r/VAMedicalEvidence

I just looked over my DBQs (they came with my medical records when I requested them to EAS), and I saw that many ROM measurements were straight up incorrect. For example, I had previously been seen on base and my back ROM was measured safely under 30 degrees forward (I can barely bend over without any pain), and I gave the same movement at the C&P exam just for the doctor to put it down as 50 degrees initially and still only 40 after repeated use. What can I do after I get my rating back to try to appeal the results? And can I use the measurements given by my physical therapist in order to dispute the C&P exam measurements?

hey guys, if you have anybody taking care of you at home looking into putting in a claim for an R one

I'm looking for input from anyone who has actually rated GI claims or had a similar issue. I'm trying to understand how the VA should be handling my multiple GI diagnoses and the pyramiding issue.

I currently have 40% for gastritis, 20% for avitaminosis.

- all of the below gastro issues have caused my weight to drop to 91pounds, among many other things.

How I got here

My original GI claim was not properly addressed. I eventually filed an **HLR**.

The HLR found a **duty-to-assist error** concerning my GI condition and ordered additional development, including a new examination/medical opinion.

The resulting decision evaluated **Crohn's disease/IBD** and assigned it **0%**, while continuing my gastritis at 40%.

The decision explained that Crohn's/IBD and gastritis were considered coexisting digestive conditions and that separate evaluations could not be assigned for overlapping symptoms because of pyramiding.

**The problem is that I don't actually have Crohn's disease.**

The Crohn's/IBD issue was attached to my GI claim through this development, assigned 0%, and then it essentially disappeared from the later discussion.

Meanwhile, my C-file evidence documents several other actual diagnoses with favorable findings. Everything below is also present within service medical records.

# GERD

**Favorable findings:**

* **10/4/2024 Esophageal Conditions DBQ:** Formal GERD diagnosis, K21.9, diagnosis date 2014.

* Examiner documented symptoms beginning during service in early 2014.

* **10/2/2026 DBQ:** Again documents GERD and states my GI symptoms began during service.

# Gastroparesis / delayed gastric emptying

**Favorable findings:**

* **5/23/2024 gastric emptying study:** objectively demonstrated delayed gastric emptying.

* **7/24/2024 Nutritional DBQ:** 24-lb/>20% weight loss, severe lean-muscle loss, early satiety, poor appetite and nausea; examiner suspected gastroparesis affecting nutrition/absorption.

* **6/2/2025 Intestinal DBQ:** formally diagnosed delayed gastric emptying K31.84.

* **6/2/2025 Medical Opinion:** examiner stated delayed gastric emptying was **at least as likely as not directly related to my gastritis.** 2025-06-03\_DBQ-{83D37705-EE2C-4…

* **6/2/2025 Intestinal DBQ:** specifically answers **YES** to gastrointestinal dysmotility syndrome.

* **10/2/2026 DBQ:** examiner again documents gastroparesis and states GI symptoms began during service.

# Chronic Constipation

**Favorable findings:**

* **6/2/2025 DBQ:** diagnosed chronic constipation K59.0.

* **6/2/2025 Medical Opinion:** constipation found at least as likely as not directly related to gastritis. 2025-06-03\_DBQ-{83D37705-EE2C-4…

* **10/2/2026 DBQ:** constipation again documented with in-service symptom onset.

* In service treatment records

# Chronic Duodenitis

**Favorable findings:**

* **August 2024 EGD/biopsy:** chronic nonspecific duodenitis.

* **2014 service records:** gastritis and duodenal abnormality documented during service.

* **10/2/2026 DBQ:** examiner specifically lists duodenitis and states my GI symptoms began during service.

I've tried multiple times to file for an increase for my gastritis and have specifically asked VA to consider my entire GI disability picture but but each time, I seem to get **looped right back into the gastritis criteria**. I submit a personal statement explaining that I wanted the **entire GI system evaluated**, rather than having everything reduced to the gastritis symptoms.

The decisions focus on whether I meet the next level under the gastritis criteria, while the other documented GI diagnoses and their favorable evidence don't seem to be meaningfully addressed, the Crohn's and IBS is never mentioned

\- I have now filed all of these as separate issues per an Optumserve employee's suggestion.

1. Is filing these separately actually the right approach?

2. Why does the IBS/IBD/Crohn's issue seem to have disappeared?

3. When multiple distinct GI diagnoses are documented, how does a rater determine which diagnostic code provides the predominant disability picture?