38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.115b

Kidney transplant — VA Diagnostic Code 7531

Genitourinary

Diagnostic code

7531

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38 CFR § 4.115b lists Diagnostic Code 7531 as “Kidney transplant:”. Following transplant surgery is 100. The next cell says “Thereafter: Rate on residuals as renal dysfunction, minimum rating” and the rating cell is 30. A note follows, set off with an em dash. Appendix B indexes “Kidney transplant.” The catalog slug is dc-7531-kidney-transplant.

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 4.115b source note: 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. Section 4.115a source note: 59 FR 2527, Jan. 18, 1994; 59 FR 10676, Mar. 7, 1994; 86 FR 54085, Sept. 30, 2021.

The rating criteria at each level

7531 Kidney transplant

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). Following transplant surgery

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Thereafter: Rate on residuals as renal dysfunction, minimum rating

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	Following transplant surgery
30	Thereafter: Rate on residuals as renal dysfunction, minimum rating

Renal dysfunction — § 4.115a, the area DC 7531 names for residuals

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—The 100 percent evaluation shall be assigned as of the date of hospital admission for transplant surgery and shall continue with a mandatory VA examination one year following hospital discharge. Any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter.

The note begins “Note—” with an em dash and no space. It does not begin “Note:”. The 100 percent criteria cell is “Following transplant surgery.” The note is the sentence that uses the hospital-admission date and the examination one year following hospital discharge.

The thereafter cell ends with “minimum rating.” The 30 is in the rating column. The renal-dysfunction formula in § 4.115a also prints a 0 percent line. That 0 is not the DC 7531 minimum.

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 that 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 7531 names renal dysfunction. It does not name voiding dysfunction. The same section’s note says GFR, estimated GFR (eGFR), and creatinine-based approximations of GFR will be accepted for evaluation purposes under that section when determined to be appropriate and calculated by a medical professional. The 100 percent renal line includes “eligible kidney transplant recipient.” That phrase is on the renal-dysfunction line. It is not the DC 7531 criteria cell, which says “Following transplant surgery.”

DC 7530 is “Chronic renal disease requiring regular dialysis:” and says only “Rate as renal dysfunction.” It does not print the DC 7531 minimum of 30. DC 7533 is cystic diseases of the kidneys and also says only “Rate as renal dysfunction.” 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 note of § 4.115b is about loss or loss of use of one or more creative organs and § 3.350. DC 7531 does not carry a footnote. This page does not decide a special-monthly-compensation question.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 contains “Kidney cancer” and “Calculi of the kidney, bladder, or gallbladder.” It does not contain “transplant” or “7531.” This page does not add DC 7531 to a presumptive row.

The note cites 38 CFR § 3.105(e) for any change in evaluation based upon the one-year examination or any subsequent examination.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.115b, Diagnostic Code 7531, 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; 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.

What the words mean in your records

Following transplant surgery is not the admission sentence

The 100 percent criteria cell is “Following transplant surgery.” The note says the 100 percent evaluation shall be assigned as of the date of hospital admission for transplant surgery and shall continue with a mandatory VA examination one year following hospital discharge.

Eligible recipient is a renal-dysfunction phrase

The 100 percent renal line says “or eligible kidney transplant recipient.” DC 7531 does not print those words in its own 100 percent cell.

Minimum rating sits in the rating column

The thereafter criteria cell ends with “minimum rating.” The number 30 is the rating cell on that row. DC 7530 does not print that minimum.

Evidence that speaks to each level

100 following transplant surgery

What the rater needs to see. The criteria cell is “Following transplant surgery.” The note assigns that 100 percent as of the date of hospital admission for transplant surgery and continues it with a mandatory VA examination one year following hospital discharge.

Where that usually lives. The admission record, the operative record, and the discharge date the one-year examination is counted from.

Thereafter, minimum 30

What the rater needs to see. Residuals rated as renal dysfunction, with the DC 7531 cell printing a minimum rating of 30. The renal lines use GFR ranges, regular routine dialysis, or eligible kidney transplant recipient at 100, and the cast, structure, or albumin/creatinine findings at 0.

Where that usually lives. The GFR, eGFR, or creatinine-based approximation calculated by a medical professional, as the § 4.115a note describes, and the laboratory findings the 0 percent line names if that line is in question.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
100 following transplant surgery	The criteria cell is “Following transplant surgery.” The note assigns that 100 percent as of the date of hospital admission for transplant surgery and continues it with a mandatory VA examination one year following hospital discharge.	The admission record, the operative record, and the discharge date the one-year examination is counted from.
Thereafter, minimum 30	Residuals rated as renal dysfunction, with the DC 7531 cell printing a minimum rating of 30. The renal lines use GFR ranges, regular routine dialysis, or eligible kidney transplant recipient at 100, and the cast, structure, or albumin/creatinine findings at 0.	The GFR, eGFR, or creatinine-based approximation calculated by a medical professional, as the § 4.115a note describes, and the laboratory findings the 0 percent line names if that line is in question.

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

The exam form

DC 7531 prints 100 following transplant surgery and a minimum rating of 30 thereafter, rated as renal dysfunction. This page does not say the kidney form replaces those cells.

Related codes and how they interact

Dialysis and cystic disease do not print this minimum

DC 7530 says only “Rate as renal dysfunction.” DC 7533 says the same. The minimum rating of 30 is the thereafter cell of DC 7531.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309 does not contain “transplant” or “7531.” “Kidney cancer” is a different line. This page does not add DC 7531 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 a kidney transplant under DC 7531?

Under 38 CFR § 4.115b, Diagnostic Code 7531 is 100 percent following transplant surgery. The note assigns that evaluation as of the date of hospital admission and continues it with a mandatory VA examination one year following hospital discharge. Thereafter it says to rate residuals as renal dysfunction, with a minimum rating of 30. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Does DC 7530 use the same minimum?

No. DC 7530 says only “Rate as renal dysfunction.” The minimum rating of 30 is printed on DC 7531. Education only.

FAQ

What does DC 7531 print for the surgery?

100, with the criteria cell “Following transplant surgery.” The note assigns that 100 percent as of the date of hospital admission for transplant surgery and continues it until a mandatory VA examination one year following hospital discharge. A change based on that examination is subject to § 3.105(e). Education only.

Where is the minimum of 30?

On the thereafter row. The criteria cell says “Rate on residuals as renal dysfunction, minimum rating.” The rating cell is 30. DC 7530 does not print that minimum.

Is “eligible kidney transplant recipient” the DC 7531 100 percent cell?

No. Those words are on the 100 percent line of renal dysfunction in § 4.115a. The DC 7531 100 percent cell says “Following transplant surgery.”

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7531, the hospital admission date, whether the one-year examination has been used, and which renal-dysfunction line was used thereafter.
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 7531 • 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.