. It’s important to remember, however, that past BVA decisions do not set any precedent for how future BVA decisions will be handled.
TDIU for gastrointestinal conditions
In severe cases, a veteran may be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for gastrointestinal issues. However, it may be more likely to receive TDIU for the condition in combination with other service-connected issues.
TDIU is also known as individual unemployability or simply IU. Veterans are eligible for these benefits if they can’t hold down “substantially gainful” employment due to their service-connected conditions.
Veterans who receive TDIU benefits are compensated at the same level as those with a 100% disability rating, even though their combined rating is below 100%.
Veterans will typically be eligible for TDIU if they have:
- At least one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling OR
- Two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more
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Frequently asked questions
Because there is no VA diagnostic code for gastroparesis, veterans with the condition are evaluated using a diagnostic code that most closely matches their symptoms.
Veterans may be evaluated using the rating criteria found in diagnostic codes 7301, 7304, 7308, or 7346, among others.
Yes. Diabetes is the most common cause of gastroparesis. Over time, high blood sugar can damage nerves throughout the body, including those that help control how the stomach empties. Additionally, having gastroparesis can make it more difficult for your body to manage blood sugar levels and know how much insulin you need when eating.
Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
