Code of Federal Regulations (Last Updated: July 5, 2024) |
Title 38 - Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief |
Chapter I - Department of Veterans Affairs |
Part 4 - Schedule for Rating Disabilities |
Subpart B - Disability Ratings |
The Genitourinary System |
§ 4.115a - Ratings of the genitourinary system - dysfunctions.
-
§ 4.115a Ratings of the genitourinary system - dysfunctions.
Diseases of the genitourinary system generally result in disabilities related to renal or voiding dysfunctions, infections, or a combination of these. The following section provides descriptions of various levels of disability in each of these symptom areas. Where diagnostic codes refer the decisionmaker decision maker to these specific areas of dysfunction, only the predominant area of dysfunction shall be considered for rating purposes. Distinct disabilities may be evaluated separately under this section, pursuant to § 4.14, if the symptoms do not overlap. Since the areas of dysfunction described below do not cover all symptoms resulting from genitourinary diseases, specific diagnoses may include a description of symptoms assigned to that diagnosis.
Rating Renal dysfunction: Requiring regular dialysis, or precluding more than sedentary activity from one of the following: persistent edema and albuminuria; or, BUN more than 80mg%; or, creatinine more than 8mg%; or, markedly decreased function of kidney or other organ systems, especially cardiovascular 100 Persistent edema and albuminuria with BUN 40 to 80mg%; or, creatinine 4 to 8mg%; or, generalized poor health characterized by lethargy, weakness, anorexia, weight loss, or limitation of exertion 80 Constant albuminuria with some edema; or, definite decrease in kidney function; or, hypertension at least 40 percent disabling under diagnostic code 7101 60 Albumin constant or recurring with hyaline and granular casts or red blood cells; or, transient or slight edema or hypertension at least 10 percent disabling under diagnostic code 7101 30 Albumin and casts with history of acute nephritis; or, hypertension non-compensable under diagnostic code 7101 0 Chronic kidney disease with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months; or requiring regular routine dialysis; or eligible kidney transplant recipient 100 Chronic kidney disease with GFR from 15 to 29 mL/min/1.73 m2 for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months 80 Chronic kidney disease with GFR from 30 to 44 mL/min/1.73 m2 for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months 60 Chronic kidney disease with GFR from 45 to 59 mL/min/1.73 m2 for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months 30 GFR from 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m2 and either recurrent red blood cell (RBC) casts, white blood cell (WBC) casts, or granular casts for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months; or GFR from 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m2 and structural kidney abnormalities (cystic, obstructive, or glomerular) for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months; or GFR from 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m2 and albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) ≥30 mg/g for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months 0 Note: GFR, estimated GFR (eGFR), and creatinine-based approximations of GFR will be accepted for evaluation purposes under this section when determined to be appropriate and calculated by a medical professional. Voiding dysfunction: Rate particular condition as urine leakage, frequency, or obstructed voiding Continual Urine Leakage, Post Surgical Urinary Diversion, Urinary Incontinence, or Stress Incontinence: Requiring the use of an appliance or the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed more than 4 times per day 60 Requiring the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed 2 to 4 times per day 40 Requiring the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed less than 2 times per day 20 Urinary frequency: Daytime voiding interval less than one hour, or; awakening to void five or more times per night 40 Daytime voiding interval between one and two hours, or; awakening to void three to four times per night 20 Daytime voiding interval between two and three hours, or; awakening to void two times per night 10 Obstructed voiding: Urinary retention requiring intermittent or continuous catheterization 30 Marked obstructive symptomatology (hesitancy, slow or weak stream, decreased force of stream) with any one or combination of the following: 1. Post void residuals greater than 150 cc. 2. Uroflowmetry; markedly diminished peak flow rate (less than 10 cc/sec). 3. Recurrent urinary tract infections secondary to obstruction. 4. Stricture disease requiring periodic dilatation every 2 to 3 months 10 Obstructive symptomatology with or without stricture disease requiring dilatation 1 to 2 times per year 0 Urinary tract infection: Poor renal function: Rate as renal dysfunction. Recurrent symptomatic infection requiring drainage /frequent hospitalization (greater than two times/year), and/by stent or nephrostomy tube; or requiring greater than 2 hospitalizations per year; or requiring continuous intensive management 30 Long-term drug therapy, Recurrent symptomatic infection requiring 1-2 hospitalizations per year and/or requiring intermittent intensive management10 or suppressive drug therapy lasting six months or longer 10 Recurrent symptomatic infection not requiring hospitalization, but requiring suppressive drug therapy for less than 6 months 0 [59 FR 2527, Jan. 18, 1994; 59 FR 10676, Mar. 7, 1994; 86 FR 54085, Sept. 30, 2021]