EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
← All Condition GuidesCLAIM RECON INTEL
Achalasia
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.114 (Digestive system) · reviewed 2026-05-17 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Achalasia is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 7203 of 38 CFR § 4.114, DC 7203 across 5 severity tiers (0% / 10% / 30% / 50% / 80%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax, causing difficulty swallowing and food retention
RATING CRITERIA (5 LEVELS)
0%
Documented history without daily symptoms or requirement for daily medications.
10%
Documented history of esophageal stricture(s) that requires daily medications to control dysphagia, otherwise asymptomatic.
30%
Documented history of recurrent esophageal stricture(s) causing dysphagia which requires dilatation no more than 2 times per year.
50%
Documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture(s) causing dysphagia which requires at least one of: dilatation 3+ times/year, dilatation using steroids at least once/year, or esophageal stent placement.
80%
Documented history of recurrent or refractory esophageal stricture(s) with at least one of: aspiration, undernutrition, and/or substantial weight loss per § 4.112(a), AND treatment with either surgical correction or PEG tube.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.114 (Digestive system). Source verified 2026-05-17 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team during a regulation-text comparison against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026