VA Disability Ratings of the Genitourinary System

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Many veterans experience injuries or conditions that affect their genitourinary system as a result of military service.  According to VA’s 2020 Annual Benefits Report, the genitourinary system is the ninth most common body system for all service connected disabilities among compensation recipients.  As of 2020, nearly 940,000 veterans have a service-connected disability which affects the genitourinary system.  Continue reading to learn more about how these conditions are rated and how to receive VA disability benefits for a genitourinary condition.

What is the Genitourinary System?

The genitourinary system consists of the organs of the reproductive system (i.e., the vagina, ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, external genitalia, and perineum in women, and the prostate gland, testicles, epididymis, and penis in men) and the urinary system (i.e., the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra).

These two systems are grouped together because of their proximity to each other and their use of common pathways.

The primary functions of the genitourinary system include the following:

• Excretion of liquid waste products
• Regulation of blood volume
• Electrolyte regulation
• Acid-base balance regulation
• Arterial blood pressure regulation

Some examples of genitourinary conditions include renal failure, kidney stones, prostate cancer, and more.

Disorders of the genitourinary system include a range of conditions from those that are asymptomatic to those that manifest an array of signs and symptoms.  Causes for genitourinary disorders can include congenital factors, infectious diseases, trauma, or conditions that secondarily involve the urinary structure.  However, many veterans experience conditions related to the genitourinary system as a result of service-related injuries or diseases.  If veterans believe their genitourinary condition was caused or aggravated by their time in service, they should consider filing a claim for VA disability compensation.

Service Connection for Conditions of the Genitourinary System

To establish direct service connection for conditions of the genitourinary system, veterans must demonstrate that their condition is related to their time in service.  Veterans can do so by showing evidence of the following:

• A current diagnosis of a condition
• An in-service event, injury, or illness
• A medical nexus opinion linking the current, diagnosed condition to the in-service event, injury, or illness

After reviewing your claims file and the evidence you submitted, VA will make a decision on your claim.  If VA concedes service connection for your genitourinary condition, it will then assign a disability rating based on severity.

How VA Rates Genitourinary Conditions

Genitourinary conditions are rated under 38 CFR § 4.115a, Ratings of the Genitourinary System – Dysfunctions.  Conditions affecting kidney function are referred to as “renal,” while ureters, urethra, and bladder conditions are called “urinary”.

Urinary Rating System

There are three different urinary rating systems which we discuss below.

1. Urinary Frequency

A condition is evaluated under urinary frequency if it causes the body to urinate more often than normal.  The rating criteria are as follows:

• 40% ­- urinating more than every hour daily or five or more times during the night
• 20% – urinating every 1-2 hours daily or 3-4 times per night
• 10% – urinating every 2-3 hours daily or at least twice at night

2. Obstructed Voiding

The obstructed voiding rating system is reserved for conditions that make it hard to urinate.  The following disability ratings may be assigned:

• 30% – a catheter is needed constantly or intermittently
• 10% – slow or weak stream, hesitancy to start urinating, and one or more of the following: (1) more than 150cc of urine left in the bladder after urinating; (2) less than 10cc of urine passing through ureter every second; (3) regular urinary tract infections due to obstruction; (4) narrow urethra requires dilatation treatments every 2-3 months
• 0% – slow or weak stream, hesitancy to start urinating, or narrowing of the urethra that require dilatation treatments only once or twice per year

3. Voiding Dysfunction

All urinary conditions that cannot be rated as urinary frequency or obstructed voiding are rated by this system, as follows:

• 60% – the condition either constantly requires the use of a catheter to remove urine or if the condition requires the use of absorbent materials that need to be changed more than 4 times per day
• 40% – requiring absorbent materials that need to be changed 2-4 times per day
• 20% – requiring absorbent materials that need to be changed once per day

Renal Rating System

For all renal conditions, VA uses a general rating formula.  The criteria are listed below:

