{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease-gerd-secondary-to-psychiatric-disorder","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:32.985Z","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":{"claim":"Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to a psychiatric disorder","secondary_condition":"Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)","service_connected_disability":"a psychiatric disorder","decisions":682,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":24.5,"denied_pct":12.9,"remanded_pct":61.6,"granted_on_merits_pct":65.5,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":24,"granted_pct":8.3,"denied_pct":41.7,"remanded_pct":45.8},{"year":2018,"issues":40,"granted_pct":7.5,"denied_pct":15,"remanded_pct":75},{"year":2019,"issues":45,"granted_pct":8.9,"denied_pct":15.6,"remanded_pct":75.6},{"year":2020,"issues":66,"granted_pct":15.2,"denied_pct":24.2,"remanded_pct":60.6},{"year":2021,"issues":64,"granted_pct":10.9,"denied_pct":18.8,"remanded_pct":70.3},{"year":2022,"issues":63,"granted_pct":19,"denied_pct":11.1,"remanded_pct":68.3},{"year":2023,"issues":73,"granted_pct":21.9,"denied_pct":11,"remanded_pct":67.1},{"year":2024,"issues":102,"granted_pct":26.5,"denied_pct":5.9,"remanded_pct":63.7},{"year":2025,"issues":149,"granted_pct":41.6,"denied_pct":7.4,"remanded_pct":50.3},{"year":2026,"issues":59,"granted_pct":40.7,"denied_pct":8.5,"remanded_pct":49.2}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":73.1,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":92,"granted_pct_with":84.2,"granted_pct_without":60.1},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":566,"granted_pct_with":64.9,"granted_pct_without":69.7},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":178,"granted_pct_with":92.5,"granted_pct_without":35.5},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":486,"granted_pct_with":64.7,"granted_pct_without":67.7},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":243,"granted_pct_with":82.5,"granted_pct_without":43.8},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":40,"granted_pct_with":77.8,"granted_pct_without":64.6},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":516,"granted_pct_with":61.2,"granted_pct_without":81.5}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":27},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":16},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":14},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":3},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":3},{"reason":"secondary service connection criteria met","decisions":3}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":24},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":17},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":11},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":9},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":7},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":5}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26040177","year":2026,"judge":"W. DAKNIS","rationale":"Symptoms met criteria for 30% rating under pre-amendment DC 7346; Persistently recurrent epigastric distress, dysphagia, pyrosis, regurgitation, substernal pain; Caused considerable impairment of health"},{"case_id":"A26034919","year":2026,"judge":"LEETRA J. HARRIS","rationale":"Evidence in equipoise; Private and VA nurse opinions supported secondary connection; Benefit of the doubt applied"},{"case_id":"A26034334","year":2026,"judge":"RYAN T. KESSEL","rationale":"Prior favorable finding of GERD; Probative non-VA opinion linking GERD to anxiety disorder and treatment; Benefit of the doubt resolved in Veteran's favor"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26038524","year":2026,"judge":"CHRISTOPHER A. WENDELL","rationale":"No current diagnosed disability.; Prerequisite for secondary service connection not met.; Lack of competent medical evidence."},{"case_id":"A26021424","year":2026,"judge":"G. A. WASIK","rationale":"No diagnosis of GERD at time of August 2020 rating decision; First diagnosis of GERD occurred in May 2021, after the decision under review; Lay evidence regarding diagnosis and etiology is not competent or credible without medical evidence"},{"case_id":"A26004449","year":2026,"judge":"B.T. KNOPE","rationale":"Private clinician's opinion found inadequate.; Lack of specific rationale addressing veteran's history.; Cited studies suggested statistical overlaps, not direct causation."}]},"how_argued":{"note":"From keyword matches in each issue's AI summary and rationale, not the full decision. Only issues whose text names a medical link are counted under pathways; one issue can name several. A link named in a denial was often the argument the Board rejected.","issues":685,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":274,"granted_pct":19.7},"causation_only":{"issues":411,"granted_pct":27.5},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":21.3,"pathways":[{"pathway":"Weight gain or obesity","issues":57,"granted_pct":22.8,"examples":[{"case_id":"26004219","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Obesity as intermediate step"},{"case_id":"A25021976","year":2025,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The veteran claimed it was secondary to service-connected psychiatric disability and medications, or alternatively due to weight gain from psychiatric conditions."}]},{"pathway":"Stress","issues":52,"granted_pct":53.8,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26003581","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"The examiner noted the known association between anxiety, stress, depression, and GERD."},{"case_id":"A24067420","year":2024,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The Veteran claimed acid reflux disorder due to military stress and worry, and later asserted it was secondary to depressive disorder."}]},{"pathway":"Medication side effects","issues":42,"granted_pct":40.5,"examples":[{"case_id":"A26017683","year":2026,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"G's opinion, considered highly probative, linked NSAID use and MDD to GERD."},{"case_id":"A25081262","year":2025,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The veteran claimed service connection for GERD, asserting it was secondary to his service-connected other specified anxiety disorder (claimed as PTSD) and/or NSAID treatment for his service-connected left knee arthroplasty."}]},{"pathway":"Sleep disruption","issues":15,"granted_pct":53.3,"examples":[{"case_id":"A25010928","year":2025,"outcome":"GRANTED","quote":"Private medical opinion found GERD related to emotional stress and sleep disturbance from depressive disorder."},{"case_id":"A26002925","year":2026,"outcome":"DENIED","quote":"The claim was also denied as secondary to generalized anxiety disorder and chronic migraines, insomnia, and tinnitus due to a lack of medical evidence supporting these links."}]}]},"how_va_rates":null,"requirements":"38 CFR 3.310: a current diagnosis, a service-connected disability, and medical evidence that it caused (3.310(a)) or aggravated (3.310(b)) the condition."}}