38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.114

Diverticulitis and diverticulosis — VA Diagnostic Code 7327

Digestive

Diagnostic code

7327

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38 CFR § 4.114 lists Diagnostic Code 7327 as “Diverticulitis and diverticulosis:”. The lines are 30, 20, and 0. A note addresses colectomy or colostomy. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes the code as “Diverticulitis and diverticulosis.” The rating-table title uses a colon.

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

7327 Diverticulitis and diverticulosis

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Diverticular disease requiring hospitalization for abdominal distress, fever, and leukocytosis (elevated white blood cells) one or more times in the past 12 months; and with at least one of the following complications: (1) hemorrhage, (2) obstruction, (3) abscess, (4) peritonitis, or (5) perforation

Rating %: 20

Criteria (verbatim). Diverticular disease requiring hospitalization for abdominal distress, fever, and leukocytosis (elevated white blood cells) one or more times in the past 12 months; and without associated (1) hemorrhage, (2) obstruction, (3) abscess, (4) peritonitis, or (5) perforation

Rating %: 0

Criteria (verbatim). Asymptomatic; or a symptomatic diverticulitis or diverticulosis that is managed by diet and medication

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
30	Diverticular disease requiring hospitalization for abdominal distress, fever, and leukocytosis (elevated white blood cells) one or more times in the past 12 months; and with at least one of the following complications: (1) hemorrhage, (2) obstruction, (3) abscess, (4) peritonitis, or (5) perforation
20	Diverticular disease requiring hospitalization for abdominal distress, fever, and leukocytosis (elevated white blood cells) one or more times in the past 12 months; and without associated (1) hemorrhage, (2) obstruction, (3) abscess, (4) peritonitis, or (5) perforation
0	Asymptomatic; or a symptomatic diverticulitis or diverticulosis that is managed by diet and medication

The 30 percent line requires hospitalization one or more times in the past 12 months and at least one of the five numbered complications. The 20 percent line requires that same hospitalization and is without those associated complications.

The parenthetical “(elevated white blood cells)” is in both the 30 and the 20. The 0 percent line does not repeat it.

The 0 percent line uses a semicolon and the word “or”: “Asymptomatic; or a symptomatic diverticulitis or diverticulosis that is managed by diet and medication.”

Note: For colectomy or colostomy, use DC 7327 or DC 7329 (Intestine, large, resection of), whichever results in a higher evaluation.

That note ends with a period. It says “higher evaluation.” It does not say “highest rating.”

The opening of 38 CFR § 4.114 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 7327 is inside 7301 through 7329 inclusive. 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 7329 is “Intestine, large, resection of:”. The DC 7327 note names that title in parentheses without the colon. DC 7326 has a different note: following colectomy or colostomy with persistent or recurrent symptoms, rate either under DC 7326 or DC 7329, whichever provides the highest rating. That sentence says “highest rating.” It is not the DC 7327 note. DC 7328 is resection of the small intestine.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “diverticul.”

Source: 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7327, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Hospitalization is on the 30 and the 20

Both lines require hospitalization for abdominal distress, fever, and leukocytosis one or more times in the past 12 months. The 30 adds at least one named complication. The 20 is without those associated complications.

The 0 percent line has two branches

Asymptomatic, or a symptomatic diverticulitis or diverticulosis that is managed by diet and medication. The schedule joins them with “; or”.

Colectomy or colostomy is the note

The note says to use DC 7327 or DC 7329, whichever results in a higher evaluation. DC 7326’s colectomy note uses different words.

Evidence that speaks to each level

What the rater needs to see. Hospitalization for abdominal distress, fever, and leukocytosis one or more times in the past 12 months, and at least one of hemorrhage, obstruction, abscess, peritonitis, or perforation.

Where that usually lives. The hospital record for that 12-month period and the complication it documents.

What the rater needs to see. The same hospitalization finding, without those associated complications.

Where that usually lives. The same hospital record.

What the rater needs to see. Asymptomatic disease, or symptomatic diverticulitis or diverticulosis managed by diet and medication.

Where that usually lives. The treatment record showing diet or medication management, if that is the line in question.

Colectomy or colostomy

What the rater needs to see. The note’s comparison of DC 7327 and DC 7329, whichever results in a higher evaluation.

Where that usually lives. The operative record and both diagnostic codes.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
30	Hospitalization for abdominal distress, fever, and leukocytosis one or more times in the past 12 months, and at least one of hemorrhage, obstruction, abscess, peritonitis, or perforation.	The hospital record for that 12-month period and the complication it documents.
20	The same hospitalization finding, without those associated complications.	The same hospital record.
0	Asymptomatic disease, or symptomatic diverticulitis or diverticulosis managed by diet and medication.	The treatment record showing diet or medication management, if that is the line in question.
Colectomy or colostomy	The note’s comparison of DC 7327 and DC 7329, whichever results in a higher evaluation.	The operative record and both diagnostic codes.

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

The exam form

DC 7327 prints 30, 20, and 0, plus the colectomy or colostomy note. This page does not say the form replaces those lines.

Related codes and how they interact

Large-intestine resection is the other code in the note.

DC 7329 is “Intestine, large, resection of:”. The DC 7327 note says to use DC 7327 or DC 7329, whichever results in a higher evaluation. The DC 7326 note, for persistent or recurrent symptoms after colectomy or colostomy, says “highest rating” and names DC 7326 or DC 7329.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309 does not contain “diverticul.” This page does not add DC 7327 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 diverticulitis and diverticulosis?

Under 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7327 is 30, 20, or 0 on the lines printed for diverticular disease. The note compares DC 7327 with DC 7329 after colectomy or colostomy. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Where is leukocytosis defined in the rating line?

In parentheses on the 30 and 20 lines: “leukocytosis (elevated white blood cells).” The 0 percent line does not repeat that parenthetical.

FAQ

What are the ratings for diverticulitis and diverticulosis under DC 7327?

30 with hospitalization in the past 12 months and at least one of the five named complications. 20 with that hospitalization and without those complications. 0 when asymptomatic, or when symptomatic disease is managed by diet and medication. Education only.

What does the colectomy note say?

For colectomy or colostomy, use DC 7327 or DC 7329 (Intestine, large, resection of), whichever results in a higher evaluation. The note ends with a period.

Can DC 7327 be combined with another digestive code in that list?

The opening of § 4.114 says not to combine ratings under diagnostic codes 7301 through 7329 inclusive, and the other codes that sentence names, with each other. When more than one rating is warranted under those 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.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7327, the hospitalization count, any named complication, and any DC 7329 comparison.
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 7327 • 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.