38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.115b
Prostate gland injuries, infections, hypertrophy, postoperative residuals, bladder outlet obstruction — VA Diagnostic Code 7527
Genitourinary
Diagnostic code
7527
38 CFR § 4.115b lists Diagnostic Code 7527 as “Prostate gland injuries, infections, hypertrophy, postoperative residuals, bladder outlet obstruction.” The only rating instruction is: “Rate as voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant.” The code does not print a percentage of its own. Malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary system are [DC 7528](/conditions/diagnostic-codes/dc-7528-malignant-neoplasms). Section 3.309(e) names “Prostate cancer.” It does not name DC 7527.
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, as amended at 86 FR 54086, Sept. 30, 2021. The versioner lists a substantive amendment date of 2021-11-14 for § 4.115a and § 4.115b.
The rating criteria at each level
Continual urine leakage, post surgical urinary diversion, urinary incontinence, or stress incontinence — § 4.115a
Rating %: 60
Criteria (verbatim). Requiring the use of an appliance or the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed more than 4 times per day
Rating %: 40
Criteria (verbatim). Requiring the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed 2 to 4 times per day
Rating %: 20
Criteria (verbatim). Requiring the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed less than 2 times per day
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 60 | Requiring the use of an appliance or the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed more than 4 times per day |
| 40 | Requiring the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed 2 to 4 times per day |
| 20 | Requiring the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed less than 2 times per day |
Urinary frequency — § 4.115a
Rating %: 40
Criteria (verbatim). Daytime voiding interval less than one hour, or; awakening to void five or more times per night
Rating %: 20
Criteria (verbatim). Daytime voiding interval between one and two hours, or; awakening to void three to four times per night
Rating %: 10
Criteria (verbatim). Daytime voiding interval between two and three hours, or; awakening to void two times per night
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 40 | Daytime voiding interval less than one hour, or; awakening to void five or more times per night |
| 20 | Daytime voiding interval between one and two hours, or; awakening to void three to four times per night |
| 10 | Daytime voiding interval between two and three hours, or; awakening to void two times per night |
Obstructed voiding — § 4.115a
Rating %: 30
Criteria (verbatim). Urinary retention requiring intermittent or continuous catheterization
Rating %: 10
Criteria (verbatim). Marked obstructive symptomatology (hesitancy, slow or weak stream, decreased force of stream) with any one or combination of the following: 1. Post void residuals greater than 150 cc. 2. Uroflowmetry; markedly diminished peak flow rate (less than 10 cc/sec). 3. Recurrent urinary tract infections secondary to obstruction. 4. Stricture disease requiring periodic dilatation every 2 to 3 months
Rating %: 0
Criteria (verbatim). Obstructive symptomatology with or without stricture disease requiring dilatation 1 to 2 times per year
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 30 | Urinary retention requiring intermittent or continuous catheterization |
| 10 | Marked obstructive symptomatology (hesitancy, slow or weak stream, decreased force of stream) with any one or combination of the following: 1. Post void residuals greater than 150 cc. 2. Uroflowmetry; markedly diminished peak flow rate (less than 10 cc/sec). 3. Recurrent urinary tract infections secondary to obstruction. 4. Stricture disease requiring periodic dilatation every 2 to 3 months |
| 0 | Obstructive symptomatology with or without stricture disease requiring dilatation 1 to 2 times per year |
Urinary tract infection — § 4.115a
Rating %: 30
Criteria (verbatim). Recurrent symptomatic infection requiring drainage by stent or nephrostomy tube; or requiring greater than 2 hospitalizations per year; or requiring continuous intensive management
Rating %: 10
Criteria (verbatim). Recurrent symptomatic infection requiring 1-2 hospitalizations per year or suppressive drug therapy lasting six months or longer
Rating %: 0
Criteria (verbatim). Recurrent symptomatic infection not requiring hospitalization, but requiring suppressive drug therapy for less than 6 months
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 30 | Recurrent symptomatic infection requiring drainage by stent or nephrostomy tube; or requiring greater than 2 hospitalizations per year; or requiring continuous intensive management |
| 10 | Recurrent symptomatic infection requiring 1-2 hospitalizations per year or suppressive drug therapy lasting six months or longer |
| 0 | Recurrent symptomatic infection not requiring hospitalization, but requiring suppressive drug therapy for less than 6 months |
DC 7527: Rate as voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant.
Voiding dysfunction: Rate particular condition as urine leakage, frequency, or obstructed voiding.
Urinary tract infection also says: “Poor renal function: Rate as renal dysfunction.”
38 CFR § 4.115a says: “Diseases of the genitourinary system generally result in disabilities related to renal or voiding dysfunctions, infections, or a combination of these. 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. Distinct disabilities may be evaluated separately under this section, pursuant to § 4.14, if the symptoms do not overlap.”
The percentages above are the § 4.115a lines DC 7527 points to. They are not extra percentages printed under DC 7527 itself.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.115b, Diagnostic Code 7527, and 38 CFR § 4.115a, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01. The § 4.115b source note prints 59 FR 2527, Jan. 18, 1994, as amended at 86 FR 54086, Sept. 30, 2021. The versioner lists a later substantive amendment date of 2021-11-14 for § 4.115a and § 4.115b.
