Physician Assistant and prior C&P examiner Leah Bucholz discusses Hiatal Hernia and Weight Gain in Veterans' Disability.
Leah explains the relationship between hiatal hernia, obesity, and VA disability ratings for veterans. She describes a hiatal hernia as a condition where the upper stomach bulges through the diaphragm into the chest cavity, often overlapping with GERD symptoms. Leah emphasizes that obesity, a significant risk factor for hiatal hernia, increases intra-abdominal pressure, contributing to the condition. Symptoms include heartburn, regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, and chest or abdominal pain. She discusses both primary and secondary service connections for VA disability, explaining that veterans diagnosed with hiatal hernia during active duty can be service-connected. Leah also addresses how obesity can be an intermediate link between a service-connected disability and a hiatal hernia, particularly if the disability leads to weight gain.