VA Diagnostic Code 7323Colitis, ulcerative

Ulcerative Colitis (VA Diagnostic Code 7323)

Digestive System · 38 CFR § 4.114

Understanding Ulcerative Colitis and How the VA Rates It

Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease affecting the digestive system. Under the VA rating schedule, ulcerative colitis (Diagnostic Code 7323) is rated as Crohn's disease or the undifferentiated form of inflammatory bowel disease (Diagnostic Code 7326).

The VA assigns a disability rating based on how severe your condition is, how it is managed, and the symptoms it produces. Ratings are available at four levels: 10%, 30%, 60%, and 100%. The sections below describe what each level involves.

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Available Rating Levels

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
4. Recurrent abdominal distension

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.

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 fewer daily episodes of diarrhea and minimal signs of toxicity such as fever, tachycardia, or anemia.

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 fewer daily episodes of diarrhea and no signs of systemic toxicity.

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What the VA Looks For

When rating ulcerative colitis, the VA considers several factors reflected across the rating levels:

• Severity of the disease — ranging from minimal or mild through moderate to severe and unresponsive to treatment.
• How the condition is managed — for example, oral or topical agents, immunosuppressants or biologic agents, outpatient management, or hospitalization at least once per year.
• Frequency of diarrhea episodes — from three or fewer daily episodes up to six or more per day.
• Recurrent abdominal pain and, at higher levels, abdominal distension.
• Rectal bleeding and rectal incontinence at the most severe level.
• Signs of systemic toxicity — such as fever, tachycardia, or anemia — noted as absent, minimal, or intermittent depending on severity.
• Impact on the ability to work at the highest rating level.

This information summarizes the VA rating criteria for Diagnostic Code 7323 and is provided for general educational purposes only.