38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.114

Chronic liver disease without cirrhosis — VA Diagnostic Code 7345

Digestive

Diagnostic code

7345

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38 CFR § 4.114 lists Diagnostic Code 7345 as “Chronic liver disease without cirrhosis:”. The percentage lines are 100, 60, 40, 20, and 0. None of those five cells ends with a period. Notes (1) through (4) follow the 0 percent line, and DC 7346 is the next code. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Chronic liver disease without cirrhosis.” with a period and without the 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 § 4.112 source note prints 89 FR 19743, Mar. 20, 2024.

The rating criteria at each level

7345 Chronic liver disease without cirrhosis

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). Progressive chronic liver disease requiring use of both parenteral antiviral therapy (direct antiviral agents), and parenteral immunomodulatory therapy (interferon and other); and for six months following discontinuance of treatment

Rating %: 60

Criteria (verbatim). Progressive chronic liver disease requiring continuous medication and causing substantial weight loss and at least two of the following: (1) daily fatigue, (2) malaise, (3) anorexia, (4) hepatomegaly, (5) pruritus, and (6) arthralgia

Rating %: 40

Criteria (verbatim). Progressive chronic liver disease requiring continuous medication and causing minor weight loss and at least two of the following: (1) daily fatigue, (2) malaise, (3) anorexia, (4) hepatomegaly, (5) pruritus, and (6) arthralgia

Rating %: 20

Criteria (verbatim). Chronic liver disease with at least one of the following: (1) intermittent fatigue, (2) malaise, (3) anorexia, (4) hepatomegaly, or (5) pruritus

Rating %: 0

Criteria (verbatim). Previous history of liver disease, currently asymptomatic

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	Progressive chronic liver disease requiring use of both parenteral antiviral therapy (direct antiviral agents), and parenteral immunomodulatory therapy (interferon and other); and for six months following discontinuance of treatment
60	Progressive chronic liver disease requiring continuous medication and causing substantial weight loss and at least two of the following: (1) daily fatigue, (2) malaise, (3) anorexia, (4) hepatomegaly, (5) pruritus, and (6) arthralgia
40	Progressive chronic liver disease requiring continuous medication and causing minor weight loss and at least two of the following: (1) daily fatigue, (2) malaise, (3) anorexia, (4) hepatomegaly, (5) pruritus, and (6) arthralgia
20	Chronic liver disease with at least one of the following: (1) intermittent fatigue, (2) malaise, (3) anorexia, (4) hepatomegaly, or (5) pruritus
0	Previous history of liver disease, currently asymptomatic

Note (1): 100% evaluation shall continue for six months following discontinuance of parenteral antiviral therapy and administration of parenteral immunomodulatory drugs. Six months after discontinuance of parenteral antiviral therapy and parenteral immunomodulatory drugs, determine the appropriate disability rating by mandatory VA exam. Apply the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter to any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination.

Note (2): For individuals for whom physicians recommend both parenteral antiviral therapy and parenteral immunomodulatory drugs, but for whom treatment is medically contraindicated, rate according to DC 7312 (Cirrhosis of the liver).

Note (3): This diagnostic code includes Hepatitis B (confirmed by serologic testing), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), autoimmune liver disease, Wilson's disease, Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, hemochromatosis, drug-induced hepatitis, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Track Hepatitis C (or non-A, non-B hepatitis) under DC 7354 but evaluate it using the criteria in this entry.

Note (4): Evaluate sequelae, such as cirrhosis or malignancy of the liver, under an appropriate diagnostic code, but do not use the same signs and symptoms as the basis for evaluation under DC 7354 and under a diagnostic code for sequelae. (See § 4.14)

Note (4) is printed in the DC 7345 block, before DC 7346. The sentence names DC 7354. It does not print a period after “(See § 4.14)”.

The 20 percent list uses “or” before item (5). The 60 and 40 percent lists use “and” before item (6). The 20 percent list does not include arthralgia.

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 7345 is inside 7345 through 7350. DC 7312 is inside 7301 through 7329. Note (2) of DC 7345 sends one contraindication case to DC 7312. That sentence is not a combining instruction.

38 CFR § 4.112(a) says the following terms apply when evaluating conditions in § 4.114. Substantial weight loss means involuntary loss greater than 20% of an individual's baseline weight sustained for three months with diminished quality of self-care or work tasks. Minor weight loss means involuntary weight loss between 10% and 20% of an individual's baseline weight sustained for three months with gastrointestinal-related symptoms, involving diminished quality of self-care or work tasks, or decreased food intake. The 60 and 40 percent lines of DC 7345 use those words. They do not themselves cite § 4.112. 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 7354 is “Hepatitis C (or non-A, non-B hepatitis):” and its cell says “Rate under DC 7345 (Chronic liver disease without cirrhosis).” Note (3) of DC 7345 says to track Hepatitis C under DC 7354 but evaluate it using the criteria in the DC 7345 entry. DC 7346 is the next code. It rates hiatal hernia and paraesophageal hernia as esophagus, stricture of (DC 7203). That sentence is not a DC 7345 line.

38 CFR § 4.113 describes coexisting abdominal conditions that produce a common disability picture and points to the instruction under the title “Diseases of the Digestive System,” and to § 4.14. Note (1) of DC 7345 points a later change to § 3.105(e).

