38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.114

Peritoneum, adhesions of — VA Diagnostic Code 7301

Digestive

Diagnostic code

7301

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38 CFR § 4.114 lists Diagnostic Code 7301 as “Peritoneum, adhesions of, due to surgery, trauma, disease, or infection:”. The title ends with a colon and includes the word “disease.” The rating cell on that title is empty. The lines are 80, 50, 30, 10, and 0. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Peritoneum, adhesions of, due to surgery, trauma, or infection.” The index drops “disease.”

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 § 4.114 source note prints 29 FR 6718, May 22, 1964, as amended at 34 FR 5063, Mar. 11, 1969; 40 FR 42540, Sept. 15, 1975; 41 FR 11301, Mar. 18, 1976; 66 FR 29488, May 31, 2001; 89 FR 19743, Mar. 20, 2024.

The rating criteria at each level

7301 Peritoneum, adhesions of, due to surgery, trauma, disease, or infection

Rating %: 80

Criteria (verbatim). Persistent partial bowel obstruction that is either inoperable and refractory to treatment, or requires total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for obstructive symptoms

Rating %: 50

Criteria (verbatim). Symptomatic peritoneal adhesions, persisting or recurring after surgery, trauma, inflammatory disease process such as chronic cholecystitis or Crohn's disease, or infection, as determined by a healthcare provider; and clinical evidence of recurrent obstruction requiring hospitalization at least once a year; and medically-directed dietary modification other than total parenteral nutrition (TPN); and at least one of the following: (1) abdominal pain, (2) nausea, (3) vomiting, (4) colic, (5) constipation, or (6) diarrhea

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Symptomatic peritoneal adhesions, persisting or recurring after surgery, trauma, inflammatory disease process such as chronic cholecystitis or Crohn's disease, or infection, as determined by a healthcare provider; and medically-directed dietary modification other than total parenteral nutrition (TPN); and at least one of the following: (1) abdominal pain, (2) nausea, (3) vomiting, (4) colic, (5) constipation, or (6) diarrhea

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). Symptomatic peritoneal adhesions, persisting or recurring after surgery, trauma, inflammatory disease process such as chronic cholecystitis or Crohn's disease, or infection, as determined by a healthcare provider, and at least one of the following: (1) abdominal pain, (2) nausea, (3) vomiting, (4) colic, (5) constipation, or (6) diarrhea

Rating %: 0

Criteria (verbatim). History of peritoneal adhesions, currently asymptomatic

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
80	Persistent partial bowel obstruction that is either inoperable and refractory to treatment, or requires total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for obstructive symptoms
50	Symptomatic peritoneal adhesions, persisting or recurring after surgery, trauma, inflammatory disease process such as chronic cholecystitis or Crohn's disease, or infection, as determined by a healthcare provider; and clinical evidence of recurrent obstruction requiring hospitalization at least once a year; and medically-directed dietary modification other than total parenteral nutrition (TPN); and at least one of the following: (1) abdominal pain, (2) nausea, (3) vomiting, (4) colic, (5) constipation, or (6) diarrhea
30	Symptomatic peritoneal adhesions, persisting or recurring after surgery, trauma, inflammatory disease process such as chronic cholecystitis or Crohn's disease, or infection, as determined by a healthcare provider; and medically-directed dietary modification other than total parenteral nutrition (TPN); and at least one of the following: (1) abdominal pain, (2) nausea, (3) vomiting, (4) colic, (5) constipation, or (6) diarrhea
10	Symptomatic peritoneal adhesions, persisting or recurring after surgery, trauma, inflammatory disease process such as chronic cholecystitis or Crohn's disease, or infection, as determined by a healthcare provider, and at least one of the following: (1) abdominal pain, (2) nausea, (3) vomiting, (4) colic, (5) constipation, or (6) diarrhea
0	History of peritoneal adhesions, currently asymptomatic

The schedule title includes “disease.” Appendix B drops that word and ends with a period.

The 50 percent line adds hospitalization at least once a year to the dietary-modification and symptom requirements on the 30 percent line. The 10 percent line does not require medically-directed dietary modification.

None of the five criteria lines ends with a period.

The sentence before the digestive table says: “Do not combine ratings under diagnostic codes 7301 through 7329 inclusive, 7331, 7342, 7345 through 7350 inclusive, 7352, and 7355 through 7357 inclusive, with each other. Instead, when more than one rating is warranted under those diagnostic codes, assign a single evaluation under the diagnostic code that reflects the predominant disability picture, and elevate it to the next higher evaluation if warranted by the severity of the overall disability.” DC 7301 is inside “7301 through 7329 inclusive.” DC 7326 is Crohn's disease or undifferentiated form of inflammatory bowel disease, and that code is inside the same span. The 50, 30, and 10 percent lines name Crohn's disease as an example of an inflammatory disease process. They do not print a second percentage for DC 7326. 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.

