Diagnostic Code 7319: Irritable Bowel Syndrome Rating Criteria
- CFR section
- 38 CFR § 4.114
- Rating range
- 10% to 30%
- Rating levels
- 3
- Body system
- Digestive system
The VA rates Irritable Bowel Syndrome under diagnostic code 7319 in 38 CFR § 4.114. The table below is the full set of rating criteria, from the schedule itself, with the evidence factors raters look for at each level.
DC 7319 rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Abdominal pain related to defecation at least once during the previous three months; and two or more of: change in stool frequency, change in stool form, altered stool passage (straining and/or urgency), mucorrhea (mucus in stool), abdominal bloating, or subjective distension What raters look forPain related to defecation; At least once in three months; Two or more listed symptoms |
| 20% | Abdominal pain related to defecation for at least three days per month during the previous three months; and two or more of: change in stool frequency, change in stool form, altered stool passage (straining and/or urgency), mucorrhea (mucus in stool), abdominal bloating, or subjective distension What raters look forPain related to defecation; At least three days per month; Two or more listed symptoms |
| 30% | Abdominal pain related to defecation at least one day per week during the previous three months; and two or more of: change in stool frequency, change in stool form, altered stool passage (straining and/or urgency), mucorrhea (mucus in stool), abdominal bloating, or subjective distension What raters look forPain related to defecation; At least one day per week; Two or more listed symptoms |
DC 7319 rating appeals at the Board
The Board of Veterans' Appeals issued 1,428 rulings on higher ratings, reductions and severance under diagnostic code 7319 from 2021 to 2026. It granted 43.6%, denied 48.2% and sent 8.2% back for more work. One appeal can contain more than one ruling.
By the rating the Board's order named
Only orders that state a rating percentage with a date are counted. An order denying a rating "in excess of 50 percent" names the existing rating; a grant may name the rating awarded. These are not all ratings veterans requested.
| Rating the order named | Decided rulings | Granted |
|---|---|---|
| 30 percent | 150 | 67.3% |
Recorded exam issues in remanded DC 7319 rulings
Percentages use all 117 rating rulings under this code the Board remanded, 2021 to 2026. Some rulings have no recorded exam classification, and small categories are not shown, so these rows need not total 100 percent.
- The VA exam or opinion was not adequate74.4%
- The exam was out of date or the condition had worsened13.7%
- No exam problem recorded11.1%
Method: Claim Raven read each ruling in every Board decision stored for 2021 to 2026 and counted it under this code when the decision named DC 7319 for a rating question. These results cover only rulings with an identified diagnostic code and may not represent rulings where no code was stated. Granted includes partial grants; dismissed and withdrawn rulings are left out. These are outcomes within appeals, not first decisions, and not your personal odds.
Condition guide
The rating criteria are only part of the picture for IBS. The IBS condition page covers service connection, common evidence problems, secondary conditions, and Board outcome patterns in depth.
What happens to IBS appeals at the Board
Claim Raven's analysis of 6,556 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on IBS, 2021 to 2026. The IBS condition page has the full breakdown, including which evidence types are associated with better outcomes.
Method: each ruling's outcome is read from the order in the Board's published decision and rolled up as granted (including partial grants), denied, or remanded, leaving out dismissals and withdrawals. The data codes the condition the Board ruled on, not the diagnostic code, so these numbers describe IBS appeals generally rather than DC 7319 specifically. The DC 7319 section above counts this code's own rating appeals. Board outcomes describe appealed claims, not initial decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What is VA diagnostic code 7319?
Diagnostic code 7319 is the VA rating schedule entry for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, found in 38 CFR § 4.114. The VA assigns this code when it rates the condition and applies the criteria listed on this page.
What ratings are possible under DC 7319?
DC 7319 provides ratings of 10%, 20%, 30%. The percentage depends on which criteria your medical evidence documents, not on the diagnosis alone.
What does the highest rating under DC 7319 require?
The 30% rating for Irritable Bowel Syndrome requires: Abdominal pain related to defecation at least one day per week during the previous three months; and two or more of: change in stool frequency, change in stool form, altered stool passage (straining and/or urgency), mucorrhea (mucus in stool), abdominal bloating, or subjective distension.
How often does the Board grant a higher rating under DC 7319?
In 1,412 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on a higher rating under DC 7319 from 2021 to 2026, 43.1% were granted, 48.6% denied and 8.3% sent back for more work. These are appeal outcomes, not your personal odds.
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