38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.115b

Glomerulonephritis — VA Diagnostic Code 7536

Genitourinary

Diagnostic code

7536

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38 CFR § 4.115b lists Diagnostic Code 7536 as “Glomerulonephritis:”. The criteria cell says “Rate as renal dysfunction.” The rating cell is empty. No note is printed under this code. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Glomerulonephritis.” The catalog slug is dc-7536-glomerulonephritis.

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. 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

7536 Glomerulonephritis

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Rate as renal dysfunction.

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
—	Rate as renal dysfunction.

Renal dysfunction — § 4.115a, the area this row 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 2 in m² is a superscript in the regulation. The five renal percentage cells do not end with a period.

DC 7536 has no note of its own. The schedule title ends with a colon. Appendix B ends “Glomerulonephritis.” with a period.

A note under [DC 7539](/conditions/diagnostic-codes/dc-7539-renal-amyloid-disease) says: “This diagnostic code pertains to renal involvement secondary to all glomerulonephritis conditions, all vasculitis conditions and their derivatives, and other renal conditions caused by systemic diseases, such as Lupus erythematosus, systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis, Henoch-Schonlein syndrome, scleroderma, hemolytic uremic syndrome, polyarthritis, Wegener's granulomatosis, Goodpasture's syndrome, and sickle cell disease.” That note is printed after the DC 7539 row. It is not printed under DC 7536.

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.” The same paragraph also says distinct disabilities may be evaluated separately under that section, pursuant to § 4.14, if the symptoms do not overlap. 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.

The 0 percent renal line includes “structural kidney abnormalities (cystic, obstructive, or glomerular).” The word “glomerular” is in that cell. It is not a percentage printed on DC 7536. 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 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “glomerulonephritis” or “7536.” Paragraph (a) lists “Nephritis.” as its own chronic-disease item. The cardiovascular-renal parenthetical says the term applies to combination involvement of the type of arteriosclerosis, nephritis, and organic heart disease. Neither sentence assigns DC 7536. Hypertension has its own page, hypertensive vascular disease.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.115b, Diagnostic Code 7536, and 38 CFR § 4.115a, renal dysfunction, 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

No note under this code

The DC 7536 row is the title and the sentence “Rate as renal dysfunction.” The long note that says “all glomerulonephritis conditions” is under DC 7539.

Nephritis is a different word in § 3.309

Section 3.309(a) lists “Nephritis.” It does not say glomerulonephritis, and it does not print 7536.

Glomerular on the 0 percent line

The renal-dysfunction 0 percent cell names structural kidney abnormalities that are cystic, obstructive, or glomerular. That is a § 4.115a cell.

Evidence that speaks to each level

The DC 7536 row

What the rater needs to see. The diagnosis placed on this code, and then the renal-dysfunction line that matches the findings.

Where that usually lives. The nephrology record and the GFR, dialysis, or transplant-eligibility finding the line names.

The DC 7539 note is not this row

What the rater needs to see. The sentence about renal involvement secondary to all glomerulonephritis conditions is printed under DC 7539. It is not a DC 7536 criteria cell.

Where that usually lives. The note after “7539 Renal amyloid disease” in § 4.115b.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
The DC 7536 row	The diagnosis placed on this code, and then the renal-dysfunction line that matches the findings.	The nephrology record and the GFR, dialysis, or transplant-eligibility finding the line names.
The DC 7539 note is not this row	The sentence about renal involvement secondary to all glomerulonephritis conditions is printed under DC 7539. It is not a DC 7536 criteria cell.	The note after “7539 Renal amyloid disease” in § 4.115b.

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

The exam form

This code says to rate as renal dysfunction. This page does not say the kidney form replaces the § 4.115a lines.

Related codes and how they interact

DC 7539’s note names glomerulonephritis

The note quoted above is attached to renal amyloid disease, DC 7539. DC 7536’s own cell remains “Rate as renal dysfunction.” DC 7530 uses that same instruction. DC 7531 adds a minimum rating of 30 after transplant. That minimum is not printed on DC 7536.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309 does not contain “glomerulonephritis” or “7536.” “Nephritis.” is a separate chronic-disease item and does not assign this code. This page does not add DC 7536 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 glomerulonephritis under DC 7536?

Under 38 CFR § 4.115b, Diagnostic Code 7536 says to rate glomerulonephritis as renal dysfunction. Those § 4.115a lines are 100, 80, 60, 30, and 0. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Does the DC 7539 note change the DC 7536 cell?

The note is printed under DC 7539. It says that diagnostic code pertains to renal involvement secondary to all glomerulonephritis conditions, among other conditions. DC 7536 still prints “Rate as renal dysfunction.” Education only.

FAQ

What percentage does DC 7536 print?

None. The cell says “Rate as renal dysfunction.” The § 4.115a lines are 100, 80, 60, 30, and 0. Education only.

Where does the schedule say “all glomerulonephritis conditions”?

In the note under DC 7539, renal amyloid disease. That note is not printed under DC 7536. DC 7536’s criteria cell is only “Rate as renal dysfunction.”

Is “Nephritis” in § 3.309 this diagnostic code?

Section 3.309(a) lists “Nephritis.” It does not say glomerulonephritis and does not assign DC 7536.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7536 and which renal-dysfunction line was used.
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 7536 • 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.