Celiac Disease VA Ratings and Claims
CCK Law: Our Vital Role in Veterans Law
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that can damage the small intestine and cause gastrointestinal issues like discomfort, bloating, diarrhea, vomiting, and more. With the severe stress and potential for infection that accompanies military service, it’s not uncommon for veterans to file claims for celiac disease VA benefits.
If you are a veteran suffering from this disorder, then you may be eligible for VA disability for celiac disease. This article will inform you on important aspects of the claims process so you can earn your own celiac disease VA rating.
Highlights of this article include:
- How to gain a VA disability rating for celiac disease
- The celiac disease VA benefits available to qualifying veterans
- How to establish service-connected celiac disease
- And more
What Is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the body as a response to the consumption of gluten. While celiac disease shares some symptoms with digestive system disorders like Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it is distinct in that about half of those who suffer from celiac disease experience symptoms wholly unrelated to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Symptoms of celiac disease may include:
- Abdominal bloating
- Diarrhea
- Excessive gas and flatulence
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Skin rashes
- Cognitive impairment
- Tingling and numbness in the limbs
- Fatigue
- Anemia
Why Are Veterans Prone to Celiac Disease?
While doctors are not entirely sure of the causes of celiac disease, there appears to be a genetic component to the disorder, one that causes symptoms to remain dormant until triggered by specific environmental conditions that place stress on the immune system.
However, studies also indicate that veterans are developing celiac disease at a significant and increasing rate, possibly due to the adverse or extreme environmental hazards associated with modern military service.
Some of the factors that could trigger the development of celiac disease in veterans include:
- Exposure to toxins or infections: It is not uncommon for veterans to be exposed to dangerous chemical agents or diseases over the course of their military service. If a service member falls ill due to an encounter with a toxin or infection, it may contribute to the later development of celiac disease.
- Chronic stress or PTSD: Military service can often induce chronic stress in active service members, or contribute to post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans. High levels of continuous stress place a very real strain on the body’s immune system, potentially leading to the veteran being diagnosed with celiac disease.
- Lack of control over diet: Due to the often-limited variety of food available in the military, service members may find themselves forced to consume food to which they have unknown allergies or sensitivities. Over time, the repeated consumption of such food items may lead some veterans to develop this condition.
A Celiac Disease VA Rating Requires Service Connection
To obtain a celiac disease VA rating, a veteran first needs to prove that it is the result of their military service. This is called service connection, and there are two common types: direct service connection and secondary service connection.
Direct Service Connection for Celiac Disease
Direct service connection is when a veteran can prove that their condition is a direct result of or was aggravated by their military service.
VA typically requires three components to recognize direct service connection for celiac disease:
- An official medical diagnosis – note that VA will require either a serum antibody test or endoscopy with biopsy to confirm the diagnosis
- An in-service event, like an illness or injury – an event from your military service that could have caused you to develop celiac disease, preferably with official records of the event
- A medical “nexus” linking the in-service event to the condition – the opinion of a medical professional that your condition is “as least as likely as not” a result of the in-service event
Secondary Service Connection for Celiac Disease
Secondary service connection is when a veteran can prove that their celiac disease has been caused by another service-connected condition.
For example, say a veteran has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from a series of explosions that occurred near them during their military service. They already filed a disability claim for PTSD, and VA recognizes their PTSD is service connected and compensates them for it. Over time, the severe stress the veteran suffers from their PTSD may cause dysfunctions in their digestive and immune systems, eventually leading the veteran to develop celiac disease. In this case, because the veteran’s service-connected PTSD was the primary cause of their celiac disease diagnosis, the veteran should be able to claim secondary service connection for it.
VA Presumptions for Celiac Disease
Certain diseases and disorders are legally presumed to be service connected, due to how common the disorder is among veterans who served at specific times and places. To obtain a VA rating for these presumptive conditions, veterans simply need to prove that they proved in qualifying areas at the specified times.
Unfortunately, VA does not currently have any presumptions related to Celiac disease, and any veterans with it will have to establish service connection in the usual ways.
Celiac Disease VA Ratings
Once a veteran has proven service connection, VA will assign a rating that reflects the severity of the condition.
As of rating changes implemented in May 2024, VA now rates celiac disease under diagnostic code 7355 of 38 CFR § 4.114 – Ratings of the Digestive System. Depending on the severity and frequency of a veteran’s celiac disease symptoms, they could obtain either a 30 percent, 50 percent, or 80 percent celiac disease VA rating.
