38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.115b

Testis, atrophy complete — VA Diagnostic Code 7523

Genitourinary

Diagnostic code

7523

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38 CFR § 4.115b lists Diagnostic Code 7523 as “Testis, atrophy complete.” Two lines follow. The rating column on each line is blank. The criteria cells read “Both—20” and “One—0,” and each cell carries footnote 1.

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 rating criteria at each level

7523 Testis, atrophy complete — numbers are inside the criteria cells

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Both—20

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). One—0

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
—	Both—20
—	One—0

Footnote 1, printed on both the Both—20 cell and the One—0 cell: Review for entitlement to special monthly compensation under § 3.350 of this chapter.

The rating column is empty on both lines. The 20 and the 0 are inside the criteria text, after an em dash. A blank rating cell on this page marks that layout. It is not an extra level.

The note under DC 7524, about removal of one testis, is not printed under DC 7523.

Footnote 1 orders a review under 38 CFR § 3.350. It does not name a dollar amount. Section 3.350(a) says special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1114(k) is payable for each anatomical loss or loss of use of one or more creative organs, among other listed losses. This page does not decide that loss of use exists. 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.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.115b, Diagnostic Code 7523, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Both—20 and One—0

The em dash is in the schedule. “Both” is 20. “One” is 0. The code title is “Testis, atrophy complete.” The word “complete” is in the title. The lines do not add a partial-atrophy percentage.

Footnote 1 is a review

The footnote says to review for entitlement to special monthly compensation under § 3.350. The same footnote is on the DC 7524 removal lines. The DC 7524 note about a service-incurred removal of one testis, with the other testis absent or nonfunctioning for a reason unrelated to service, is printed under removal. It is not printed under DC 7523.

Progressive muscular atrophy is a different name

38 CFR § 3.309(a) lists “Atrophy, progressive muscular.” That schedule title is DC 8023. Section 3.309(a) does not say “Testis, atrophy complete.”

Evidence that speaks to each level

Both—20

What the rater needs to see. Complete atrophy of both testes, which is the criteria cell that contains 20.

Where that usually lives. The genital examination that describes both testes.

One—0

What the rater needs to see. Complete atrophy of one testis, which is the criteria cell that contains 0.

Where that usually lives. The same examination. The cell is a printed 0. It is not created by § 4.31.

The § 3.350 review

What the rater needs to see. Records a clinician uses to describe testicular function, if loss or loss of use of a creative organ is the question the footnote names.

Where that usually lives. Urology notes. The footnote orders a review. It does not state a payment amount.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
Both—20	Complete atrophy of both testes, which is the criteria cell that contains 20.	The genital examination that describes both testes.
One—0	Complete atrophy of one testis, which is the criteria cell that contains 0.	The same examination. The cell is a printed 0. It is not created by § 4.31.
The § 3.350 review	Records a clinician uses to describe testicular function, if loss or loss of use of a creative organ is the question the footnote names.	Urology notes. The footnote orders a review. It does not state a payment amount.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Male Reproductive Organ Conditions (Including Prostate Cancer)” under Genitourinary. The file is Male Reproductive Organ Conditions (Including Prostate Cancer).

The exam form

DC 7523 prints Both—20, One—0, and footnote 1. This page does not say the form replaces those lines.

Related codes and how they interact

Removal is DC 7524. Erectile dysfunction is a different code.

DC 7524 is “Testis, removal.” Both is 30 in the rating column, with footnote 1. One is 0 in the rating column, with footnote 1. DC 7524 then prints a note about a one-testis removal fact pattern. That note is not the DC 7523 text.

The public page for erectile dysfunction is DC 7522. 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.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309(a) lists “Atrophy, progressive muscular.” It does not list complete testicular atrophy. The 2026-10-01 text of § 3.309 does not contain “testis.”

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 complete testicular atrophy?

Under 38 CFR § 4.115b, Diagnostic Code 7523 prints Both—20 and One—0. Each line has a footnote to review special monthly compensation under § 3.350. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Is this the chronic-disease listing for atrophy?

No. Section 3.309(a) says “Atrophy, progressive muscular.” That is not the DC 7523 title.

FAQ

How does VA rate complete atrophy of the testis under DC 7523?

The criteria cells are Both—20 and One—0. The rating column is blank. Footnote 1 says to review for special monthly compensation under § 3.350. Education only.

Is removal of a testis the same code?

No. Removal is DC 7524. Both is 30 and one is 0, in the rating column, also with footnote 1. DC 7524 then prints a note DC 7523 does not print.

Does the footnote state a dollar amount?

No. It says to review entitlement under § 3.350. This page does not state a payment amount.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7523, whether the line is both or one, and whether a § 3.350 review is mentioned.
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 codes in this schedule are on the genitourinary diagnostic-code index.

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 7523 • 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.