38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.114

Celiac disease — VA Diagnostic Code 7355

Digestive

Diagnostic code

7355

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38 CFR § 4.114 lists Diagnostic Code 7355 as “Celiac disease:”. The title ends with a colon. The lines are 80, 50, and 30. None of those cells ends with a period. Note (1) requires an appropriate serum antibody test or endoscopy with biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Note (2) says that for celiac disease with the predominant disability of malabsorption, use the greater evaluation between DC 7328 or celiac disease under DC 7355. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Celiac disease.”

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

7355 Celiac disease

Rating %: 80

Criteria (verbatim). Malabsorption syndrome with weakness which interferes with activities of daily living; and weight loss resulting in wasting and nutritional deficiencies; and with systemic manifestations including but not limited to, weakness and fatigue, dermatitis, lymph node enlargement, hypocalcemia, low vitamin levels; and anemia related to malabsorption; and episodes of abdominal pain and diarrhea due to lactase deficiency or pancreatic insufficiency

Rating %: 50

Criteria (verbatim). Malabsorption syndrome with chronic diarrhea managed by medically-prescribed dietary intervention such as prescribed gluten-free diet, with nutritional deficiencies due to lactase and pancreatic insufficiency; and with systemic manifestations including, but not limited to, weakness and fatigue, dermatitis, lymph node enlargement, hypocalcemia, low vitamin levels, or atrophy of the inner intestinal lining shown on biopsy

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Malabsorption syndrome with chronic diarrhea managed by medically-prescribed dietary intervention such as prescribed gluten-free diet; and without nutritional deficiencies

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
80	Malabsorption syndrome with weakness which interferes with activities of daily living; and weight loss resulting in wasting and nutritional deficiencies; and with systemic manifestations including but not limited to, weakness and fatigue, dermatitis, lymph node enlargement, hypocalcemia, low vitamin levels; and anemia related to malabsorption; and episodes of abdominal pain and diarrhea due to lactase deficiency or pancreatic insufficiency
50	Malabsorption syndrome with chronic diarrhea managed by medically-prescribed dietary intervention such as prescribed gluten-free diet, with nutritional deficiencies due to lactase and pancreatic insufficiency; and with systemic manifestations including, but not limited to, weakness and fatigue, dermatitis, lymph node enlargement, hypocalcemia, low vitamin levels, or atrophy of the inner intestinal lining shown on biopsy
30	Malabsorption syndrome with chronic diarrhea managed by medically-prescribed dietary intervention such as prescribed gluten-free diet; and without nutritional deficiencies

Note (1): An appropriate serum antibody test or endoscopy with biopsy must confirm the diagnosis.

Note (2): For evaluation of celiac disease with the predominant disability of malabsorption, use the greater evaluation between DC 7328 or celiac disease under DC 7355.

The 80 percent cell says “including but not limited to,” with the comma after “to.” The 50 percent cell says “including, but not limited to,” with commas around that phrase. The 80 percent cell does not say “gluten-free.” The 50 and 30 percent cells say “medically-prescribed dietary intervention such as prescribed gluten-free diet.”

38 CFR § 4.31 says that in every instance where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a diagnostic code, a zero percent evaluation shall be assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met. DC 7355 does not print a 0 percent line and does not print a 10 percent line. 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.

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 7355 is inside 7355 through 7357. DC 7328 is inside 7301 through 7329. Note (2) is the sentence that tells the reader to use the greater evaluation between those two codes when malabsorption is the predominant disability.

DC 7328 is “Intestine, small, resection of:”. Its rating column prints 80, 60, 40, 20, and 0. Note (2) of DC 7355 does not reprint those criteria. It names the code and says to use the greater evaluation. 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.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7355, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

The comma sits in a different place

On the 80 percent line the words are “including but not limited to,”. On the 50 percent line the words are “including, but not limited to,”. The 50 percent line also says “or atrophy of the inner intestinal lining shown on biopsy.” The 80 percent line does not.

