GARP Chapter 6: Stomach and Bowel, Explained Simply

Chapter 6 covers the gut. Everything from your mouth to the other end, plus the liver, pancreas and gall bladder.

It also covers hernias in the abdominal wall.

What it measures

Three things, and each is scored separately:

1. Getting food in — chewing and swallowing
2. Keeping nourished — absorption, diet restrictions, weight loss
3. Getting waste out — constipation and bowel control

You can score on all three. They are not compared against each other. This is unusual and it works in your favour.

1. Chewing and swallowing

• minor trouble, no weight loss — nil
• real difficulty but diet is not badly restricted — 5
• limited to soft or semi-solid food, or needing the gullet stretched two or three times a year — 10
• liquids or puree only — 20
• needing stretching six or more times a year — 30

2. Nutrition and weight

Weight loss is measured against your weight before the condition started — not before you were diagnosed. Those can be years apart.

• minor diet change — nil
• malabsorption controlled by replacement therapy — 2
• a prescribed exclusion diet, such as gluten free — 5
• lab evidence of malabsorption with symptoms — 10
• 10% or more involuntary weight loss with active disease — 20 to 30
• 20% or more, or a stoma — 40
• 20% or more with severe symptoms — 60

If you have lost weight, find an old record of what you used to weigh. Doctors' notes, a licence, an old ADF medical. It matters.

3. Bowel control

• occasional constipation — nil
• constant constipation — 2
• occasional soiling — 5
• needing frequent underwear changes or a pad just in case — 10
• pads most days — 20
• several pad changes most days, or a colostomy — 30
• complete loss of control — 50

Nobody wants to talk about this. Say it anyway. It is one of the highest scoring tables in the chapter.

The nine other tables

Then there are nine separate "Other Impairment" tables, one for each area:

• mouth and gullet — including reflux and oesophagitis
• indigestion, nausea and vomiting
• stomach and duodenal ulcers
• after-effects of past stomach surgery
• large and small bowel — including irritable bowel and diverticular disease
• anus and rectum — haemorrhoids, fissures, fistulas
• liver
• pancreas
• gall bladder

You can take a rating from each table that applies. Only one rating per table, but several tables can apply at once.

Reflux is a good example. Occasional symptoms score 2. Frequent symptoms needing regular medication score 5. Active disease despite regular medication scores 10. Complications proven on scope, like Barrett's or a stricture, score 20.

So "I take a tablet for my reflux" is not nothing. Say how often, and what happens when you skip it.

Where things go elsewhere

• Cancer of the gut — Chapter 14.
• Anything that flares in episodes, like Crohn's, ulcerative colitis or dumping syndrome — Chapter 15. Often the bigger number.
• Severe liver failure — Chapter 16, on daily living.

Hernias and obesity

Part 6.2 covers abdominal wall hernias — inguinal, umbilical, incisional. They are rated on whether they are repaired, whether they come back, and what they stop you doing. Obesity is dealt with here too.

What this means for you

• Score all three functions. Swallowing, nutrition, bowels. They are separate.
• Find your old weight. Pre-condition, not pre-diagnosis.
• Be honest about bowel control. It is the highest scoring table here.
• List every gut condition. Nine tables can apply at once.
• Ask about Chapter 15 if yours flares up.
• Bring your scope reports. Several ratings need the finding proven endoscopically.

Common questions

Can reflux and irritable bowel both be counted?

Yes. They come from two different tables, and you can take a rating from each.

My weight is stable now because I changed my diet. Do I lose the score?

The diet restriction itself is scored. A prescribed exclusion diet rates 5 on the nutrition table.

I had my gall bladder out years ago. Worth mentioning?

Yes. There is a gall bladder table, and there is a separate table for the after-effects of past surgery.

Next in this series

Chapter 7: hearing loss and tinnitus.

Want a hand with yours?

If you have a permanent impairment assessment coming up, we do these every week. Call 0429 146 039 or email reception@vhc.org.au.

More reading

What is the GARP? · The chapter map · DVA Claims: PI points calculator · Permanent Impairment Assessments · DVA claims · SoP library

This is general information for Australian veterans. It is not legal advice. It explains Chapter 6 of the Guide to Determining Impairment and Compensation 2026 (F2026L00595), which started on 1 July 2026. The full rules are on the Federal Register of Legislation. Check your own situation with DVA on 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372).