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The VA orders this exam to verify your diagnosis and measure how severe it is right now. It can shape your rating and your monthly compensation — but it does not decide your claim. A rating specialist weighs it against your full record, and if the exam does not reflect your condition, you can say so and ask the VA to correct it.
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An inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. As of May 19, 2024, Crohn's disease is rated under DC 7326 based on the treatment your disease requires (oral/topical medications versus immunosuppressants or biologic agents), how many episodes of diarrhea you have per day, signs of toxicity (fever, rapid heart rate, anemia), and whether it requires hospitalization or prevents you from working. For claims pending before May 19, 2024, the VA must apply whichever is more favorable: the new criteria or the old version.
The percentages this diagnostic code can be rated at. Which one applies depends on the findings — no tool here can tell you in advance.
Rated under 38 CFR 4.114, DC 7326. The examiner records findings on the DBQ; a rating specialist makes the decision.
| Rating | Rating criteria | What that means for you |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | In every instance where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a diagnostic code, a zero percent evaluation shall be assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met. | Your Crohn's disease is in remission or otherwise not symptomatic — no recurrent abdominal pain with three or fewer daily episodes of diarrhea, or no oral or topical agents needed to manage it — so the minimal-to-mild 10 percent criterion under DC 7326 is not met. This code prints no 0 percent rung of its own; 38 CFR 4.31 supplies it: no monthly payment, but the condition is on record and a later increase runs from it. The lowest compensable level under this code is 10 percent. |
What supports this level
| ||
| 10% | Minimal to mild symptomatic inflammatory bowel disease that is managed with oral or topical agents (other than immunosuppressants or other biologic agents); and is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain with three or less daily episodes of diarrhea and no signs of systemic toxicity | Your disease is minimal to mild, managed with oral or topical medicines (not immunosuppressants or biologics), with recurrent abdominal pain, three or fewer daily episodes of diarrhea, and no signs of systemic toxicity. |
What supports this level
| ||
| 30% | Mild to moderate inflammatory bowel disease that is managed with oral and topical agents (other than immunosuppressants or other biologic agents); and is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain with three or less daily episodes of diarrhea and minimal signs of toxicity such as fever, tachycardia, or anemia | Your disease is mild to moderate, managed with oral and topical medicines, with recurrent abdominal pain, three or fewer daily episodes of diarrhea, and minimal signs of toxicity such as fever, rapid heart rate, or anemia. |
What supports this level
| ||
| 60% | Moderate inflammatory bowel disease that is managed on an outpatient basis with immunosuppressants or other biologic agents; and is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain, four to five daily episodes of diarrhea; and intermittent signs of toxicity such as fever, tachycardia, or anemia | Your disease is moderate, managed as an outpatient with immunosuppressants or biologics, with recurrent abdominal pain, four to five daily episodes of diarrhea, and intermittent signs of toxicity. |
What supports this level
| ||
| 100% | Severe inflammatory bowel disease that is unresponsive to treatment; and requires hospitalization at least once per year; and results in either an inability to work or is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain associated with at least two of the following: (1) six or more episodes per day of diarrhea, (2) six or more episodes per day of rectal bleeding, (3) recurrent episodes of rectal incontinence, or (4) recurrent abdominal distension | Your disease is severe and does not respond to treatment, requires hospitalization at least once a year, and either prevents you from working or comes with recurrent abdominal pain plus at least two of the listed severe symptoms. |
What supports this level
| ||
The middle column is our transcription of the criteria at 38 CFR 4.114, DC 7326, condensed for reading. Read the section itself on eCFR before relying on the exact wording. The items under each level are the kinds of evidence that document it — not a VA checklist, and not a prediction of which level applies to you.
Not documenting your treatment type — under DC 7326 being managed with immunosuppressants or biologic agents supports a 60% rating, while oral/topical agents support 10-30%. Make sure your biologic or immunosuppressant therapy is clearly in your records.
Not counting your daily diarrhea episodes — the rating steps on how many episodes of diarrhea you have per day (3 or fewer, 4 to 5, or 6 or more).
Not documenting signs of toxicity (fever, rapid heart rate, or anemia) and any hospitalizations — a hospitalization at least once a year plus inability to work (or severe daily symptoms) supports the 100% level.
Missing secondary conditions: fistulas, anal fissures, joint pain (arthritis), skin and eye conditions, and depression are common with Crohn's and may warrant separate ratings.
If your claim was pending before May 19, 2024, make sure the VA considers both the new DC 7326 criteria and the old version, and applies whichever is more favorable.
These apply to every C&P exam, whatever the condition.