{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease-gerd","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:24.182Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":17369,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":19.4,"denied_pct":25,"remanded_pct":53.3,"granted_on_merits_pct":43.7,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":835,"granted_pct":8,"denied_pct":30.1,"remanded_pct":52.8},{"year":2018,"issues":1480,"granted_pct":11.7,"denied_pct":30.9,"remanded_pct":52.4},{"year":2019,"issues":1711,"granted_pct":13.3,"denied_pct":28.5,"remanded_pct":54.6},{"year":2020,"issues":1718,"granted_pct":16.1,"denied_pct":29,"remanded_pct":53},{"year":2021,"issues":1715,"granted_pct":15.5,"denied_pct":27.8,"remanded_pct":54.6},{"year":2022,"issues":1684,"granted_pct":18.2,"denied_pct":21.3,"remanded_pct":57.9},{"year":2023,"issues":1915,"granted_pct":20.6,"denied_pct":20.5,"remanded_pct":56.2},{"year":2024,"issues":2543,"granted_pct":25.1,"denied_pct":20.4,"remanded_pct":52.5},{"year":2025,"issues":2963,"granted_pct":25.8,"denied_pct":22.7,"remanded_pct":50.2},{"year":2026,"issues":1050,"granted_pct":27,"denied_pct":27.3,"remanded_pct":43}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":70.2,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":2168,"granted_pct_with":64.7,"granted_pct_without":39.2},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":13163,"granted_pct_with":42.8,"granted_pct_without":47.6},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":3091,"granted_pct_with":74.9,"granted_pct_without":33},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":9504,"granted_pct_with":42.8,"granted_pct_without":45},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":5210,"granted_pct_with":58.5,"granted_pct_without":35},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":755,"granted_pct_with":60.7,"granted_pct_without":42.7},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":13718,"granted_pct_with":42.1,"granted_pct_without":51.5},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":457,"granted_pct_with":54.4,"granted_pct_without":43.4},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":1018,"granted_pct_with":49.9,"granted_pct_without":43.3}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":369},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":131},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":122},{"reason":"criteria for service connection met","decisions":51},{"reason":"considerable impairment of health","decisions":44},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":31}],"denied":[{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":488},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":456},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":441},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":338},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":285},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":153}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040598","year":2026,"judge":"MARCUS N. FULTON","rationale":"Approximate balance of evidence; Benefit of the doubt applied; Prohibitive private opinion"},{"case_id":"A26040915","year":2026,"judge":"R. BISIGNANI","rationale":"Harmonizes with the October 2022 VA examiner's description of prostrating attacks and functional impact.; Considers Veteran's lay statements detailing severe economic inadaptability, including needing to avoid screens, modify work, leave early, or call off work.; Resolves all reasonable doubt in the… [truncated, 17 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26040116","year":2026,"judge":"T. MAINELLI","rationale":"Veteran's testimony describes recurrent epigastric distress, pyrosis, regurgitation, and dysphagia.; Symptoms do not meet criteria for 30% rating (e.g., substernal pain, material weight loss).; New criteria also do not support higher rating as dilatation is not required."}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26040611","year":2026,"judge":"M. C. WILSON","rationale":"No assertion of in-service onset; Inconsistent reporting of GERD onset; VA examiner opinion found less likelihood of service connection; Opinion based on lack of evidence linking TERA to GERD; Veteran has extensive smoking history"},{"case_id":"A26040874","year":2026,"judge":"B. D. WATSON","rationale":"No in-service complaints or treatment; Significant temporal gap post-service; No nexus opinion"},{"case_id":"A26040887","year":2026,"judge":"M. MILLS","rationale":"No current diagnosis of GERD; VA examiner opined less likely related to service; No medical literature supports causal relationship"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}