38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.88b

Visceral leishmaniasis — VA Diagnostic Code 6301

Infectious / immune

Diagnostic code

6301

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38 CFR § 4.88b lists Diagnostic Code 6301 as “Visceral leishmaniasis.” The percentage line is 100, for active disease. Note 1 continues that 100 percent beyond the cessation of treatment, then requires a VA examination six months after treatment stops. Note 2 says to confirm recurrence of active infection by culture, histopathology, or other diagnostic laboratory testing. Section 3.317(c)(2)(viii) lists “Visceral leishmaniasis.” Section 3.309(b) lists “Leishmaniasis, including kala-azar,” which the schedule does not place on one code.

Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was up to date as of 2026-10-01 and last amended on 2026-08-27. The § 4.88b source note prints 61 FR 39875, July 31, 1996, as amended at 84 FR 28230, June 18, 2019.

The rating criteria at each level

Visceral leishmaniasis — DC 6301

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). As active disease

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	As active disease

Note 1: Continue a 100 percent evaluation beyond the cessation of treatment for active disease. Six months after discontinuance of such treatment, determine the appropriate disability rating by mandatory VA examination. Any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter. Thereafter, rate under the appropriate body system any residual disability of infection, which includes, but is not limited to liver damage and bone marrow disease.

Note 2: Confirm the recurrence of active infection by culture, histopathology, or other diagnostic laboratory testing.

DC 6301 does not say to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Infectious Diseases. Its own line is “As active disease” at 100. The formula’s line is “For active disease.” The code does not print a 0 percent line. 38 CFR § 4.31 says: “In every instance where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a diagnostic code, a zero percent evaluation shall be assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.” 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher rating when the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating. Otherwise, the lower rating will be assigned. 38 CFR § 4.6 requires each element affecting the evidence to be studied so that decisions will be equitable and just.

Note 1’s change in evaluation is subject to 38 CFR § 3.105(e). The residual examples are liver damage and bone marrow disease. The note says “including, but is not limited to” and does not place a comma after “to.”

38 CFR § 4.118 DC 7807 is “American (New World) leishmaniasis (mucocutaneous, espundia).” DC 7808 is “Old World leishmaniasis (cutaneous, Oriental sore).” Each note says: “Evaluate non-cutaneous (visceral) leishmaniasis under DC 6301 (visceral leishmaniasis).”

The opening note of § 4.88b says to rate any residual disability of infection within the appropriate body system as indicated by the notes in the evaluation criteria. It then says, as applicable, to consider the long-term health effects potentially associated with infectious diseases as listed in § 3.317(d), specifically Brucellosis, Campylobacter jejuni, Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), Malaria, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Nontyphoid Salmonella, Shigella, Visceral Leishmaniasis, and West Nile virus. Visceral Leishmaniasis is one of those names.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.88b, Diagnostic Code 6301, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

As active disease, then six months

The 100 percent line is “As active disease.” Note 1 says to continue a 100 percent evaluation beyond the cessation of treatment for active disease. Six months after discontinuance of such treatment, the rating is determined by mandatory VA examination. Any change based on that or any subsequent examination is subject to § 3.105(e).

Recurrence has a laboratory sentence

Note 2 says to confirm the recurrence of active infection by culture, histopathology, or other diagnostic laboratory testing. The note uses “or.”

Three schedule codes use the word leishmaniasis

DC 7807 and DC 7808 are the cutaneous codes. Their notes send non-cutaneous (visceral) leishmaniasis to DC 6301. Section 3.309(b) says “Leishmaniasis, including kala-azar.” That row is not assigned to DC 6301 alone, because the schedule uses three codes.

Evidence that speaks to each level

100 — as active disease

What the rater needs to see. Active visceral leishmaniasis, which is the only percentage line.

Where that usually lives. The treatment record showing active disease.

After treatment stops

What the rater needs to see. The note’s mandatory VA examination six months after discontinuance of treatment, and residuals rated in the appropriate body system. The examples are liver damage and bone marrow disease.

Where that usually lives. The six-month examination and the records of the body system the note uses.

Recurrence

What the rater needs to see. Note 2: confirmation by culture, histopathology, or other diagnostic laboratory testing.

Where that usually lives. The laboratory or histopathology record named in the note.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
100 — as active disease	Active visceral leishmaniasis, which is the only percentage line.	The treatment record showing active disease.
After treatment stops	The note’s mandatory VA examination six months after discontinuance of treatment, and residuals rated in the appropriate body system. The examples are liver damage and bone marrow disease.	The six-month examination and the records of the body system the note uses.
Recurrence	Note 2: confirmation by culture, histopathology, or other diagnostic laboratory testing.	The laboratory or histopathology record named in the note.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Infectious Diseases (other than HIV-related illness chronic fatigue syndrome and tuberculosis)” under Infectious Diseases. The file is Infectious Diseases (other than HIV-related illness chronic fatigue syndrome and tuberculosis). The public list prints that title without commas between “HIV-related illness,” “chronic fatigue syndrome,” and “tuberculosis.”

The exam form

The same public list also names “Persian Gulf/Afghanistan Infectious Diseases” under Infectious Diseases. DC 6301 prints one percentage line and two notes. This page does not say either form replaces those notes.

