Digestive

DC 7355

Celiac disease

Educational use only. Not legal or medical advice. Read 38 CFR §4.114 on eCFR
Diagnostic Code
7355
CFR Section
§4.114 — Digestive

Rating Tiers

80%

Malabsorption syndrome with weakness which interferes with activities of daily living; and weight loss resulting in wasting and nutritional deficiencies; and with systemic manifestations including but not limited to, weakness and fatigue, dermatitis, lymph node enlargement, hypocalcemia, low vitamin levels; and anemia related to malabsorption; and episodes of abdominal pain and diarrhea due to lactase deficiency or pancreatic insufficiency

50%

Malabsorption syndrome with chronic diarrhea managed by medically-prescribed dietary intervention such as prescribed gluten-free diet, with nutritional deficiencies due to lactase and pancreatic insufficiency; and with systemic manifestations including, but not limited to, weakness and fatigue, dermatitis, lymph node enlargement, hypocalcemia, low vitamin levels, or atrophy of the inner intestinal lining shown on biopsy

30%

Malabsorption syndrome with chronic diarrhea managed by medically-prescribed dietary intervention such as prescribed gluten-free diet; and without nutritional deficiencies

What Raters Look For

Based on M21-1 adjudication criteria for Digestive conditions. These are the factors a VA rater evaluates when assigning a rating percentage.

M21-1 III.iv.4.D
  • •Weight loss — documented weight changes in treatment records
  • •Frequency and severity of symptoms: pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • •Dietary restrictions required due to the condition
  • •Need for surgical intervention, feeding tubes, or colostomy
  • •Imaging and endoscopy findings (scope reports, biopsy results)
  • •Hepatic function if liver disease is involved: bilirubin, albumin, INR, Child-Pugh score