What Would The Diagnostic Code Be For Barretts Esophagus ?

[roses15534]

I have a few questions What would the diagnostic code be for barretts esophagus?

then when I was doing some researh and reading over my last c&p exam the doctor had in it that I was diagnosed with migrains and ibs from what I remember and could find in my records I never was but i do take meds prescribed for both from VA so do I have a case here?

what would the dc be for ibs as well?

I also am having some anxiety and panic attacks but did not have them in service but feel it is from the gulf war and have never said anything about it to VA but my private doctor has me on meds for it.

[jcolwell]

I have GERD which progressed to Barretts esophagus. i also had EGD showing Hiatal Hernia. The literature supports that chronic indigestion +reflux, can lead to GERD. Untreated GERD leads to Barretts E which is tissue dysplia in the esophagus. I dont know the answer you need but should be found in the Gastrointestinal section. I was once told it is GERD I should be filing for not Barretts. I hope you get EGD q 2 years if you do have Barretts. Good Luck

[roses15534]

I hope you get EGD q 2 years if you do have Barretts what does that mean not sure please clarify

[Pete53]

While you are dealing with VA on this issue I strongly recommend that you take medicine to curb the acid reflux. It is very important and Barrets can lead to the point that you are unable to swally food without having a coughing fit.

My advice is get the treatment while you sort out the claim.

[roses15534]

I do take my meds and get my scopes so no worries there. Thanks for your concern and help.

[yelloownumber5]

There is not a code for B/E but GERD can be a cause of B/E - if you don't treat and follow up on it you will may have cancer!

[jvretiredvet]

C'mon folks ... we're not talking rocket surgery here.

What would the diagnostic code be for barretts esophagus? As you noted, there is no discrete Diagnostic Code (DC) for Barrett's Esophagus (or, esophagitis). In that case, you'd look within the Rating Schedule for a DC that matches the symptoms. As a start, I'd suggest DC 7346 at 38 CFR 4.114 http://www.benefits....ART4/S4_114.DOC .

what would the dc be for ibs as well? Try DC 7319 at the above link. Also, please read the intro at the way top.

I was doing some researh and reading over my last c&p exam the doctor had in it that I was diagnosed with migrains and ibs from what I remember and could find in my records I never was but i do take meds prescribed for both from VA so do I have a case here? Please correct me if I have misread anything you wrote .... I think I understand that you have a current diagnosis of migraine headaches as well as irritable bowel syndrome, correct? You don't recall any treatments for nor found any mentions of either condition in your SMRs, correct? However, during a recent CP&E, the examiner mentions both diagnoses as being current parts of your composite health history, correct?

If I correctly understand what you wrote, I don't see that you have a case for service connection for either migraines or IBS (based on what you wrote). The facts that you are receiving treatment for both (from the VA), and both diagnoses were merely mentioned by a VA examiner, does not automatically mean that they can be service connected.

I have a few questions What would the diagnostic code be for barretts esophagus?

then when I was doing some researh and reading over my last c&p exam the doctor had in it that I was diagnosed with migrains and ibs from what I remember and could find in my records I never was but i do take meds prescribed for both from VA so do I have a case here?

what would the dc be for ibs as well?

I also am having some anxiety and panic attacks but did not have them in service but feel it is from the gulf war and have never said anything about it to VA but my private doctor has me on meds for it.

C'mon folks ... we're not talking rocket surgery here.

What would the diagnostic code be for barretts esophagus? As you noted, there is no discrete Diagnostic Code (DC) for Barrett's Esophagus (or, esophagitis). In that case, you'd look within the Rating Schedule for a DC that matches the symptoms. As a start, I'd suggest DC 7346 at 38 CFR 4.114 http://www.benefits....ART4/S4_114.DOC .

what would the dc be for ibs as well? Try DC 7319 at the above link. Also, please read the intro at the way top.

I was doing some researh and reading over my last c&p exam the doctor had in it that I was diagnosed with migrains and ibs from what I remember and could find in my records I never was but i do take meds prescribed for both from VA so do I have a case here? Please correct me if I have misread anything you wrote .... I think I understand that you have a current diagnosis of migraine headaches as well as irritable bowel syndrome, correct? You don't recall any treatments for nor found any mentions of either condition in your SMRs, correct? However, during a recent CP&E, the examiner mentions both diagnoses as being current parts of your composite health history, correct?

If I correctly understand what you wrote, I don't see that you have a case for service connection for either migraines or IBS (based on what you wrote). The facts that you are receiving treatment for both (from the VA), and both diagnoses were merely mentioned by a VA examiner, does not automatically mean that they can be service connected.

I have a few questions What would the diagnostic code be for barretts esophagus?

then when I was doing some researh and reading over my last c&p exam the doctor had in it that I was diagnosed with migrains and ibs from what I remember and could find in my records I never was but i do take meds prescribed for both from VA so do I have a case here?

what would the dc be for ibs as well?

I also am having some anxiety and panic attacks but did not have them in service but feel it is from the gulf war and have never said anything about it to VA but my private doctor has me on meds for it.

[Scott D]

While there is not a specific Diagnostic Code for Barretts Esophagus, there is a code for Stricture of the Esophagus 7203 (Listed below) that would most likely be used to rate the BE if the severity of symptoms has caused swallowing difficulty.

The Doctors need to find the cause of the IBS symptoms to see if a medication or some other influence is causing the problem. If a medication that you are taking for a service connected disability is causing the IBS symptoms then you may want to seek connection. Keep in mind that GI conditions have strict rules on the combination of ratings, and IBS and GERD will be assigned a single rating which reflects the predominate disability picture. If the BE is rated under 7203 this will not be combined with the GERD/IBS and normal rating will apply. Hope this helps!

For the conditions that you have noted the following Diagnostic codes apply:

For GERD

7346 Hernia hiatal:

Symptoms of pain, vomiting, material weight loss and hematemesis or

melena with moderate anemia; or other symptom combinations

productive of severe impairment of health......................................................... 60

Persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and

regurgitation, accompanied by substernal or arm or shoulder pain,

productive of considerable impairment of health............................................... 30

With two or more of the symptoms for the 30 percent evaluation of

less severity......................................................................................................... 10

For IBS

7319 Irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis, mucous colitis, etc.):

Severe; diarrhea, or alternating diarrhea and constipation, with more

or less constant abdominal distress..................................................................... 30

Moderate; frequent episodes of bowel disturbance with abdominal

distress................................................................................................................ 10

Mild, disturbances of bowel function with occasional episodes of

abdominal distress................................................................................................ 0

Stricture Due to BE

7203 Esophagus, stricture of:

Permitting passage of liquids only, with marked impairment of general

health ................................................................................................................ 80

Severe, permitting liquids only................................................................................. 50

Moderate

Edited October 18, 2012 by Scott D (see edit history)