Genitourinary System§ 4.115bUpdated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 7511Ureter, stricture of

A single 30% rating under § 4.115b. Here is what the VA requires for it.

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  1. 30%

    Rate as hydronephrosis, except for recurrent stone formation requiring one or more of the following: 1. diet therapy 2. drug therapy 3. invasive or non-invasive procedures more than two times/year

From the schedule

Notes on this code

These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.

  • Note: When evaluating any claim involving loss or loss of use of one or more creative organs, refer to § 3.350 of this chapter to determine whether the veteran may be entitled to special monthly compensation. Footnotes in the schedule indicate conditions which potentially establish entitlement to special monthly compensation; however, there are other conditions in this section which under certain circumstances also establish entitlement to special monthly compensation.

Ureteral Stricture (VA Diagnostic Code 7511)

Understanding This Genitourinary Condition

A ureteral stricture is a narrowing of the ureter—the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. The VA evaluates this condition under Diagnostic Code 7511, part of the Genitourinary System ratings found in § 4.115b of the rating schedule.

How the VA Rates Ureteral Stricture

Because a ureteral stricture can affect urinary function in ways similar to other kidney conditions, the VA generally rates it as hydronephrosis. There is an important exception for cases involving recurrent stone formation.

Available Rating Level

RatingWhat It Reflects
30%Rated as hydronephrosis, except for recurrent stone formation requiring one or more of the following:<br>1. Diet therapy<br>2. Drug therapy<br>3. Invasive or non-invasive procedures more than two times per year

What the VA Looks For

When evaluating ureteral stricture, the VA reviews whether the condition is best rated as hydronephrosis, or whether it involves recurrent stone formation that requires ongoing management. For the 30% level tied to recurrent stones, the VA considers whether treatment involves:

  • Diet therapy
  • Drug therapy
  • Invasive or non-invasive procedures more than two times per year

Special Monthly Compensation

Note: When evaluating any claim involving loss or loss of use of one or more creative organs, the VA refers to § 3.350 to determine whether a veteran may be entitled to special monthly compensation. Footnotes in the schedule indicate conditions that potentially establish entitlement to special monthly compensation; however, there are other conditions in this section that, under certain circumstances, also establish such entitlement.


This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule for Diagnostic Code 7511 (§ 4.115b). It is provided for general educational purposes and does not guarantee any specific rating or outcome.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.115b, diagnostic code 7511. The official version is the one that governs your rating.

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What next

How to claim this

Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Claim it by code

    File under diagnostic code 7511 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Genitourinary System codes may cover your secondary conditions.

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