14 peer-reviewed studies linked to GERD / acid reflux (diagnostic code 7346), from PubMed and the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Each citation links to its source.
Meta-analysis
Post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and 24 gastrointestinal diseases: Evidence from Mendelian randomization analysisMedicine (Baltimore) · 2025
- Causal effect of PTSD on GERD demonstrated via MR
- PTSD increases risk of multiple GI conditions including GERD and IBS
- Robust to sensitivity analyses
Strengthens causal argument for PTSD-secondary GERD
View on PubMed ↗Cohort study
Comorbidity Profiles of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Across the Medical PhenomeBiological Psychiatry Global Open Science · 2024
- GERD ranks among most strongly elevated comorbidities in PTSD
- Cross-system comorbidity confirmed across multiple EHR networks
- Effect persists after demographic adjustment
Population-level support for PTSD-secondary GERD claims
View on PubMed ↗Case series
Updates to the modern diagnosis of GERD: Lyon consensus 2.0.Gut · 2024
- Lyon Consensus 2.0 establishes Los Angeles grade B esophagitis as conclusive objective evidence of GERD.
- Defines diagnostic pathways separating 'unproven' GERD (tested off antisecretory therapy with prolonged wireless or catheter pH monitoring) from 'proven' GERD with persisting symptoms (evaluated with pH-impedance on optimized therapy).
- Provides updated thresholds for prolonged wireless pH monitoring and parameters for diagnosing refractory GERD; poorly performing criteria were retired.
Defines the current objective diagnostic standard and severity grading for GERD, useful for substantiating a documented, medically confirmed diagnosis rather than self-reported symptoms.
View on PubMed ↗Cohort study
Assessment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Among Objective Esophageal Motility and Reflux Phenotypes in Symptomatic VeteransJournal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings · 2023
- PTSD significantly associated with functional esophageal disorders in veterans
- Veterans with PTSD more likely to have reflux hypersensitivity and functional heartburn than true GERD
- Symptom severity overlapped between true GERD and functional phenotypes with PTSD
Supports service connection linkage between PTSD and GERD-spectrum esophageal disease
View on PubMed ↗Cross-sectional
Initial assessment of medical post-traumatic stress among patients with chronic esophageal diseasesNeurogastroenterology and Motility · 2023
- Medical PTSD symptoms prevalent in chronic esophageal disease including GERD
- Esophageal symptom flares correlate with traumatic stress responses
- Bidirectional mind-gut relationship documented
Peer-reviewed nexus between trauma-related stress and chronic GERD
View on PubMed ↗Meta-analysis
Investigating the shared genetic architecture of post-traumatic stress disorder and gastrointestinal tract disorders: a genome-wide cross-trait analysisPsychological Medicine · 2023
- Significant shared genetic architecture between PTSD and GERD
- Mendelian randomization supports causal effect of PTSD on GERD risk
- Shared loci identified across PTSD and multiple GI disorders
Provides biological mechanism for PTSD-GERD secondary service connection
View on PubMed ↗Cross-sectional
Prevalence of gastrointestinal disease in US Military Veterans under outpatient care at the Veterans Health Administration.SAGE Open Med · 2021
- Retrospective VA patient-record analysis examined the prevalence of common GI diseases (including GERD, peptic ulcer disease, IBS, functional dyspepsia) among US veterans in VHA outpatient settings.
- GI disease prevalence among veterans varied by their period of military service.
- Study notes no prior reliable estimates existed for GI disease prevalence in US veterans and calls for further comparison to the general population.
Directly documents that GERD is among the common GI conditions treated in the VA outpatient system, supporting how frequently veterans present with this condition.
View on PubMed ↗Meta-analysis
Global Prevalence and Risk Factors of Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD): Systematic Review with Meta-analysis.Sci Rep · 2020
- Global pooled prevalence of GERD was 13.98%, estimated at approximately 1.03 billion people worldwide.
- Prevalence varied by region, highest in North America (19.55%) and lowest in Latin America/Caribbean (12.88%), and by country (4.16% China to 22.40% Turkey).
