Celiac disease VA Rating
How VA rates Celiac disease under diagnostic code 7355, what evidence decides the percentage, and the reasons these claims get denied or under-rated.
Celiac disease is rated under diagnostic code 7355. In the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities it appears as Celiac disease, within the Digestive System section of 38 CFR Part 4.
The essentials
| Diagnostic code | 7355 |
|---|---|
| Rating schedule name | Celiac disease |
| Body system | Digestive System |
| Examination form | GI Intestinal Conditions |
How VA rates celiac disease
These are the rating levels VA assigns under diagnostic code 7355, quoted from the rating schedule. A rater compares the findings in your examination against each level and assigns the highest one your evidence supports.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 80% | 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% | 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% | Malabsorption syndrome with chronic diarrhea managed by medically-prescribed dietary intervention such as prescribed gluten-free diet; and without nutritional deficiencies |
- Note (1): An appropriate serum antibody test or endoscopy with biopsy must confirm the diagnosis.
- Note (2): For evaluation of celiac disease with the predominant disability of malabsorption, use the greater evaluation between DC 7328 or celiac disease under DC 7355.
Criteria quoted from 38 CFR Part 4, Subpart B (eCFR edition 2026-01-01). Where a rating depends on measurements, the figures in your examination report are what decide it — which is why an examination that skipped a required measurement is worth challenging.
What evidence decides the rating
For digestive system conditions, these are the findings VA weighs when assigning a percentage. If your examination did not address them, the examination may be inadequate for rating purposes — which is itself an argument on appeal.
- Frequency and severity of episodes, and any weight loss or malnutrition
- Endoscopy, imaging or biopsy confirming the diagnosis
- For GERD: whether symptoms persist despite treatment, and the presence of any hiatal hernia
- Anemia, dehydration, or the need for hospitalisation
Why these claims get denied or under-rated
These are the failure patterns we see most often on celiac disease and related digestive system claims:
- GERD denied as secondary to a mental health condition without addressing the medication side-effect pathway
- Symptom frequency was recorded during a period of good control, understating the severity
- IBS and another digestive condition were merged as pyramiding when they warranted separate evaluations
If your claim was denied or under-rated
A denial is not the end of the claim. Which route is right depends on why VA decided the way it did:
- Higher-Level Review — when the evidence already in the file supports a grant and VA got the decision wrong, or the examination was inadequate.
- Supplemental Claim — when you have new and relevant evidence, such as a private nexus opinion.
- Board Appeal — when you need a Veterans Law Judge to decide, or want a hearing.
- Clear and Unmistakable Error — when a decision more than a year old contains an undebatable error, which can recover retroactive pay.
Effective dates matter as much as the percentage. See effective dates and back pay for how far back an award can reach.
Sources
Related conditions
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This page is educational information, not legal advice. VA rules and deadlines change — always confirm details with the official source (38 CFR, M21-1) or your accredited claims agent. Borne Accredited Claims is an accredited VA claims agent under 38 CFR §14.629 and is not part of, or endorsed by, the Department of Veterans Affairs. We do not guarantee any specific outcome.