Filing a claim for a new condition as secondary to an already service-connected disability does not automatically reopen or put your existing rating at risk. VA claims are adjudicated issue by issue. A Compensation and Pension exam scheduled for the secondary condition (in this case GERD) is meant to address that specific condition's nexus and severity, not to reassess the primary condition unless the rater specifically requests it or the examiner's report independently raises a question about the primary disability's current severity.
That said, VA does have authority to review any service-connected rating at any time if it has evidence suggesting improvement, under 38 CFR 3.327 (reexaminations) and 3.344 (stabilization of disability evaluations). Ratings that have been in effect for five years or more have some protection against reduction without evidence of sustained improvement shown by a full and complete exam, and ratings in effect 20 years or more are protected from reduction below the lowest level held during that period except in cases of fraud, per 38 CFR 3.951. A "static" or permanent PTSD rating (one marked as not subject to future exams) generally means VA has determined your symptoms are unlikely to improve, which further reduces the likelihood of an unprompted review. Simply denying a secondary claim does not, by itself, constitute grounds for VA to initiate a reduction; VA must follow specific due process steps under 38 CFR 3.105(e), including a proposed reduction letter and an opportunity to respond, before any rating can be lowered.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Does your rating decision hold up under a real audit?
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Analyze my claim free →If the GERD secondary claim is denied, you can request reconsideration with new evidence, file a Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995) if you have new and relevant evidence, or pursue a Higher-Level Review or Board appeal (VA Form 20-0996 or 10182) if you believe the denial was based on a duty-to-assist or legal error. Filing a secondary claim is a normal part of pursuing full and fair compensation and is not, by itself, a mechanism that puts your existing PTSD rating at risk.
Next step: review the C&P exam report and denial rationale carefully, and if you believe the GERD exam was inadequate or inconsistent with your medical records, consider filing a Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level Review rather than assuming your PTSD rating is now vulnerable.
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