- Multiple risk factors associated with significantly increased GERD risk were identified across the pooled studies.
Independently corroborates the very high worldwide prevalence of clinically defined GERD, with North America among the highest rates, underscoring how common the condition is in the US veteran-eligible population.
View on PubMed ↗Cohort study
Persistent mental and physical health impact of exposure to the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attacksEnvironmental Health · 2019
- GERD persistently elevated in trauma-exposed responders and survivors
- Significant overlap between PTSD and chronic GERD years post-exposure
- Inhalational and psychological exposures both linked to GERD
Analog cohort supporting deployment-related chronic GERD
View on PubMed ↗Review
Proton Pump Inhibitor-Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.Med Clin North Am · 2019
- PPI-refractory GERD is defined as troublesome GERD symptoms persisting despite optimized PPI therapy for at least 8 weeks with ongoing documented pathologic reflux.
- It arises from dysfunction in anti-reflux protective systems and propagation of physiologic reflux events.
- Management requires personalized pharmacologic, invasive, and endoluminal options matched to the patient's mechanistic dysfunction.
Documents that a defined subset of GERD remains symptomatic despite maximal medication, directly supporting persistence of impairment relevant to higher rating levels.
View on PubMed ↗Review
The natural history of gastro-esophageal reflux disease: a comprehensive review.Dis Esophagus · 2017
- GERD comprises two main forms, erosive reflux disease and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), with NERD making up to 70% of patients.
- Progression from NERD to erosive disease, from mild to severe erosive disease, and from erosive disease to Barrett's esophagus occurs in a minority of patients (ranging 0-30%, 10-22%, and 1-13% respectively).
- Natural-history data are strongly influenced by widespread PPI use, and direct/indirect costs of GERD diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance have risen.
Characterizes the long-term course and complication risk of GERD, including progression to the pre-cancerous Barrett's esophagus, informing prognosis and severity for disability evaluation.
View on PubMed ↗Meta-analysis
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of vonoprazan for proton pump inhibitor-resistant gastroesophageal reflux disease.J Gastroenterol Hepatol · 2024
- Up to 40% of GERD patients experience inadequate symptom relief on a proton pump inhibitor (PPI-resistant/refractory GERD).
- Vonoprazan 20 mg achieved healing of PPI-resistant erosive esophagitis in 91.7% at 4 weeks and 88.5% at 8 weeks, with maintenance up to 93.8% at 48 weeks.
- Symptom (FSSG) improvement was more modest at 74.6% (week 4) and 51.9% (week 8); no serious adverse events were reported.
Quantifies that a large share of GERD patients fail standard PPI therapy, supporting that GERD symptoms commonly persist despite treatment and require escalation.
View on PubMed ↗Meta-analysis
Association between obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.J Gastroenterol Hepatol · 2023
- A statistically significant association exists between obstructive sleep apnea and GERD (OR 1.53, P=0.0001).
- The association persisted across diagnostic tools and after controlling for gender, BMI, smoking, and alcohol (sensitivity ORs 1.45-1.81).
- Presence of GERD did not worsen OSA severity metrics (AHI, sleep efficiency, oxygen desaturation, Epworth score).
Establishes a comorbid link between GERD and obstructive sleep apnea, a frequently co-claimed veteran condition, supporting secondary-condition and comorbidity arguments.
View on PubMed ↗Review
Chemoprevention of Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.Dig Dis Sci · 2018
- Barrett's esophagus is common in Western countries but progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma is uncommon, drawing largely on case-control and cohort data.
- Once-daily PPI therapy is recommended for Barrett's esophagus patients, with twice-daily PPI reserved for poorly controlled reflux symptoms or esophagitis.
- Aspirin/NSAID use is inversely associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma by reducing neoplastic progression, but routine use is not warranted given low progression risk and bleeding/stroke harms.
Frames GERD's most serious downstream complications (Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma) and their management, relevant to complication-based severity and secondary-condition claims.
View on PubMed ↗