VA Announcement: Effective MAY 19, 2024 Rating Schedule Change #va #disability #compensation #benefits
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 8320-01
38 CFR Part 4
RIN 2900-AQ90
Schedule for Rating Disabilities: The Digestive System
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) by revising the portion of the schedule that addresses the Digestive System. The effect of this action is to ensure that the rating schedule uses current medical terminology and provides detailed and updated criteria for evaluation of digestive conditions for disability rating purposes.
DATES: This final rule is effective May 19, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ulia Sokol, M.D., M.B.A., Medical Officer, Regulations Staff, (218A), Compensation Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20420, 218VASRDPMO.VBACO@va.gov, (202) 461-9700. (This is not a toll-free telephone number.)
7206 Gastroesophageal reflux disease:
80% Documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture(s) causing dysphagia with at least one of the symptoms present: (1) aspiration, (2) undernutrition, and/or (3) substantial weight loss as defined by § 4.112(a) and treatment with either surgical correction of esophageal stricture(s) or percutaneous esophago-gastrointestinal tube (PEG tube)80
50% Documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture(s) causing dysphagia which requires at least one of the following (1) dilatation 3 or more times per year, (2) dilatation using steroids at least one time per year, or (3) esophageal stent placement50
30% Documented history of recurrent esophageal stricture(s) causing dysphagia which requires dilatation no more than 2 times per year30
10% Documented history of esophageal stricture(s) that requires daily medications to control dysphagia otherwise asymptomatic10
0% Documented history without daily symptoms or requirement for daily medications0Note (1):
Findings must be documented by barium swallow, computerized tomography, or esophagogastroduodenoscopy.Note (2):
Non-gastrointestinal complications of procedures should be rated under the appropriate system.Note (3):
This diagnostic code applies, but is not limited to, esophagitis, mechanical or chemical; Mallory Weiss syndrome (bleeding at junction of esophagus and stomach due to tears) due to caustic ingestion of alkali or acid; drug-induced or infectious esophagitis due to Candida, virus, or other organism; idiopathic eosinophilic, or lymphocytic esophagitis; esophagitis due to radiation therapy; esophagitis due to peptic stricture; and any esophageal condition that requires treatment with sclerotherapy.Note (4):
Recurrent esophageal stricture is defined as the inability to maintain target esophageal diameter beyond 4 weeks after the target diameter has been achieved.Note (5):
Refractory esophageal stricture is defined as the inability to achieve target esophageal diameter despite receiving no fewer than 5 dilatation sessions performed at 2-week intervals.
