VA Diagnostic Code 7333Rectum and anus, stricture of
Rated from 10% to 100% under § 4.114. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
Not the right code?
What each rating requires
The VA assigns the highest level your evidence actually supports. Read up the stack until your records stop matching.
- 100%
Inability to open the anus with inability to expel solid feces
- 60%
Reduction of the lumen 50% or more, with pain and straining during defecation
- 30%
Reduction of the lumen by less than 50%, with straining during defecation
- 10%
Luminal narrowing with or without straining, managed by dietary intervention
Notes on this code
These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.
- Note (1): Conditions rated under this code include dyssynergic defecation (levator ani) and anismus (functional constipation).
- Note (2): Evaluate an ostomy as Intestine, large, resection of (DC 7329).
Stricture of the Rectum and Anus (VA Diagnostic Code 7333)
Understanding This Condition
A stricture of the rectum and anus is a narrowing of the passage (the "lumen") through which stool travels. This narrowing can make bowel movements difficult, often requiring straining, and in more severe cases can significantly interfere with the ability to pass stool.
This condition is part of the Digestive System and is rated under § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7333.
Related conditions rated under this code include:
- Dyssynergic defecation (levator ani)
- Anismus (functional constipation)
How the VA Rates This Condition
The VA assigns a disability rating based on the severity of the narrowing and the symptoms it causes. The available rating levels are:
| Rating | What It Reflects |
|---|---|
| 100% | Inability to open the anus, with inability to expel solid feces |
| 60% | Reduction of the lumen 50% or more, with pain and straining during defecation |
| 30% | Reduction of the lumen by less than 50%, with straining during defecation |
| 10% | Luminal narrowing, with or without straining, managed by dietary intervention |
What the VA Looks For
When evaluating a stricture of the rectum and anus, the VA focuses on:
- The degree of narrowing (lumen reduction): Whether the passage is reduced by 50% or more, by less than 50%, or shows luminal narrowing without a defined percentage.
- Symptoms during defecation: The presence of straining, pain, or an inability to expel solid feces.
- Management of the condition: For example, whether the narrowing is managed through dietary intervention.
- The most severe cases: An inability to open the anus paired with an inability to expel solid feces.
Additional Note
If the condition involves an ostomy, the VA evaluates it under Intestine, large, resection of (Diagnostic Code 7329) rather than under this code.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.114, diagnostic code 7333. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
View official sourceHow to claim this
Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.
Find your level in the stack
Read each rung against what your medical records already say. The level your records document today is the one the VA can support today.
Name the gap
Look at the rung above yours and write down exactly what it asks for that your file does not show yet — a diagnosis, a measurement, a prescribed brace, a doctor’s opinion linking it to service.
Claim it by code
File under diagnostic code 7333 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Digestive System codes may cover your secondary conditions.
Find out which rating your evidence supports.
Six reads your records against these exact criteria and tells you what the VA is still missing.
Start for freeAll 51 Digestive System codes →