38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.115b

Kidney, removal of one — VA Diagnostic Code 7500

Genitourinary

Diagnostic code

7500

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38 CFR § 4.115b lists Diagnostic Code 7500 as “Kidney, removal of one:”. The title ends with a colon. The rating cell on that title is empty. The next cell is “Minimum evaluation,” at 30. The cell after that is “Or rate as renal dysfunction if there is nephritis, infection, or pathology of the other.” That cell ends with a period, and its rating cell is empty. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Kidney, removal.” The index drops “of one” and uses a period.

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 § 4.115b source note prints 59 FR 2527, Jan. 18, 1994; 59 FR 14567, Mar. 29, 1994, as amended at 59 FR 46339, Sept. 8, 1994; 86 FR 54086, Sept. 30, 2021. The § 4.115a source note prints 59 FR 2527, Jan. 18, 1994; 59 FR 10676, Mar. 7, 1994; 86 FR 54085, Sept. 30, 2021. The § 4.115 (Nephritis) source note prints 41 FR 34258, Aug. 13, 1976, as amended at 59 FR 2527, Jan. 18, 1994.

The rating criteria at each level

7500 Kidney, removal of one

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Minimum evaluation

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Or rate as renal dysfunction if there is nephritis, infection, or pathology of the other.

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
30	Minimum evaluation
—	Or rate as renal dysfunction if there is nephritis, infection, or pathology of the other.

Renal dysfunction — § 4.115a, the area the second cell names

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). Chronic kidney disease with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 15 mL/min/1.73 m² for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months; or requiring regular routine dialysis; or eligible kidney transplant recipient

Rating %: 80

Criteria (verbatim). Chronic kidney disease with GFR from 15 to 29 mL/min/1.73 m² for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months

Rating %: 60

Criteria (verbatim). Chronic kidney disease with GFR from 30 to 44 mL/min/1.73 m² for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Chronic kidney disease with GFR from 45 to 59 mL/min/1.73 m² for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months

Rating %: 0

Criteria (verbatim). GFR from 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m² and either recurrent red blood cell (RBC) casts, white blood cell (WBC) casts, or granular casts for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months; or GFR from 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m² and structural kidney abnormalities (cystic, obstructive, or glomerular) for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months; or GFR from 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m² and albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) ≥30 mg/g for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	Chronic kidney disease with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 15 mL/min/1.73 m² for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months; or requiring regular routine dialysis; or eligible kidney transplant recipient
80	Chronic kidney disease with GFR from 15 to 29 mL/min/1.73 m² for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months
60	Chronic kidney disease with GFR from 30 to 44 mL/min/1.73 m² for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months
30	Chronic kidney disease with GFR from 45 to 59 mL/min/1.73 m² for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months
0	GFR from 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m² and either recurrent red blood cell (RBC) casts, white blood cell (WBC) casts, or granular casts for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months; or GFR from 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m² and structural kidney abnormalities (cystic, obstructive, or glomerular) for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months; or GFR from 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m² and albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) ≥30 mg/g for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months

Note: GFR, estimated GFR (eGFR), and creatinine-based approximations of GFR will be accepted for evaluation purposes under this section when determined to be appropriate and calculated by a medical professional.

The 0 percent renal line is three rows in § 4.115a. The 0 is printed on the albumin/creatinine row. The casts row and the structural-abnormalities row sit above it, and each of those two rows ends with “or”. The 2 in m² is a superscript.

The second DC 7500 cell says “infection.” It does not say “urinary tract infection,” and it does not say “whichever is predominant.”

The minimum evaluation of 30 is printed on DC 7500. The renal-dysfunction 30 is a different cell: GFR from 45 to 59.

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 § 4.115a says: “Where diagnostic codes refer the decision maker to these specific areas of dysfunction, only the predominant area of dysfunction shall be considered for rating purposes.” DC 7500 names one area, renal dysfunction, and it names that area only “if there is nephritis, infection, or pathology of the other.” The percentages in the second table are the § 4.115a renal lines. They are not extra percentages printed under the DC 7500 title.

38 CFR § 4.115 (Nephritis) says separate ratings are not to be assigned for disability from disease of the heart and any form of nephritis, on account of the close interrelationships of cardiovascular disabilities. It then says: if absence of a kidney is the sole renal disability, even if removal was required because of nephritis, the absent kidney and any hypertension or heart disease will be separately rated. It also says that if chronic renal disease has progressed to the point where regular dialysis is required, any coexisting hypertension or heart disease will be separately rated.

DC 7504 says “Rate as renal dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant.” DC 7502 and DC 7530 say only “Rate as renal dysfunction.” DC 7501 says “Rate as urinary tract infection.” DC 7531 is kidney transplant. None of those cells is the DC 7500 minimum of 30.

