Genitourinary System§ 4.115bUpdated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 7543Varicocele/Hydrocele

A single 0% rating under § 4.115b. Here is what the VA requires for it.

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  1. 0%

    Varicocele/Hydrocele

From the schedule

Notes on this code

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

  • 1 Review for entitlement to special monthly compensation under § 3.350 of this chapter.
  • 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.

Varicocele / Hydrocele (VA Diagnostic Code 7543)

Genitourinary System — 38 CFR § 4.115b

Understanding This Condition

A varicocele and a hydrocele are conditions that affect the male genitourinary system. Under the VA rating schedule, they are evaluated together under Diagnostic Code 7543, which falls within the genitourinary conditions described in 38 CFR § 4.115b.

Available Rating Levels

For this diagnostic code, the VA rating schedule provides a single rating level:

RatingCriteria
0%Varicocele/Hydrocele

A 0% rating is a recognized, service-connected evaluation. It acknowledges the condition as connected to service even though the schedule assigns no compensable percentage at this level.

What the VA Looks For

When evaluating a claim involving loss or loss of use of one or more creative organs, the VA is directed to review the claim for possible special monthly compensation (SMC):

  • Review under § 3.350. The rating schedule notes that claims involving loss or loss of use of a creative organ should be reviewed for entitlement to special monthly compensation under 38 CFR § 3.350.
  • Footnotes signal potential SMC. Footnotes in the schedule indicate conditions that may establish entitlement to special monthly compensation. The schedule also notes that other conditions in this section may, under certain circumstances, establish entitlement to SMC as well.

Key Takeaways

  • Varicocele and hydrocele are rated under Diagnostic Code 7543 in the genitourinary section of the VA schedule.
  • The schedule lists a single rating level of 0%.
  • Claims involving loss or loss of use of a creative organ should be reviewed for special monthly compensation under § 3.350.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.115b, diagnostic code 7543. 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 7543 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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