38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.114
Peritonitis, tuberculous, active or inactive — VA Diagnostic Code 7331
Digestive
Diagnostic code
7331
38 CFR § 4.114 lists Diagnostic Code 7331 as “Peritonitis, tuberculous, active or inactive:”. Active is 100. The next cell says “Inactive: See §§ 4.88b and 4.89.” That cell does not print a percentage. Appendix B indexes “Peritonitis.” The catalog name is Peritonitis. The catalog slug is dc-7331-peritonitis.
Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was last amended on 2026-08-27. On 2026-10-05 the titles list reports up to date as of 2026-10-02, and the 2026-10-02 XML for the sections quoted here matches the 2026-10-01 XML. Section 4.114 source note: 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. Section 4.88b source note: 61 FR 39875, July 31, 1996, as amended at 84 FR 28230, June 18, 2019. Section 4.89 source note: 29 FR 6718, May 22, 1964, as amended at 34 FR 5062, Mar. 11, 1969; 43 FR 45361, Oct. 2, 1978.
The rating criteria at each level
7331 Peritonitis, tuberculous, active or inactive
Rating %: 100
Criteria (verbatim). Active
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Inactive: See §§ 4.88b and 4.89.
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 100 | Active |
| — | Inactive: See §§ 4.88b and 4.89. |
General Rating Formula for Infectious Diseases — the formula at the top of § 4.88b, which the inactive cell names
Rating %: 100
Criteria (verbatim). For active disease
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). After active disease has resolved, rate at 0 percent for infection. Rate any residual disability of infection within the appropriate body system.
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 100 | For active disease |
| — | After active disease has resolved, rate at 0 percent for infection. Rate any residual disability of infection within the appropriate body system. |
§ 4.89 Ratings for inactive nonpulmonary tuberculosis in effect on August 19, 1968 — the other section the inactive cell names
Rating %: 100
Criteria (verbatim). For 2 years after date of inactivity, following active tuberculosis, which was clinically identified during service or subsequently
Rating %: 50
Criteria (verbatim). Thereafter, for 4 years, or in any event, to 6 years after date of inactivity
Rating %: 30
Criteria (verbatim). Thereafter, for 5 years, or to 11 years after date of inactivity
Rating %: 0
Criteria (verbatim). Thereafter, in the absence of a schedular compensable permanent residual
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 100 | For 2 years after date of inactivity, following active tuberculosis, which was clinically identified during service or subsequently |
| 50 | Thereafter, for 4 years, or in any event, to 6 years after date of inactivity |
| 30 | Thereafter, for 5 years, or to 11 years after date of inactivity |
| 0 | Thereafter, in the absence of a schedular compensable permanent residual |
The active cell is the word “Active.” The rating is 100. The inactive cell ends with a period. It says “See §§ 4.88b and 4.89.” It does not say “See §§ 4.88c and 4.89.”
Searching the 2026-10-01 text of § 4.88b, § 4.88c, and § 4.89 for “peritonitis” returns no hits. DC 7331 still names § 4.88b and § 4.89.
The title ends with a colon. Appendix B does not print “tuberculous, active or inactive.”
DC 7331’s own table prints 100 for active. It does not print a 0. Section 4.89 prints a 0 line: “Thereafter, in the absence of a schedular compensable permanent residual.” The general-formula line in § 4.88b says “rate at 0 percent for infection” inside the criteria cell, after active disease has resolved. DC 7331 does not say “Evaluate under the General Rating Formula.” DC 6300 is vibriosis, and that code does say “Evaluate under the General Rating Formula.” That sentence is not printed on DC 7331. 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 6311 is tuberculosis, miliary, in § 4.88b. Its inactive cell says “Inactive disease: See §§ 4.88c and 4.89.” DC 7331 says “Inactive: See §§ 4.88b and 4.89.” The section numbers are not the same. § 4.88c is “Ratings for inactive nonpulmonary tuberculosis initially entitled after August 19, 1968.” Its 100 percent line is “For 1 year after date of inactivity, following active tuberculosis,” and the next cell says to rate residuals under the specific body system or systems affected. DC 7331 does not name § 4.88c.
The opening paragraph of 38 CFR § 4.114 names 7331 in the list of codes that are not combined with each other. The paragraph 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.” 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.
