38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.114
Post pancreatectomy syndrome — VA Diagnostic Code 7357
Digestive
Diagnostic code
7357
38 CFR § 4.114 lists Diagnostic Code 7357 as “Post pancreatectomy syndrome:”. There is no hyphen in “Post pancreatectomy.” The next cell names the codes to evaluate under and does not print a rating. The following cell is the word “Minimum” at 30. Appendix B uses “Post pancreatectomy syndrome.” The catalog slug is dc-7357-post-pancreatectomy-syndrome.
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.
The rating criteria at each level
7357 Post pancreatectomy syndrome
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Following total or partial pancreatectomy, evaluate under Pancreatitis, chronic (DC 7347), Chronic complications of upper gastrointestinal surgery (DC 7303), or based on residuals such as malabsorption (Intestine, small, resection of, DC 7328), diarrhea (Irritable bowel syndrome, DC 7319, or Crohn's disease or undifferentiated form of inflammatory bowel disease, DC 7326), or diabetes (DC 7913), whichever provides the highest evaluation
Rating %: 30
Criteria (verbatim). Minimum
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| — | Following total or partial pancreatectomy, evaluate under Pancreatitis, chronic (DC 7347), Chronic complications of upper gastrointestinal surgery (DC 7303), or based on residuals such as malabsorption (Intestine, small, resection of, DC 7328), diarrhea (Irritable bowel syndrome, DC 7319, or Crohn's disease or undifferentiated form of inflammatory bowel disease, DC 7326), or diabetes (DC 7913), whichever provides the highest evaluation |
| 30 | Minimum |
The evaluate sentence does not end with a period. It says “whichever provides the highest evaluation.” The minimum row’s criteria cell is the single word “Minimum.” The 30 is in the rating cell.
The title has no hyphen between “Post” and “pancreatectomy.” The catalog slug inserts a hyphen.
The named codes are DC 7347, DC 7303, DC 7328, DC 7319, DC 7326, and DC 7913. The diarrhea clause names DC 7319 or DC 7326. The sentence does not say to add those ratings together.
The minimum of 30 is printed on DC 7357. 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. 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 opening paragraph of 38 CFR § 4.114 includes 7355 through 7357 inclusive in the codes that are not combined with each other. DC 7357 is in that span. The same paragraph also includes 7301 through 7329, which covers DC 7303, DC 7319, DC 7326, and DC 7328, and 7345 through 7350, which covers DC 7347. DC 7913 is not in that digestive list. 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.” DC 7357’s own sentence says to use whichever named evaluation is highest. Those are two sentences. This page does not merge them into a third rule.
DC 7347 Note (2) says: “Separately rate endocrine dysfunction resulting in diabetes due to pancreatic insufficiency under DC 7913 (Diabetes mellitus).” That note is printed under DC 7347. DC 7357 does not print it. DC 7357 names diabetes (DC 7913) inside the “whichever provides the highest evaluation” sentence. The public diabetes page is diabetes mellitus. The public irritable-bowel page is irritable bowel syndrome, which is DC 7319.
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 contains “Cancer of the pancreas.” It does not contain “pancreatectomy,” “7357,” or “Post pancreatectomy.” This page does not add DC 7357 to a presumptive row.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7357, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01. The 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.
What the words mean in your records
No hyphen in the schedule title
The schedule and Appendix B say “Post pancreatectomy syndrome.” The catalog slug is dc-7357-post-pancreatectomy-syndrome.
Minimum is its own row
The criteria cell is “Minimum.” The rating cell is 30. The evaluate sentence above it has an empty rating cell.
Separately rate is a DC 7347 note
DC 7347 Note (2) says to separately rate diabetes due to pancreatic insufficiency under DC 7913. DC 7357 lists DC 7913 as one of the alternatives in the highest-evaluation sentence. It does not print the words “Separately rate.”
Evidence that speaks to each level
The named residual
What the rater needs to see. Total or partial pancreatectomy, then the findings of the code that the sentence names: chronic pancreatitis (DC 7347), chronic complications of upper gastrointestinal surgery (DC 7303), malabsorption after small-intestine resection (DC 7328), diarrhea under DC 7319 or DC 7326, or diabetes (DC 7913). The sentence says whichever provides the highest evaluation.
Where that usually lives. The operative record, and the findings the chosen code uses.
Minimum
What the rater needs to see. The DC 7357 table prints “Minimum” at 30.
Where that usually lives. The decision, if the residual evaluation is being compared with that minimum.
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Pancreas” under Gastrointestinal. The file is Pancreas.
The exam form
DC 7357 names several diagnostic codes and a minimum of 30. This page does not say the pancreas form replaces that sentence.
Related codes and how they interact
The codes named in the evaluate sentence
DC 7347 is pancreatitis, chronic. DC 7303 is chronic complications of upper gastrointestinal surgery. DC 7328 is resection of the small intestine. DC 7326 is Crohn's disease or undifferentiated inflammatory bowel disease. DC 7913 is diabetes mellitus. Peptic ulcer disease remains DC 7304. DC 7357 does not name DC 7304.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
Section 3.309 does not contain “pancreatectomy” or “7357.” “Cancer of the pancreas” is a different line. This page does not add DC 7357 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 post pancreatectomy syndrome under DC 7357?
Under 38 CFR § 4.114, Diagnostic Code 7357 says that following total or partial pancreatectomy, evaluate under chronic pancreatitis (DC 7347), chronic complications of upper gastrointestinal surgery (DC 7303), or residuals such as malabsorption (DC 7328), diarrhea (DC 7319 or DC 7326), or diabetes (DC 7913), whichever provides the highest evaluation. The next row is Minimum at 30. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Does the schedule hyphenate post pancreatectomy?
No. The title is “Post pancreatectomy syndrome:”. The catalog slug uses a hyphen. Education only.
FAQ
What percentage does DC 7357 print?
The evaluate sentence does not print a rating. The next row is “Minimum” at 30. The other percentages are on the codes that sentence names. Education only.
Does the evaluate sentence end with a period?
No. It ends with “whichever provides the highest evaluation.”
Is “Separately rate” printed on DC 7357?
No. DC 7347 Note (2) says to separately rate endocrine dysfunction resulting in diabetes due to pancreatic insufficiency under DC 7913. DC 7357 names DC 7913 inside the highest-evaluation sentence.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 7357, which named code it used, and whether the minimum of 30 was applied.
- 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 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
- DC 7343Neoplasms, malignant
- DC 7344Benign neoplasms, exclusive of skin growths
- DC 7345Chronic liver disease without cirrhosis
- DC 7346Hiatal hernia and paraesophageal hernia
- DC 7347Pancreatitis, chronic
- DC 7348Vagotomy with pyloroplasty or gastroenterostomy
- DC 7350Liver abscess
- DC 7351Liver transplant
- DC 7352Pancreas transplant
- DC 7354Hepatitis C (or non-A, non-B hepatitis)
- DC 7355Celiac disease
- DC 7356Gastrointestinal dysmotility syndrome
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7357 • 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.