Related codes and how they interact

The skin codes point back to DC 6301

DC 7807 and DC 7808 each say to evaluate non-cutaneous (visceral) leishmaniasis under DC 6301. They do not say to evaluate DC 6301 under the skin formula. 38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses is to be avoided.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

38 CFR § 3.317(c)(2)(viii) lists “Visceral leishmaniasis.” Paragraph (c)(1) says a disease listed in paragraph (c)(2) will be service connected if it becomes manifest in a veteran with a qualifying period of service, provided paragraph (c)(3) is also satisfied. Paragraph (c)(3)(i) says there is no time limit for visceral leishmaniasis or tuberculosis to have become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more. The one-year sentence in that paragraph is for the other listed diseases, with a separate incubation sentence for malaria.

Paragraph (c)(3)(ii) says a qualifying period of service means a period of service meeting paragraph (e), or a period of active military, naval, or air service on or after September 19, 2001, in Afghanistan. Paragraph (e)(2) defines the Southwest Asia theater of operations as Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the airspace above these locations. Paragraph (c)(4) says the presumption does not apply if affirmative evidence shows the disease was not incurred during a qualifying period of service, or was caused by a supervening condition or event between the most recent departure and the onset of the disease, or is the result of the veteran’s own willful misconduct or the abuse of alcohol or drugs.

The table to § 3.317 lists, for visceral leishmaniasis, delayed presentation of the acute clinical syndrome; Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis if manifest within 2 years of the infection; and reactivation of visceral leishmaniasis in the context of future immunosuppression. Paragraph (d)(2) says that if a veteran presumed service connected for a paragraph (c)(2) disease is diagnosed with a column B condition in the time period the table specifies, VA will request a medical opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that the condition was caused by the veteran having had the associated column A disease. That paragraph does not itself assign a percentage.

Section 3.309(b) lists “Leishmaniasis, including kala-azar.” It does not use the words “visceral leishmaniasis.” Because DC 7807 and DC 7808 also name leishmaniasis, that tropical-disease row is not given a single diagnostic code. Section 3.309(a) does not name visceral leishmaniasis. Section 3.309(c) does not name it. The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309(e) does not name visceral leishmaniasis. 38 CFR § 3.309(f) does not name visceral leishmaniasis. 38 CFR § 3.309(d) does not name visceral leishmaniasis. 38 CFR § 3.320 does not name visceral leishmaniasis. 38 CFR § 3.320a does not name visceral leishmaniasis. 38 CFR § 3.320b does not name visceral leishmaniasis. 38 CFR § 3.316 does not name visceral leishmaniasis.

A separate question, when a presumption does not decide it, is a medical question on the facts under 38 CFR § 3.310. Paragraph (a) covers disability proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury. Paragraph (b) covers increase in severity and requires a medical baseline.

Short answers

What is the VA rating for DC 6301?

Under 38 CFR § 4.88b, visceral leishmaniasis is rated 100 percent as active disease. Note 1 addresses the period after treatment stops, a mandatory examination at six months, and residuals such as liver damage and bone marrow disease. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Is visceral leishmaniasis the same schedule entry as the tropical leishmaniasis row?

Section 3.317(c)(2)(viii) names visceral leishmaniasis, which is the DC 6301 title. Section 3.309(b) names “Leishmaniasis, including kala-azar.” The schedule also titles American (New World) leishmaniasis at DC 7807 and Old World leishmaniasis at DC 7808, and those notes send non-cutaneous disease to DC 6301. The tropical row is not assigned to one code.

FAQ

How does VA rate visceral leishmaniasis under DC 6301?

The schedule prints 100 percent as active disease. Note 1 continues that evaluation beyond the cessation of treatment and requires a VA examination six months after treatment stops. Residuals are then rated under the appropriate body system. The examples are liver damage and bone marrow disease. Education only.

Does DC 6301 use the infectious-disease formula’s “For active disease” line?

No. DC 6301 prints its own line, “As active disease,” at 100. It does not say to evaluate under the General Rating Formula.

Which presumption names visceral leishmaniasis?

Section 3.317(c)(2)(viii). Paragraph (c)(3)(i) says there is no time limit for it to have become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more. Section 3.309(b) lists “Leishmaniasis, including kala-azar,” and the schedule splits leishmaniasis across DC 6301, DC 7807, and DC 7808.

What does the § 3.317 table say about post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis?

It is a column B condition under visceral leishmaniasis, if manifest within 2 years of the infection. Paragraph (d)(2) says VA will request a medical opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the column B condition was caused by the column A disease. The table does not print a percentage.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 6301, whether disease was called active, and the date treatment stopped.
The free worksheet is a place to write the code, the findings, and the records you already have. It does not file a claim or protect a filing date. An accredited representative is at find a VSO.
Other codes in this schedule are on the infectious-disease diagnostic-code index.

Education only. Not legal or medical advice. My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative and does not file claims. VA decides every claim on its own evidence.

Other codes in this body system

Nearby catalog entries in Infectious / immune, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Infectious / immune codes

Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 6301 • va.gov

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.