What the words mean in your records
Whichever is predominant
That phrase is the DC 7527 instruction, and § 4.115a says only the predominant area of dysfunction shall be considered for rating purposes when a diagnostic code refers to these areas. The same paragraph says distinct disabilities may be evaluated separately under § 4.14 if the symptoms do not overlap.
This is not the prostate-cancer code
DC 7528 is “Malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary system,” rated 100, with a note on the six months after treatment stops. 38 CFR § 3.309(e) names “Prostate cancer” and does not assign a diagnostic code in that line. This page does not treat DC 7527 as that line.
When two lines are close
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.
Evidence that speaks to each level
Voiding dysfunction
What the rater needs to see. The leakage, frequency, or obstructed-voiding line that matches the record. Section 4.115a says to rate the particular condition as one of those three.
Where that usually lives. Urology notes, the voiding diary if one is in the file, catheter records, and post-void residual or uroflowmetry when the obstructed-voiding line uses them.
Urinary tract infection
What the rater needs to see. The hospitalization, drainage, or suppressive-therapy facts on the 30, 10, or 0 line. Poor renal function is rated as renal dysfunction.
Where that usually lives. Infection treatment notes and the renal studies if the poor-renal-function sentence applies.
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Urinary Tract Conditions” and “Male Reproductive Organ Conditions (Including Prostate Cancer)” under Genitourinary.
The exam form
The urinary-tract file is Urinary Tract Conditions. The male-reproductive file is Male Reproductive Organ Conditions (Including Prostate Cancer). DC 7527's instruction is voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant. A malignant neoplasm is a different code.
Related codes and how they interact
The malignancy code and the neighbors
DC 7528 is malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary system. DC 7529 is benign neoplasms of the genitourinary system, rated as voiding dysfunction or renal dysfunction, whichever is predominant. DC 7525 is chronic prostatitis, urethritis, epididymitis, or orchitis, rated as urinary tract infection. DC 7542 is neurogenic bladder, rated as voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant. DC 7512 is chronic cystitis, rated as voiding dysfunction.
DC 7522 is erectile dysfunction, with or without penile deformity, at 0, with footnote 1: review for entitlement to special monthly compensation under § 3.350. 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. The public page is the erectile dysfunction guide.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
DC 7527 is not a presumption. 38 CFR § 3.309(e) names “Prostate cancer.” 38 CFR § 3.309(f) does not name prostate cancer, prostatic hypertrophy, or bladder outlet obstruction. 38 CFR § 3.320a names urinary bladder cancer and ureter cancer. It does not name prostate gland injuries, infections, hypertrophy, postoperative residuals, or bladder outlet obstruction. 38 CFR § 3.309(a) lists “Tumors, malignant, or of the brain or spinal cord or peripheral nerves.” It does not name DC 7527.
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 DC 7527?
DC 7527 does not print a percentage. It says to rate the condition as voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant, under § 4.115a. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Where is prostate cancer rated?
A malignant neoplasm of the genitourinary system is DC 7528, rated 100, with a note that continues that rating for six months after treatment stops and then rates residuals as voiding dysfunction or renal dysfunction, whichever is predominant. Section 3.309(e) names prostate cancer as a herbicide-agent disease. It is not the DC 7527 title.
FAQ
How does VA rate DC 7527?
38 CFR § 4.115b says to rate prostate gland injuries, infections, hypertrophy, postoperative residuals, and bladder outlet obstruction as voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant. The percentages are in § 4.115a. Education only.
Is DC 7527 the prostate-cancer code?
No. The schedule title is prostate gland injuries, infections, hypertrophy, postoperative residuals, and bladder outlet obstruction. Malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary system are DC 7528. Section 3.309(e) names prostate cancer and does not name DC 7527.
Does the code print its own percentage?
It does not. The percentages a reader sees on this page are the voiding-dysfunction and urinary-tract-infection lines in § 4.115a.
Next steps
- Read the decision for whether it used DC 7527 or DC 7528, and which § 4.115a area it called predominant.
- 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. C&P prep (Founding Pass) is a separate worksheet. 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
- DC 7518Urethra, stricture
- DC 7519Urethra, fistula
- DC 7520Penis, removal of half or more
- DC 7521Penis, removal of glans
- DC 7522Erectile dysfunction, with or without penile deformity
- DC 7523Testis, atrophy, complete
- DC 7524Testis, removal
- DC 7525Prostatitis, urethritis, epididymitis, orchitis (unilateral or bilateral), chronic only
- DC 7528Malignant neoplasms
- DC 7529Benign neoplasms
- DC 7530Renal disease, chronic
- DC 7531Kidney transplant
- DC 7532Renal tubular disorders
- DC 7533Cystic diseases of the kidneys
- DC 7534Atherosclerotic renal disease (renal artery stenosis, atheroembolic renal disease, or large vessel disease, unspecified)
- DC 7535Toxic nephropathy
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7527 • 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.