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TL;DR
- DC 7617 covers complete removal of the uterus and both ovaries. DC 7618 covers removal of the uterus, including its body, called the corpus.
- Both codes provide 100 percent for three months after removal. Afterward, their listed ratings are 50 and 30 percent respectively.
- DC 7619 addresses ovary removal and has different long-term criteria.
- Service connection is still required. Surgery alone does not establish VA entitlement.
- Board data for hysterectomy is not published on Claim Raven yet. No approval rate is estimated here.
The rating schedule, word for word
38 CFR § 4.116 provides the following text. The schedule's special-monthly-compensation footnote is explained below rather than displayed as a superscript.
7617 Uterus and both ovaries, removal of, complete:
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | For three months after removal |
| 50% | Thereafter |
7618 Uterus, removal of, including corpus:
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | For three months after removal |
| 30% | Thereafter |
7619 Ovary, removal of:
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | For three months after removal |
| Thereafter: | |
| 30% | Complete removal of both ovaries |
| 0% | Removal of one with or without partial removal of the other |
Note: In cases of the removal of one ovary as the result of a service-connected injury or disease, with the absence or nonfunctioning of a second ovary unrelated to service, an evaluation of 30 percent will be assigned for the service-connected ovarian loss
The section also states:
Note 2: When evaluating any claim involving loss or loss of use of one or more creative organs or anatomical loss of one or both breasts, 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, almost any condition in this section might, under certain circumstances, establish entitlement to special monthly compensation.
What each level means in practice
The distinction between 50 percent under DC 7617 and 30 percent under DC 7618 is anatomical. It is not a measure of how painful recovery felt. Your operation and pathology reports should identify the uterus, cervix, and each ovary separately. A shorthand procedure name is not enough to assume every organ was removed.
The 100 percent period is tied to the time after removal. It is not a permanent rating under these codes. Whether VA can pay for that period also depends on the claim's effective date and other entitlement rules; filing long after surgery does not automatically create payment for the past recovery period.
Under DC 7619, removal of one ovary can receive zero percent after the temporary period, subject to the exception quoted above. Zero percent does not mean VA has denied service connection, and the creative-organ SMC question remains separate.
Special monthly compensation, or SMC, is additional compensation for qualifying losses. Ask whether the decision addresses the applicable § 3.350 requirements. This page does not quote an SMC dollar amount or assume a particular award.
How to prove service connection
For direct service connection under § 3.303, assemble the in-service disease or injury records, the surgery records, and evidence explaining why the operation was needed. The current residual condition must be linked to service.
For secondary service connection under § 3.310, the records should explain whether treatment of an already service-connected condition required the surgery. If endometriosis is the proposed cause, the operation report and treating clinician's opinion should establish that relationship in your case. Having both conditions is not enough by itself.
A hysterectomy is a procedure, not a blanket presumptive diagnosis. If an underlying disease has a presumptive pathway, establish the actual disease and qualifying service, then document the link between that disease and the surgery.
The C&P exam and DBQ
Review the Gynecological Conditions DBQ. At your compensation and pension (C&P) exam, identify the procedure date, the reason for surgery, which organs were removed, ongoing treatment, and current symptoms.
Useful records include the full operation report, pathology, discharge summary, follow-up notes, and any records documenting complications. If a report only says hysterectomy, identify the more detailed records rather than guessing about the ovaries.
Explain any continuing functional problems separately from the anatomical loss. This helps VA assess both the removal code and any distinct residual disability.
Common denial reasons and evidence gaps
These are practical record checks, not measured Board denial frequencies:
- The file establishes surgery but not its connection to service.
- The evidence does not identify which organs were removed.
- The supporting argument treats DC 7617 as the code for every hysterectomy.
- The temporary postoperative period is confused with a permanent evaluation or the effective date.
- A potential creative-organ SMC issue is not addressed.
Secondary conditions and residuals
Document separate problems such as painful scars, bladder impairment, or a diagnosed depressive disorder if they are present. A medical explanation must establish any claimed secondary relationship. The operation does not automatically support every possible complication.
Each additional evaluation needs distinct impairment. Do not count the same loss or symptom under several labels.
How it combines with other ratings
DC 7617 already covers the combined removal of the uterus and both ovaries. Do not add DC 7618 and DC 7619 ratings on top for the same organ losses. Section 4.14 prohibits overlapping evaluations.
For genuinely separate disabilities, use the combined-rating calculator. It explains § 4.25 math. It does not determine SMC entitlement or whether particular residuals may be rated separately.
Bottom line
Find the report that identifies exactly what was removed and why. Then check the correct anatomical code, the postoperative period, distinct residuals, and the separate SMC question.
Methodology and limitations
DCs 7617, 7618, and 7619 were checked against the committed eCFR index and live § 4.116 on October 2, 2026. The tables reproduce the regulatory wording. Explanations summarize how to organize evidence; they do not determine effective dates or predict an award. No Board figures or pay amounts are supplied.
Sources
- 38 CFR § 4.116, removal codes and SMC instruction (opens in a new tab)
- 38 CFR § 3.350, special monthly compensation (opens in a new tab)
- 38 CFR § 3.303, direct service connection (opens in a new tab)
- 38 CFR § 3.310, secondary service connection (opens in a new tab)
- 38 CFR § 4.14, overlapping manifestations (opens in a new tab)
- 38 CFR § 4.25, combined ratings (opens in a new tab)
- Gynecological Conditions DBQ and official VA form