• 100% – Requires regular dialysis, the body cannot perform physical activity due to albuminuria or persistent edema, or a BUN (blood urea nitrogen) of more than 80mg/dL, or more than 9 mg/dL of creatinine in the blood, or severely decreased kidney operation
• 80% – There is a level of 4 to 8 mg/dL of creatinine in the blood, or albuminuria with a BUN of 40 to 80 mg/dL with persistent edema, or overall poor health symptomized by lethargy, anorexia, weight low, weakness, or the inability to exert much energy
• 60% – Definite decrease in kidney function, or constant albuminuria with some edema, or hypertension with an average diastolic pressure above 120
• 30% – Albumin is present in urine with either red blood cells or hyaline and granular casts, or slight edema, or hypertension with diastolic pressure averaging above 100 or systolic pressuring averaging above 160
• 0% – Albumin and casts are present in the urine with a history of nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) or hypertension is present with average diastolic pressure less than 100 or with average systolic pressure less than 160

Examples of renal conditions that are rated according to the general formula outlined above, include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Nephrectomy (Diagnostic Code 7500) – the removal of one kidney. This condition will automatically be rated at 30 percent.  A higher rating may be warranted based on the working condition of the remaining kidney.
• Nephritis (Diagnostic Code 7502) – the swelling of the nephrons inside the kidney. This condition can only be rated if it is directly caused by an infectious disease and has continued despite appropriate treatment of the disease.
• Interstitial nephritis (Diagnostic Code 7537) – occurs when the spaces between the tubules in the kidney swell.
• Pyelonephritis (Diagnostic Code 7504) – form of nephritis where a urinary tract infection has spread up to the kidney. This condition can be rated on either the renal rating system or on the ratings for a urinary tract infection, whichever results in a higher rating.
• Kidney Disease (Diagnostic Code 7530) – any kidney disease that requires regular dialysis.
• Kidney Transplant (Diagnostic Code 7531) – rated 100 percent for one year following the transplant surgery. After the one-year period, the condition is re-evaluated and rated on any symptom under the renal rating system.  The minimum rating is a 30 percent.
• Atherosclerotic renal disease (Code 7534) – also known as renal artery stenosis or atheroembolic renal disease. A condition where the artery to the kidney narrows and decreases the blood flow to the kidney.
• Toxic nephropathy (Diagnostic Code 7535) – any damage to the kidney that is caused by any kind of chemical or biological product that enters the blood stream.

Cancer

Veterans diagnosed with service-connected cancers in the genitourinary system are typically awarded a 100 percent temporary total VA rating while the veteran is receiving treatment, and for six months following the successful completion of treatment.

Veterans are then rated on residuals such as urinary frequency for prostate cancer for example.

TDIU and Genitourinary Conditions

Total disability based on individual unemployability, or TDIU, is a VA benefit that compensates veterans who are unable to work due to their service-connected condition(s) at a 100 percent rating.  Specifically, this benefit is intended for veterans who cannot maintain substantially gainful employment.

There are two kinds of TDIU: schedular and extraschedular

Veterans affected by a genitourinary condition may be eligible for TDIU if they meet certain criteria.

• The veteran has one service-connected genitourinary disability rated at least 60 percent disabling; OR
• The veteran has more than one service-connected disability, with one condition rated at least 40 percent, and a combined rating of at least 70 percent.

Veterans who do not meet these requirements but are still unable to work may qualify for TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

Getting an Accredited Representative to Help With VA Benefits for a Genitourinary Condition  

Veterans may benefit from the assistance of an accredited representative to help with their claim.  Accredited representatives often know the ins and outs of VA’s claims and appeals process and can help veterans navigate the process with as little stress as possible.  Additionally, accredited representatives can submit evidence, craft arguments, and file appeals on the veteran’s behalf.  If you need an accredited representative to help with your claim for a genitourinary condition, call our office today for a free case evaluation.