38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.114

Pruritus ani (anal itching) — VA Diagnostic Code 7337

Digestive

Diagnostic code

7337

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38 CFR § 4.114 lists Diagnostic Code 7337 as “Pruritus ani (anal itching).” With bleeding or excoriation, the rating is 10. Without bleeding or excoriation, the rating is 0. No note is printed between this code and DC 7338.

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

7337 Pruritus ani (anal itching)

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). With bleeding or excoriation

Rating %: 0

Criteria (verbatim). Without bleeding or excoriation

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
10	With bleeding or excoriation
0	Without bleeding or excoriation

The title cell has a colon. The two criteria cells do not end with a period.

The 0 percent line is printed on this code. It is not a zero supplied only by § 4.31.

The opening of § 4.114 says not to combine ratings under diagnostic codes 7301 through 7329 inclusive, 7331, 7342, 7345 through 7350 inclusive, 7352, and 7355 through 7357 inclusive, with each other. DC 7337 is not in that sentence. 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 7336 is hemorrhoids, external or internal. It is the row before DC 7337. DC 7338 is hernia, including femoral, inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional, and other, but not including hiatal. Neither row is the pruritus ani line.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7337, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Bleeding or excoriation

The 10 percent line requires bleeding or excoriation. The 0 percent line is the finding without bleeding or excoriation. The schedule does not print a third line.

Outside the do-not-combine list

The § 4.114 opening names 7301 through 7329 inclusive, 7331, 7342, 7345 through 7350 inclusive, 7352, and 7355 through 7357 inclusive. It does not name 7337.

Evidence that speaks to each level

What the rater needs to see. Pruritus ani with bleeding or excoriation.

Where that usually lives. The examination of the anal area and the records that describe bleeding or excoriation.

What the rater needs to see. Pruritus ani without bleeding or excoriation.

Where that usually lives. The same examination, when those findings are absent.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
10	Pruritus ani with bleeding or excoriation.	The examination of the anal area and the records that describe bleeding or excoriation.
0	Pruritus ani without bleeding or excoriation.	The same examination, when those findings are absent.

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

The exam form

DC 7337 prints 10 and 0. This page does not say the form replaces those two lines.

Related codes and how they interact

Hemorrhoids are the previous code.

DC 7336 is a different title and a different set of lines. The pruritus ani lines are bleeding or excoriation, and the absence of those findings.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “pruritus.” DC 7337 is a rating-schedule line, not a § 3.309 name.

Short answers

What is the VA rating for pruritus ani?

Under 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7337 is 10 percent with bleeding or excoriation and 0 percent without bleeding or excoriation. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Is there a note under DC 7337?

No note is printed between DC 7337 and DC 7338. The 0 percent line is on the code itself.

FAQ

What does DC 7337 print?

“With bleeding or excoriation” at 10, and “Without bleeding or excoriation” at 0. The title is “Pruritus ani (anal itching).” Education only.

Is this code in the digestive do-not-combine sentence?

No. That sentence names 7301 through 7329 inclusive, 7331, 7342, 7345 through 7350 inclusive, 7352, and 7355 through 7357 inclusive. It does not name 7337.

Does the chronic-disease list name pruritus ani?

Section 3.309 does not contain “pruritus.”

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7337 and whether it names bleeding or excoriation.
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 7337 • va.gov

How to give a complete Pruritus Ani C&P answer

Context matters

Short answers can leave out frequency, duration, treatment, and functional effects. The examples below show what information may still need to be explained. They are not scripts.

Example incomplete answer
“It's just itching, it's not that bad.”
Context to add, if true
Don't minimize. The rating considers persistent symptoms and treatment burden — describe the daily impact, frequency, and any associated bleeding, fissures, or skin breakdown.
Example incomplete answer
“I use over-the-counter cream.”
Context to add, if true
Document everything. Prescription treatments, dietary modifications, and any specialty referrals all support the medical-necessity record.

Answer in your own words. Describe what is true, including better periods and flare-ups, without minimizing or exaggerating. No phrase guarantees a rating or claim outcome.

⚠️ 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.