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 contains “Tuberculosis, active.” It does not contain “peritonitis” or “7331.” This page does not add DC 7331 to a presumptive row.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7331; 38 CFR § 4.88b; 38 CFR § 4.89. eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01. 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 § 4.88b source note prints 61 FR 39875, July 31, 1996, as amended at 84 FR 28230, June 18, 2019. The § 4.89 source note prints 29 FR 6718, May 22, 1964, as amended at 34 FR 5062, Mar. 11, 1969; 43 FR 45361, Oct. 2, 1978. The § 4.88c source note prints 34 FR 5062, Mar. 11, 1969. Redesignated at 59 FR 60902, Nov. 29, 1994.
What the words mean in your records
4.88b, not 4.88c
The inactive cell of DC 7331 names § 4.88b and § 4.89. Miliary tuberculosis, DC 6311, names § 4.88c and § 4.89. Those are different cross-references.
The word peritonitis is not in the cited sections
The 2026-10-01 text of §§ 4.88b, 4.88c, and 4.89 does not contain “peritonitis.” The cross-reference is still the inactive cell of DC 7331.
Two years versus one year
Section 4.89’s first line is 100 percent for 2 years after the date of inactivity. Section 4.88c’s first line is 100 percent for 1 year after the date of inactivity. DC 7331 names § 4.89. It does not name § 4.88c.
Evidence that speaks to each level
Active
What the rater needs to see. The active cell is the word “Active,” rated 100. The code does not add a symptom list to that word.
Where that usually lives. The record that describes the peritonitis as active.
Inactive
What the rater needs to see. The inactive cell does not print a percentage. It says to see § 4.88b and § 4.89. Section 4.89 prints 100, 50, 30, and 0 on the graduated inactive scale in effect on August 19, 1968. Section 4.88b prints the General Rating Formula for Infectious Diseases. Neither section contains the word peritonitis.
Where that usually lives. The record of the date of inactivity, and the section the decision used.
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Tuberculosis” and, separately, “Infectious Diseases (other than HIV-related illness chronic fatigue syndrome and tuberculosis).” The files are Tuberculosis and Infectious Diseases. The list does not title a form “Peritonitis.”
The exam form
DC 7331 prints 100 for active and a see-reference for inactive disease. This page does not say either form replaces those cells.
Related codes and how they interact
Miliary tuberculosis uses a different see-reference
DC 6311 says “Inactive disease: See §§ 4.88c and 4.89.” DC 7331 says “Inactive: See §§ 4.88b and 4.89.” DC 6311’s active line says “As active disease” at 100. DC 7331’s active line is the word “Active” at 100.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
Section 3.309 lists “Tuberculosis, active.” It does not contain “peritonitis” or “7331.” This page does not add DC 7331 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 tuberculous peritonitis under DC 7331?
Under 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7331 rates active disease at 100. The inactive cell says to see §§ 4.88b and 4.89. It does not print its own inactive percentage, and it does not name § 4.88c. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Does § 4.89 contain the word peritonitis?
No. The 2026-10-01 text of § 4.89 does not contain “peritonitis.” The inactive cell of DC 7331 still says to see that section. Education only.
FAQ
What percentage does DC 7331 print for active disease?
100. The criteria cell is the word “Active.” Education only.
Which sections does the inactive cell name?
§ 4.88b and § 4.89. It does not name § 4.88c. DC 6311, miliary tuberculosis, is the code that names § 4.88c and § 4.89.
Does the index keep the word tuberculous?
No. Appendix B indexes “Peritonitis.” The schedule title is “Peritonitis, tuberculous, active or inactive:”.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 7331, whether the finding was active, and which section it used for inactive disease.
- 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
- DC 7319Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- DC 7323Colitis, ulcerative
- DC 7325Enteritis, chronic
- DC 7326Crohn's disease or undifferentiated form of inflammatory bowel disease
- DC 7327Diverticulitis and diverticulosis
- DC 7328Intestine, small, resection of
- DC 7329Intestine, large, resection
- DC 7330Intestinal fistulous diseases, external
- DC 7332Rectum and anus, impairment of sphincter control
- DC 7333Rectum & anus, stricture
- DC 7334Rectum, prolapse
- DC 7335Ano, fistula in, including anorectal fistula, anorectal abscess
- DC 7336Hemorrhoids, external or internal
- DC 7337Pruritus ani (anal itching)
- DC 7338Hernia, including femoral, inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional, and other (but not including hiatal)
- DC 7342Visceroptosis
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7331 • va.gov
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