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 lists “Cirrhosis of the liver.” among the chronic diseases. Paragraph (d)(2)(xiii) is “Primary liver cancer (except if cirrhosis or hepatitis B is indicated).” Paragraph (f) lists “Liver cancer.” for Camp Lejeune. Those sentences do not print “chronic liver disease without cirrhosis,” and they do not assign DC 7345.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7345, and 38 CFR § 4.112, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Parenteral, both kinds, at 100

The 100 percent cell requires use of both parenteral antiviral therapy (direct antiviral agents) and parenteral immunomodulatory therapy (interferon and other), and it covers six months following discontinuance of treatment. Note (1) uses “100%” and “parenteral immunomodulatory drugs.”

Substantial and minor weight loss

Those words are on the 60 and 40 percent lines. Section 4.112(a) defines them for conditions in § 4.114. The DC 7345 cells do not cite that section.

What Note (3) includes

Hepatitis B confirmed by serologic testing, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, autoimmune liver disease, Wilson's disease, Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, hemochromatosis, drug-induced hepatitis, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Hepatitis C is tracked under DC 7354 and evaluated with this entry’s criteria.

Evidence that speaks to each level

100

What the rater needs to see. Progressive chronic liver disease requiring both parenteral antiviral therapy and parenteral immunomodulatory therapy, including the six months after that treatment stops, or the continuation Note (1) describes.

Where that usually lives. The treatment record and the dates treatment stopped, if the six-month period is the period being evaluated.

60 or 40

What the rater needs to see. Progressive disease, continuous medication, substantial or minor weight loss, and at least two of the six listed findings. The 20 percent line is one of five findings and does not list arthralgia.

Where that usually lives. Medication records and the weight history § 4.112(a) describes, if those lines are the ones in question.

What the rater needs to see. Previous history of liver disease, currently asymptomatic.

Where that usually lives. The history and the current findings.

Note (2)

What the rater needs to see. A physician recommendation of both parenteral therapies, and medical contraindication, rated according to DC 7312.

Where that usually lives. The recommendation and the contraindication, read with the cirrhosis code.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
100	Progressive chronic liver disease requiring both parenteral antiviral therapy and parenteral immunomodulatory therapy, including the six months after that treatment stops, or the continuation Note (1) describes.	The treatment record and the dates treatment stopped, if the six-month period is the period being evaluated.
60 or 40	Progressive disease, continuous medication, substantial or minor weight loss, and at least two of the six listed findings. The 20 percent line is one of five findings and does not list arthralgia.	Medication records and the weight history § 4.112(a) describes, if those lines are the ones in question.
0	Previous history of liver disease, currently asymptomatic.	The history and the current findings.
Note (2)	A physician recommendation of both parenteral therapies, and medical contraindication, rated according to DC 7312.	The recommendation and the contraindication, read with the cirrhosis code.

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

The exam form

DC 7345 prints 100, 60, 40, 20, and 0, plus four notes. This page does not say the form replaces those lines.

Related codes and how they interact

Cirrhosis and hepatitis C are neighboring codes.

DC 7312 is cirrhosis of the liver. Note (2) of DC 7345 names it for one contraindication case. DC 7354 says to rate hepatitis C under DC 7345. Note (3) says to track hepatitis C under DC 7354 and evaluate it with the DC 7345 criteria.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309 names cirrhosis of the liver, primary liver cancer with the hepatitis B exception, and liver cancer for Camp Lejeune. It does not assign DC 7345. This page does not add chronic liver disease without cirrhosis to those rows.

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 chronic liver disease without cirrhosis?

Under 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7345 is 100, 60, 40, 20, or 0 on the lines printed for chronic liver disease without cirrhosis. Notes (1) through (4) cover the six-month tail, a contraindication path to DC 7312, the diseases the code includes, and sequelae. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Does the 100 percent cell say oral therapy?

No. The 100 percent cell says “parenteral antiviral therapy (direct antiviral agents)” and “parenteral immunomodulatory therapy (interferon and other).” Note (1) repeats parenteral antiviral therapy and parenteral immunomodulatory drugs.

FAQ

What are the ratings for chronic liver disease without cirrhosis under DC 7345?

100 when progressive disease requires both parenteral antiviral therapy and parenteral immunomodulatory therapy, including six months after that treatment stops. 60 and 40 add continuous medication, substantial or minor weight loss, and at least two of six listed findings. 20 is at least one of five findings, and arthralgia is not in that list. 0 is a previous history, currently asymptomatic. Education only.

Where does hepatitis C go?

DC 7354 says to rate hepatitis C under DC 7345. Note (3) of DC 7345 says to track hepatitis C under DC 7354 but evaluate it using the criteria in the DC 7345 entry. Note (4), still in the DC 7345 block, names DC 7354 in the sequelae sentence.

Can DC 7345 be combined with cirrhosis?

The opening of § 4.114 says not to combine ratings under the listed digestive codes, including 7345 through 7350 and 7301 through 7329, 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. Note (2) is a different sentence: it rates one contraindication case according to DC 7312.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7345 or DC 7354, which percentage line was used, and whether Note (1) or Note (2) is discussed.
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 7345 • 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.