The opening note of § 4.115b says that when evaluating any claim involving loss or loss of use of one or more creative organs, refer to § 3.350. DC 7500 does not carry the superscript 1 that the footnote uses.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “removal of one.” Paragraph (f) lists “Kidney cancer.” The chronic-disease list includes “Calculi of the kidney, bladder, or gallbladder.” Those sentences do not assign DC 7500. DC 7101 is hypertensive vascular disease. Section 4.115 names hypertension in the separate-rating sentence. It does not move that sentence onto DC 7101’s criteria.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.115b, Diagnostic Code 7500, and 38 CFR § 4.115a, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Minimum evaluation

Those two words are the whole 30 percent cell. The rating is 30. The cell does not add GFR, dialysis, or a transplant.

Pathology of the other

The alternative cell applies “if there is nephritis, infection, or pathology of the other.” “The other” is in that sentence. The cell then says to rate as renal dysfunction.

Sole renal disability

Section 4.115 uses that phrase for the case in which absence of a kidney is the sole renal disability. In that case it says the absent kidney and any hypertension or heart disease will be separately rated, even if removal was required because of nephritis.

Evidence that speaks to each level

Minimum evaluation of 30

What the rater needs to see. Removal of one kidney, which is the title.

Where that usually lives. The operative record or the imaging that documents absence of one kidney.

The renal-dysfunction cell

What the rater needs to see. Nephritis, infection, or pathology of the other kidney, and then the GFR, dialysis, or transplant facts on the § 4.115a line used.

Where that usually lives. Laboratory results calculated by a medical professional, as the renal note states, plus the findings about the remaining kidney.

The § 4.115 (Nephritis) separate-rating sentence

What the rater needs to see. Whether absence of a kidney is the sole renal disability, and whether hypertension or heart disease is also in the record.

Where that usually lives. The rating decision’s discussion of § 4.115 (Nephritis), if it uses that sentence.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
Minimum evaluation of 30	Removal of one kidney, which is the title.	The operative record or the imaging that documents absence of one kidney.
The renal-dysfunction cell	Nephritis, infection, or pathology of the other kidney, and then the GFR, dialysis, or transplant facts on the § 4.115a line used.	Laboratory results calculated by a medical professional, as the renal note states, plus the findings about the remaining kidney.
The § 4.115 (Nephritis) separate-rating sentence	Whether absence of a kidney is the sole renal disability, and whether hypertension or heart disease is also in the record.	The rating decision’s discussion of § 4.115 (Nephritis), if it uses that sentence.

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

The exam form

DC 7500 prints a minimum of 30 and one rate-as sentence. This page does not say the form replaces those cells.

Related codes and how they interact

Chronic pyelonephritis names two areas.

DC 7504 says renal dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant. DC 7500 names renal dysfunction only, and only if there is nephritis, infection, or pathology of the other, beside a minimum evaluation of 30.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309 does not assign DC 7500. Kidney cancer and calculi of the kidney stay different sentences. Section 4.115 is the sentence that discusses hypertension and heart disease when absence of a kidney is the sole renal disability.

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 removal of one kidney?

Under 38 CFR § 4.115b, Diagnostic Code 7500 is a minimum evaluation of 30, or a rating as renal dysfunction if there is nephritis, infection, or pathology of the other kidney. The renal lines are in § 4.115a. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Is removal of one kidney the kidney-cancer presumptive?

Section 3.309(f) lists “Kidney cancer.” The 2026-10-01 text does not assign that sentence to DC 7500, and it does not contain “removal of one.”

FAQ

What does DC 7500 print for removal of one kidney?

A minimum evaluation of 30. Or, if there is nephritis, infection, or pathology of the other kidney, rate as renal dysfunction. The renal percentages are in § 4.115a. Education only.

Does the second cell say urinary tract infection?

No. It says “infection.” Urinary tract infection is a different heading in § 4.115a. DC 7501 says to rate a kidney abscess as urinary tract infection. DC 7504 names urinary tract infection and says whichever is predominant.

When does § 4.115 (Nephritis) say to rate the absent kidney separately from hypertension?

When absence of a kidney is the sole renal disability, even if removal was required because of nephritis. The same section says separate ratings are not assigned for heart disease and any form of nephritis, and it has a further sentence for regular dialysis.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7500, whether it used the minimum of 30 or a renal-dysfunction line, and any § 4.115 (Nephritis) discussion.
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 genitourinary codes are on the genitourinary diagnostic-code index. The category page is genitourinary 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 Genitourinary, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Genitourinary codes

Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7500 • 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.