Hiatal Hernia — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
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The DBQ for Hiatal Hernia
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960G-1 (Esophageal Conditions (Including Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Hiatal Hernia and Other Esophageal Disorders)) — the form that decides your rating. You can have your own doctor complete the same DBQ and submit it as evidence.
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about Hiatal Hernia — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Hiatal Hernia, based on your overall combined VA disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly (Alone) | Monthly (w/ Spouse) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | — | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | — | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
Common Symptoms
Document these symptoms in your claim. The more thoroughly you describe how they affect your daily life, the stronger your claim.
Functional Limitations
VA rates disabilities based on how they limit your ability to function. Describe these limitations in your personal statement.
Rating Criteria for Hiatal Hernia
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.114, DC 7346 (hiatal and paraesophageal hernia) rated as esophagus, stricture of, DC 7203. Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Documented history of an esophageal stricture without daily symptoms or requirement for daily medications (DC 7203).
Documented history of esophageal stricture requiring daily medications to control dysphagia; otherwise asymptomatic.
Documented history of recurrent esophageal stricture causing dysphagia requiring dilatation no more than 2 times per year.
Documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture causing dysphagia requiring dilatation 3 or more times per year, dilatation using steroids at least once per year, or esophageal stent placement.
Documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture causing dysphagia with at least one of aspiration, undernutrition, or substantial weight loss, treated with surgical correction or a PEG tube.
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Hiatal Hernia raise your rating?
Enter your current combined rating and the level this condition would rate at. We'll do the VA math.
New combined
10%
New monthly
$180
Change
+$180
Rates shown are the 2026 veteran-alone amounts (no dependents). VA combines ratings with "whole-person" math and rounds to the nearest 10, so adding a condition does not simply add its percentage. Full combined-rating calculator with dependents →
Peer-Reviewed Medical Evidence
Real, verified studies from PubMed/NIH that support a Hiatal Hernia claim. Bring these citations to your accredited VSO or C&P exam — they help show your condition is recognized in the medical literature and, where noted, linked to other service-connected conditions.
Surgical Endoscopy, 2025 · PMID 40360898
Finding: In 685 patients undergoing endoscopy, heavy physical labor was an independent risk factor for hiatal hernia (multivariate p<0.001), along with male sex and age. Mendelian randomization confirmed abdominal obesity measures were causally associated (waist-hip ratio OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.32-5.01; trunk fat OR 3.53, 95% CI 1.76-7.07).
Why it helps: Supports an association between strenuous physical work and abdominal/intra-abdominal fat distribution with development of hiatal hernia, both common features of a military career, helping connect heavy lifting/load-bearing duty and service-related weight gain to the condition.
Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology, 2024 · nexus to Barrett's esophagus · PMID 38187927
Finding: Meta-analysis of 47 studies (131,517 participants) found hiatal hernia significantly associated with increased risk of Barrett's esophagus (unadjusted OR 3.91, 95% CI 3.31-4.62; adjusted OR 3.26, 95% CI 2.44-4.35), with the strongest effect for long-segment Barrett's (OR 10.01, 95% CI 4.16-24.06).
Why it helps: Supports an association in which a service-connected hiatal hernia is a risk factor for Barrett's esophagus, useful when claiming Barrett's esophagus as secondary to an established hiatal hernia.
JAMA, 2013 · nexus to Barrett's esophagus, esophageal adenocarcinoma · PMID 23942681
Finding: This VA-authored clinical review identifies hiatal hernia (along with chronic GERD, age, male sex, and obesity) as a risk factor for cancer in Barrett esophagus; annual esophageal cancer risk is about 0.25% without dysplasia and 6% with high-grade dysplasia.
Why it helps: Supports an association linking hiatal hernia to the Barrett esophagus to esophageal adenocarcinoma pathway, relevant when claiming Barrett's or esophageal cancer as secondary to a service-connected hiatal hernia.
Neurogastroenterology & Motility, 2023 · nexus to PTSD, Gulf War Illness · PMID 36942766
Finding: Among 1,058 Gulf War veterans, those with both Gulf War Illness and PTSD had significantly higher odds of GERD than those with GWI alone (adjusted OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.44-2.90), and GWI itself raised GERD odds versus unaffected veterans (aOR 2.51, 95% CI 1.63-3.87).
Why it helps: Supports a gut-brain association between PTSD/Gulf War Illness and reflux disease in veterans, relevant when claiming reflux-related conditions such as hiatal hernia/GERD as secondary to service-connected PTSD.
SAGE Open Medicine, 2024 · nexus to PTSD · PMID 38911441
Finding: Using the VA patient database, PTSD was found to be bidirectionally correlated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (and other GI disorders) in U.S. veterans who served during wartime periods.
Why it helps: Supports an association between service-connected PTSD and reflux disease in veterans, useful background when claiming GERD/hiatal hernia as secondary to PTSD.
Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2020 · nexus to obstructive sleep apnea · PMID 31290178
Finding: In 1,091 patients, obstructive sleep apnea was associated with Barrett's esophagus independent of GERD, BMI, and hiatal hernia (OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.72-6.85), with risk rising as OSA severity increased.
Why it helps: Supports an association between obstructive sleep apnea and esophageal/reflux disease beyond shared risk factors, relevant context where sleep apnea, hiatal hernia, and reflux conditions coexist in a veteran's claim.
American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2007 · PMID 17378910
Finding: Across a national network including VA/military endoscopy sites (36,669 patients), hiatal hernia was found in 28.6% of noncardiac chest pain patients and 44.8% of those with GERD symptoms, with erosive esophagitis and Barrett's also common.
Why it helps: Documents the high prevalence of hiatal hernia within veteran/VA endoscopy populations and its co-occurrence with reflux symptoms, supporting that the condition is frequently identified in veterans evaluated for chest pain and reflux.
Every citation is real and verified against PubMed. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — your accredited VSO or representative can advise on your specific claim.
Evidence Checklist
Gather these types of evidence before filing your claim. The strongest claims include multiple evidence types.
Common Treatments
Documenting ongoing treatment strengthens your claim and supports higher ratings.
Secondary Conditions Linked to Hiatal Hernia
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Hiatal Hernia. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
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Filing a Hiatal Herniaclaim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Hiatal Hernia should also be looking at:
Quick calculator
Estimate your combined rating →
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Health care
Estimate your VA Priority Group →
Priority Group 1-8 determines what care you get and what it costs. Service-connected = lower copays, full access.
Where you live
Compare 50 state veteran benefits →
State property tax exemptions for SC vets vary 10x. Some states fully exempt 100%-rated vets, others give nothing.
Home buying
VA home loan + funding fee waiver →
ANY service-connected rating waives the funding fee. On a $400K loan that's ~$8,600 saved.
Draft your Hiatal Hernia personal statement
7-step wizard that builds your VA claim personal statement using your own words. Detects presumptive eligibility, cites 38 CFR + DBQ, includes federal-crime disclosure. You review and edit before filing.
Start draftingNot legal or medical advice. Always have a VSO or accredited rep review before filing.
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Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to Hiatal Hernia.
Hiatal Hernia Claim Guide by State
Find state-specific VA facilities, veteran benefits, and filing resources.
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Educational content, not professional advice
This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.
MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.