38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.114

Hepatitis C (or non-A, non-B hepatitis) — VA Diagnostic Code 7354

Digestive

Diagnostic code

7354

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38 CFR § 4.114 lists Diagnostic Code 7354 as “Hepatitis C (or non-A, non-B hepatitis):”. The title ends with a colon, and the percentage cell on that title row is empty. The criteria cell is “Rate under DC 7345 (Chronic liver disease without cirrhosis).” That cell ends with a period, and its percentage cell is empty. DC 7354 does not print 100, 60, 40, 20, or 0 on its own row. Those percentages are in the DC 7345 entry. Note (3) of DC 7345 says to track Hepatitis C under DC 7354 but evaluate it using the criteria in the DC 7345 entry.

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. Section 4.114 was last amended at 89 FR 19743, Mar. 20, 2024. Section 4.112 carries the same March 20, 2024 date.

The rating criteria at each level

7354 Hepatitis C (or non-A, non-B hepatitis)

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Rate under DC 7345 (Chronic liver disease without cirrhosis).

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
—	Rate under DC 7345 (Chronic liver disease without cirrhosis).

7345 Chronic liver disease without cirrhosis — the entry DC 7354 uses

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)

Notes (1) through (4) are printed in the DC 7345 block, before DC 7346. DC 7354’s own block is the title and the rate-under sentence. The next code is DC 7355, celiac disease. The serum-antibody note is on DC 7355. It is not printed on DC 7354.

Note (4) 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 § 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 7354 is not in that list. DC 7355 through 7357 are in that list. This page does not turn DC 7354’s absence from the list into a combining rule. Note (4) of DC 7345 says not to use the same signs and symptoms as the basis for evaluation under DC 7354 and under a diagnostic code for sequelae.

38 CFR § 4.112(a) defines substantial weight loss and minor weight loss for conditions in § 4.114. 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 7312 is cirrhosis of the liver. Note (2) of DC 7345 sends one contraindication case to DC 7312. DC 7351 is liver transplant. DC 7355 is celiac disease. Note (3) includes Hepatitis B in the DC 7345 entry and tells the reader to track Hepatitis C under DC 7354.

38 CFR § 4.113 describes coexisting abdominal conditions and points to § 4.14. Note (1) of DC 7345 points a later change to § 3.105(e).

Source: 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Codes 7354 and 7345, and 38 CFR § 4.112, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Track under 7354, evaluate under 7345

The DC 7354 cell says to rate under DC 7345. Note (3) of DC 7345 says to track Hepatitis C (or non-A, non-B hepatitis) under DC 7354 but evaluate it using the criteria in the DC 7345 entry. Both sentences are in § 4.114.

Hepatitis B is in the DC 7345 list

Note (3) includes Hepatitis B, confirmed by serologic testing, among the diseases in the DC 7345 entry. Hepatitis C is the disease that note says to track under DC 7354.

The five percentage lines

100, 60, 40, 20, and 0 are printed under DC 7345. None of those five cells ends with a period. DC 7354 does not reprint them.

Evidence that speaks to each level

The DC 7354 sentence

What the rater needs to see. Hepatitis C, or non-A, non-B hepatitis, tracked under DC 7354 and evaluated with the DC 7345 criteria.

Where that usually lives. The diagnosis, read with Note (3) of DC 7345.

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, 40, 20, or 0

What the rater needs to see. The DC 7345 findings: continuous medication and weight loss with at least two listed findings at 60 or 40, one of five findings at 20, or a previous history currently asymptomatic at 0.

Where that usually lives. Medication records and, for the weight-loss lines, the history § 4.112(a) describes.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
The DC 7354 sentence	Hepatitis C, or non-A, non-B hepatitis, tracked under DC 7354 and evaluated with the DC 7345 criteria.	The diagnosis, read with Note (3) of DC 7345.
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, 40, 20, or 0	The DC 7345 findings: continuous medication and weight loss with at least two listed findings at 60 or 40, one of five findings at 20, or a previous history currently asymptomatic at 0.	Medication records and, for the weight-loss lines, the history § 4.112(a) describes.

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

The exam form

DC 7354 prints one rate-under sentence. The percentages and the four notes are in the DC 7345 entry. This page does not say the form replaces those lines.

Related codes and how they interact

Cirrhosis and celiac disease are different codes.

DC 7312 is cirrhosis of the liver. Note (4) says to evaluate sequelae such as cirrhosis or malignancy under an appropriate diagnostic code, without using the same signs and symptoms for DC 7354 and for the sequelae code. DC 7355 is celiac disease. Its confirmation note is not the DC 7354 block.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “Hepatitis C,” “non-A,” or “non-B.” Paragraph (a) lists “Cirrhosis of the liver.” 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 DC 7354. This page does not add hepatitis C 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 hepatitis C under DC 7354?

Under 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7354 says to rate hepatitis C under DC 7345, chronic liver disease without cirrhosis. Note (3) of DC 7345 says to track hepatitis C under DC 7354 and evaluate it with the DC 7345 criteria: 100, 60, 40, 20, and 0. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Does section 3.309 name hepatitis C?

The 2026-10-01 text does not contain “Hepatitis C.” It lists cirrhosis of the liver, primary liver cancer with a hepatitis B exception, and liver cancer for Camp Lejeune. Those sentences do not print DC 7354.

FAQ

Does DC 7354 print its own percentages?

No. The cell says to rate under DC 7345, chronic liver disease without cirrhosis. The DC 7345 lines are 100, 60, 40, 20, and 0. Education only.

Where does the schedule say to track hepatitis C?

Note (3) of DC 7345 says to track Hepatitis C (or non-A, non-B hepatitis) under DC 7354 but evaluate it using the criteria in the DC 7345 entry.

Is hepatitis B the same code?

Note (3) includes Hepatitis B, confirmed by serologic testing, in the DC 7345 entry. The same note tells the reader to track Hepatitis C under DC 7354.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7354 or DC 7345, and which of the DC 7345 lines was 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 7354 • va.gov

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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.