Gluten-free diet is on 50 and 30

Those two lines say medically-prescribed dietary intervention such as prescribed gluten-free diet. The 30 percent line adds “and without nutritional deficiencies.” The 80 percent line does not use the gluten-free example.

Confirmation is a note, not a percentage

Note (1) says an appropriate serum antibody test or endoscopy with biopsy must confirm the diagnosis. It ends with a period. It is not a fourth percentage.

Evidence that speaks to each level

80, 50, or 30

What the rater needs to see. The malabsorption, diarrhea, dietary, nutritional, and systemic findings the selected line actually prints. The 30 percent line requires the absence of nutritional deficiencies. The 80 percent line requires weight loss resulting in wasting and nutritional deficiencies, plus the other clauses in that cell.

Where that usually lives. The clinical record, the prescribed diet, and the biopsy or laboratory findings the line names.

Note (1) and Note (2)

What the rater needs to see. An appropriate serum antibody test or endoscopy with biopsy. If the predominant disability is malabsorption, the comparison is the greater evaluation between DC 7328 and DC 7355.

Where that usually lives. The confirming test, and the DC 7328 evaluation if that comparison is the one the decision uses.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
80, 50, or 30	The malabsorption, diarrhea, dietary, nutritional, and systemic findings the selected line actually prints. The 30 percent line requires the absence of nutritional deficiencies. The 80 percent line requires weight loss resulting in wasting and nutritional deficiencies, plus the other clauses in that cell.	The clinical record, the prescribed diet, and the biopsy or laboratory findings the line names.
Note (1) and Note (2)	An appropriate serum antibody test or endoscopy with biopsy. If the predominant disability is malabsorption, the comparison is the greater evaluation between DC 7328 and DC 7355.	The confirming test, and the DC 7328 evaluation if that comparison is the one the decision uses.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Intestinal Conditions” under Gastrointestinal and “Nutritional Deficiencies” under Nutrition. The intestinal file is Intestinal Conditions. The nutrition file is Nutritional Deficiencies.

The exam form

DC 7355 prints 80, 50, and 30, and two notes. This page does not say either form replaces those lines.

Related codes and how they interact

Small-intestine resection is the comparison code.

Note (2) names DC 7328 and DC 7355 and says to use the greater evaluation when malabsorption is the predominant disability. It does not say to add the two evaluations.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “celiac” or “gluten.” It does not assign DC 7355.

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

What is the VA rating for celiac disease?

Under 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7355 is 80, 50, or 30 percent on the lines printed there. Note (1) requires confirmation by an appropriate serum antibody test or endoscopy with biopsy. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Are the 80 and 50 percent “including” clauses the same?

No. The 80 percent cell says “including but not limited to,”. The 50 percent cell says “including, but not limited to,” and adds atrophy of the inner intestinal lining shown on biopsy as one of the listed manifestations.

FAQ

How does VA rate celiac disease under DC 7355?

The lines are 80, 50, and 30 percent. The 80 percent line is the wasting and systemic line. The 50 percent line is chronic diarrhea managed by a medically-prescribed diet such as a prescribed gluten-free diet, with nutritional deficiencies and systemic manifestations. The 30 percent line is that dietary management without nutritional deficiencies. Note (1) requires a serum antibody test or endoscopy with biopsy. Education only.

Does DC 7355 print a 10 or 0 percent line?

No. The printed lines are 80, 50, and 30. Section 4.31 is the zero-percent rule for a diagnostic code that does not provide a zero percent evaluation when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.

When does DC 7328 enter the evaluation?

Note (2) says that for celiac disease with the predominant disability of malabsorption, use the greater evaluation between DC 7328 or celiac disease under DC 7355. DC 7328’s own rating column prints 80, 60, 40, 20, and 0.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7355, the confirming test, and any DC 7328 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 7355 • 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.