VA Diagnostic Code 7516Bladder, fistula of
A single 100% rating under § 4.115b. Here is what the VA requires for it.
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Summary
Rate as voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant.
What each rating requires
The VA assigns the highest level your evidence actually supports. Read up the stack until your records stop matching.
- 100%
Postoperative, suprapubic cystotomy
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.
Bladder Fistula (VA Diagnostic Code 7516)
Genitourinary System · 38 CFR § 4.115b
What This Condition Is
A bladder fistula is an abnormal connection involving the bladder. The VA classifies this condition under Diagnostic Code 7516 within the Genitourinary System.
Because the effects of a bladder fistula can show up in different ways, the VA does not use a single fixed set of percentages for it. Instead, the condition is rated based on how it primarily affects you.
How the VA Rates a Bladder Fistula
According to the rating criteria, a bladder fistula is rated as voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant. In other words, the VA looks at which of these two problems is the more significant part of your condition and applies the rating criteria for that problem.
Available Rating Level
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Postoperative, suprapubic cystotomy |
What the VA Looks For
When evaluating a bladder fistula, the VA considers:
- Which effect is predominant — voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection — and rates the condition accordingly.
- Postoperative status, including whether there is a suprapubic cystotomy, which corresponds to the 100% level shown above.
Important Note on Special Monthly Compensation
When a claim involves the 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 (SMC). Footnotes in the rating schedule indicate conditions that may potentially establish entitlement to SMC; other conditions in this section may also establish entitlement under certain circumstances.
This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule for Diagnostic Code 7516 (§ 4.115b). It is provided for general educational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating or outcome.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.115b, diagnostic code 7516. 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 7516 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Genitourinary System codes may cover your secondary conditions.
Find out which rating your evidence supports.
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