DC 7310 is “Stomach, injury of, residuals:”. Its pre-operative cell says: “Rate as adhesions of peritoneum due to surgery, trauma, disease, or infection (DC 7301). No adhesions are necessary when evaluating under DC 7301.” That second sentence is printed on DC 7310. It is not a note under DC 7301. DC 7317 is “Gallbladder, injury of.” Its note says that when rating gallbladder injuries analogous to DC 7301, a finding of adhesions is not necessary. DC 7303 is chronic complications of upper gastrointestinal surgery. The next code after the DC 7301 zero percent line is DC 7303.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “adhesion.” 38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided, and that the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses is to be avoided.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7301, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

The schedule title keeps “disease”

The § 4.114 title is “Peritoneum, adhesions of, due to surgery, trauma, disease, or infection:”. Appendix B says “Peritoneum, adhesions of, due to surgery, trauma, or infection.”

Hospitalization is the 50 percent addition

The 50 percent line requires clinical evidence of recurrent obstruction requiring hospitalization at least once a year, plus medically-directed dietary modification other than TPN, plus at least one named symptom. The 30 percent line keeps the dietary modification and a named symptom. It does not require that hospitalization.

TPN is on the 80 percent line

The 80 percent line is persistent partial bowel obstruction that is either inoperable and refractory to treatment, or requires total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for obstructive symptoms. The 50 and 30 percent lines say dietary modification other than TPN.

Evidence that speaks to each level

80, 50, 30, 10, or 0

What the rater needs to see. The obstruction, treatment, hospitalization, dietary modification, or symptom findings the line used. The 0 percent line is a history of peritoneal adhesions, currently asymptomatic.

Where that usually lives. The operative notes, hospitalization records, and the healthcare-provider findings the line names.

Another digestive code in the same span

What the rater needs to see. Section 4.114 says not to combine ratings under diagnostic codes 7301 through 7329 inclusive, and the other codes that sentence lists, with each other. It says to assign a single evaluation under the diagnostic code that reflects the predominant disability picture.

Where that usually lives. The decision, if it also names a code inside that span.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
80, 50, 30, 10, or 0	The obstruction, treatment, hospitalization, dietary modification, or symptom findings the line used. The 0 percent line is a history of peritoneal adhesions, currently asymptomatic.	The operative notes, hospitalization records, and the healthcare-provider findings the line names.
Another digestive code in the same span	Section 4.114 says not to combine ratings under diagnostic codes 7301 through 7329 inclusive, and the other codes that sentence lists, with each other. It says to assign a single evaluation under the diagnostic code that reflects the predominant disability picture.	The decision, if it also names a code inside that span.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Intestinal Conditions.” The file is Intestinal Conditions.

The exam form

DC 7301 prints 80, 50, 30, 10, and 0. This page does not say the intestinal form replaces those lines.

Related codes and how they interact

Stomach injury and gallbladder injury point back to this code.

DC 7310 says to rate pre-operative residuals as DC 7301, and it says no adhesions are necessary when evaluating under DC 7301. DC 7317’s note says a finding of adhesions is not necessary when rating gallbladder injuries analogous to DC 7301. Those sentences are not printed as notes under DC 7301.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309 does not contain “adhesion.” This page does not add DC 7301 to a presumptive row.

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

How does VA rate peritoneal adhesions under DC 7301?

Under 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7301 rates adhesions of the peritoneum due to surgery, trauma, disease, or infection at 80, 50, 30, 10, or 0, on the lines in that table. The 0 percent line is a history of peritoneal adhesions, currently asymptomatic. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Does the DC 7301 row itself say adhesions are unnecessary?

No. That sentence is on DC 7310: “No adhesions are necessary when evaluating under DC 7301.” DC 7317 has a separate note for gallbladder injuries rated analogous to DC 7301. Education only.

FAQ

What percentages does DC 7301 print?

80, 50, 30, 10, and 0. The 80 percent line is persistent partial bowel obstruction that is either inoperable and refractory to treatment, or requires TPN for obstructive symptoms. The 0 percent line is a history of peritoneal adhesions, currently asymptomatic. Education only.

Why does Appendix B omit “disease”?

The rating-table title includes “disease.” Appendix B says “Peritoneum, adhesions of, due to surgery, trauma, or infection.” The percentages are the rating-table lines.

Can this code be combined with Crohn's disease?

Section 4.114 says not to combine ratings under diagnostic codes 7301 through 7329 inclusive with each other. DC 7326 is inside that span. The sentence says to assign a single evaluation under the diagnostic code that reflects the predominant disability picture.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7301 and which of the 80, 50, 30, 10, or 0 lines it used.
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 digestive codes are on the digestive diagnostic-code index. The category page is digestive conditions.

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 Digestive, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Digestive codes

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

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7301 • 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.