If you have diverticulitis, you already know how painful and uncomfortable it can be to live with. What you may not know is that the gastrointestinal issue may be related to your military service, which means you could be compensated for it. This post explains the diverticulitis VA rating.
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You always need to know where the bathroom is. Going out to eat, socializing, or even running errands is uncomfortable because you never know when you’ll need to find a restroom immediately. When you have diverticulitis, doing regular daily activities is difficult. That’s why, if your condition is related to your military service, it’s important to understand VA disability for diverticulitis. You deserve compensation for the emotional and mental distress the condition causes.
In this article about the diverticulitis VA rating:
Diverticulitis in veterans
Diverticula are small, bulging pouches in the lining of your digestive system, usually in your colon or large intestine. Diverticulitis develops when one of the diverticula gets infected or inflamed, causing symptoms like severe abdominal pain, indigestion, bowel changes, fever, and nausea.
Doctors can treat diverticulitis through medication and diet changes, although severe cases may result in the need for surgery to remove part of your colon or restructure your bowels.
Veterans are generally at higher risk for chronic diseases, including gastrointestinal issues like diverticulitis. This increased likelihood results from exposure to severe stress, digestive tract infections, and environmental toxins.
One study found that diverticulitis in veterans may be slightly higher than that in the general population, but the amount (.22%) was too insufficient to claim any substantial difference. The study did, however, find that Vietnam veterans were more prone to diverticulitis than other veterans in the study. It was a surprising finding because the risk of developing the condition tends to increase with age, leading researchers to believe the highest rates of the condition would be in “the oldest generations who served during periods of service such as World War I, World War II, and the Korean conflict.”
Diverticulitis VA rating
The VA rates diverticulitis under Diagnostic Code 7327, which states that diverticulitis will be rated as irritable colon syndrome, peritoneal adhesions, or ulcerative colitis (DC 7323).
Which rating you receive depends on your specific symptoms and overall health. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you could receive a rating of 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 60%, or 100%.
Irritable colon syndrome
Irritable colon syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are chronic combinations of symptoms that impact your large intestine. These symptoms include flatulence, bloating, leaky stool, constipation, stomach pain, cramping, etc. IBS symptoms mirror those of diverticulitis. The two conditions aren’t the same, but may be related.
If your most severe symptoms are bowel incontinence and disturbance and abdominal distress, the VA will rate your diverticulitis as irritable colon syndrome using diagnostic code 7319 in the Schedule of Ratings as follows:
Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
---|---|---|
Severe; diarrhea, or alternating diarrhea and constipation, with more or less constant abdominal distress | 30% | $524.31 |
Moderate; frequent episodes of bowel disturbance with abdominal distress | 10% | $171.23 |
Mild; disturbances of bowel function with occasional episodes of abdominal distress | 0% | None |
Peritoneal adhesions
Peritoneal adhesions are abnormal bonds that form between the bowels and abdominal wall. They typically occur after surgery.
If your symptoms are more closely related to those characterized by peritoneal adhesions, the VA will rate diverticulitis using diagnostic code 7301 in the Schedule of Ratings as follows:
Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
---|---|---|
Severe; definite partial obstruction shown by X-ray, with frequent and prolonged episodes of severe colic distension, nausea, or vomiting, following severe peritonitis, ruptured appendix, perforated ulcer, or operation with drainage | 50% | $1,075.16 |
Moderately severe; partial obstruction manifested by delayed motility of barium meal and less frequent and less prolonged episodes of pain | 30% | $524.31 |
Moderate; pulling pain on attempting work or aggravated by movements of the body, or occasional episodes of colic pain, nausea, constipation (perhaps alternating with diarrhea), or abdominal distension | 10% | $171.23 |
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the large intestines.
If your symptoms are most similar to the ones listed below, the VA will rate diverticulitis under ulcerative colitis using diagnostic code 7323 in the Schedule of Ratings as follows:
Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
---|---|---|
Pronounced; resulting in marked malnutrition, anemia, and general debility, or with serious complication as liver abscess | 100% | $3,737.85 |
Severe; with numerous attacks a year and malnutrition, the health only fair during episodes of pain | 60% | $1,3161.88 |
Moderately severe; with frequent exacerbations | 30% | $524.31 |
Moderate; with infrequent exacerbations | 10% | $171.23 |
Diverticulitis secondary conditions
Diverticulitis may also be considered a secondary condition if caused by another service-connected disability.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may result in diverticulitis. PTSD is the most severe trauma disorder, and veterans are prone to it because of service- and combat-related stress.
Therefore, if you receive VA disability benefits for PTSD and are diagnosed with diverticulitis, it’s worth considering whether the two are related.
“The firm got me to 70%, and I was happy. Individual unemployability was awarded to me and to this day I’m so grateful. My future is no longer bleak. These people work very hard for you.“
TDIU for diverticulitis
A veteran can be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for diverticulitis if they can’t maintain “substantially gainful employment” because of it.
Diverticulitis could make it difficult to maintain a full-time job because of the pain associated with it and an inability to stand, walk, drive, or be away from a restroom for even a limited time.
TDIU pays at the same level as a 100% disability rating, even when the veteran’s combined rating is below 100%.
Veterans will typically be eligible for TDIU if they have:
- At least one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling OR
- Two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more
How our VA-accredited attorneys can help
If you have a service-connected condition that affects your ability to live and work comfortably, you deserve VA disability compensation. Contact Woods and Woods today for a free consultation to see how we can help. You only pay us if we win.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(866) 232-5777
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, diverticulitis qualifies for VA benefits. How much those benefits are depends on the symptoms you experience and the severity of those symptoms. You could receive a rating of 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 60%, or 100% for service-connected diverticulitis.
Yes, diverticulitis can be a secondary condition to PTSD. The severe emotional distress that causes the trauma disorder can also manifest physically in conditions like gastrointestinal disorders. If you have PTSD related to your military experience and are diagnosed with diverticulitis, it’s worth considering whether the two are related.
Neil Woods
VA disability lawyer
Woods and Woods
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