The criteria for each of these ratings are as follows:
- 80 percent – Malabsorption syndrome with weakness which interferes with activities of daily living; and weight loss resulting in wasting and nutritional deficiencies; and with systemic manifestations including but not limited to, weakness and fatigue, dermatitis, lymph node enlargement, hypocalcemia, low vitamin levels; and anemia related to malabsorption; and episodes of abdominal pain and diarrhea due to lactase deficiency or pancreatic insufficiency
- 50 percent – Malabsorption syndrome with chronic diarrhea managed by medically prescribed dietary intervention such as prescribed gluten-free diet, with nutritional deficiencies due to lactase and pancreatic insufficiency; and with systemic manifestations including, but not limited to, weakness and fatigue, dermatitis, lymph node enlargement, hypocalcemia, low vitamin levels, or atrophy of the inner intestinal lining shown on biopsy
- 30 percent – Malabsorption syndrome with chronic diarrhea managed by medically prescribed dietary intervention such as prescribed gluten-free diet; and without nutritional deficiencies
What If a Veteran Has a Celiac Disease VA Rating from Before the 2024 Changes?
Before May 2024, celiac disease did not have its own diagnostic code under VA’s disability ratings schedule. Instead, celiac disease VA ratings were based on the criteria of diseases similar to celiac disease, and veterans could only receive a rating of 0 percent to 30 percent.
- Any veteran who received a celiac disease VA rating before the May 2024 changes should be aware that VA will not automatically update their rating using the new criteria. The veteran will have to file an increased rating claim in order to be rated under the new criteria and potentially receive the 50 percent or 80 percent ratings.
- On the other hand, if a veteran’s VA rating for celiac disease was still being processed as of May 19, 2024 (when the updated criteria were being rolled out), then VA will judge their claim under both the new and old criteria and issue a decision based on whichever criteria is more favorable for the veteran.
Compensation & Pension (C&P) Exams for Celiac Disease
A Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam is a medical evaluation carried out by a VA-approved healthcare professional or a provider under contract with VA. These exams play a key role in determining whether a veteran’s health condition is linked to their military service, either directly or on a secondary basis. If a service connection exists, the exam also helps VA assign an appropriate disability rating.
When evaluating veterans for celiac disease, the VA examiner will likely request a serum antibody test or endoscopy with biopsy to confirm the celiac disease diagnosis. They will also typically perform a physical exam, as well as ask about gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal pain, and the impact these issues have on daily life. Veterans may also be questioned about their service history and how the condition affects areas beyond digestion, such as energy levels, cognitive function, or general well-being.
Being open and specific during your exam is essential. Accurately describing your symptoms and the day-to-day challenges they cause gives the examiner a clearer understanding of how significantly celiac disease impacts your life. The more detailed your explanation, the better your chances of receiving a fair disability rating.
What Is the VA Pay or VA Compensation for Celiac Disease?
VA pays monthly, tax-free compensation to veterans with service-connected celiac disease. If a VA rating for celiac disease is 30 percent, 50 percent, or 80 percent, the veteran will receive a corresponding payment in the amount found in the table below.
As of 2025, the VA disability rate benefit amounts are as follows:
- 30 percent disability rating: $537.42 per month
- 50 percent disability rating: $1,102.04 per month
- 80 percent disability rating: $2,044.89 per month
Can You Get a Total Disability Rating for Celiac Disease?
If a veteran’s service-connected celiac disease prevents them from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, they may be eligible for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). This benefit provides compensation at the 100 percent disability rate, even if a veteran’s actual VA rating is below 100 percent.
There are two primary ways to qualify for TDIU:
- Schedular TDIU: Veterans may qualify under schedular criteria if they meet one of the following standards:
- They have a single service-connected condition rated at 60 percent or higher, or
- They hold a combined disability rating of 70 percent or more, with at least one individual condition rated at 40 percent or higher.
- Extraschedular TDIU: Veterans who do not meet the rating thresholds above might still be approved under an “extraschedular” review. In these cases, VA’s Director of Compensation Service can grant TDIU when the veteran’s celiac disease makes it practically impossible to sustain employment, even if the ratings do not meet the standard requirements.
When reviewing a claim involving celiac disease, VA must assess whether the veteran’s condition limits their ability to work. Veterans also have the option to submit a separate TDIU claim proactively if they believe their condition qualifies them for this benefit.
TDIU claims are complex and unusual. Veterans are highly encouraged to contact CCK Law for a free case evaluation.
Need Help Filing an Appeal?
Navigating the VA appeals process can be highly challenging, but a VA-accredited attorney may make a significant difference. An experienced representative can help you avoid common pitfalls, identify claims or benefits that you have overlooked, and make the entire benefits process more efficient.
If you have celiac disease as a result of military service and believe your VA rating does not reflect the severity of your condition, call CCK Law at (800) 544-9144 or contact us online.
