38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.115b
Disseminated intravascular coagulation with renal cortical necrosis — VA Diagnostic Code 7540
Genitourinary
Diagnostic code
7540
38 CFR § 4.115b lists Diagnostic Code 7540 as “Disseminated intravascular coagulation with renal cortical necrosis:”. 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 “Disseminated intravascular coagulation.” The catalog display name matches that shorter index line. The catalog slug is dc-7540-disseminated-intravascular-coagulation.
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
7540 Disseminated intravascular coagulation with renal cortical necrosis
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.
The schedule title keeps “with renal cortical necrosis” and ends with a colon. Appendix B drops those four words and ends with a period: “Disseminated intravascular coagulation.”
DC 7540 does not print a note. The renal-dysfunction note about GFR and eGFR is in § 4.115a. It is not a DC 7540 note.
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.
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 “disseminated,” “coagulation,” “cortical,” or “7540.” This page does not add DC 7540 to a presumptive row.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.115b, Diagnostic Code 7540, 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
The index drops “with renal cortical necrosis”
Those words are in the § 4.115b title. Appendix B and the catalog display name stop at “Disseminated intravascular coagulation.”
The criteria cell is one sentence
“Rate as renal dysfunction.” The 100, 80, 60, 30, and 0 lines are the renal-dysfunction cells in § 4.115a.
No note on this row
Nothing after the rate-as sentence is labeled as a DC 7540 note in the 2026-10-01 table.
Evidence that speaks to each level
The DC 7540 row
What the rater needs to see. The diagnosis the schedule title uses, disseminated intravascular coagulation with renal cortical necrosis, and then the renal-dysfunction line that matches the findings.
Where that usually lives. The hospital or nephrology record, and the GFR, dialysis, or transplant-eligibility finding the renal line names.
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
Secondary conditions and presumptions
Section 3.309 does not contain “disseminated,” “coagulation,” or “7540.” This page does not add DC 7540 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 DC 7540?
Under 38 CFR § 4.115b, Diagnostic Code 7540 says to rate disseminated intravascular coagulation with renal cortical necrosis as renal dysfunction. Those lines are 100, 80, 60, 30, and 0. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Why is the catalog name shorter than the schedule title?
The catalog display name follows Appendix B, “Disseminated intravascular coagulation.” The rating table keeps “with renal cortical necrosis.”
FAQ
What percentage does DC 7540 print?
None. The cell says “Rate as renal dysfunction.” The § 4.115a lines are 100, 80, 60, 30, and 0. Education only.
Does the index keep “renal cortical necrosis”?
No. Appendix B says “Disseminated intravascular coagulation.” The schedule title is “Disseminated intravascular coagulation with renal cortical necrosis:”.
Is there a DC 7540 note?
Not in the 2026-10-01 table. The GFR note is under renal dysfunction in § 4.115a.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 7540 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
- 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
- DC 7536Glomerulonephritis
- DC 7537Interstitial nephritis, including gouty nephropathy, disorders of calcium metabolism
- DC 7538Papillary necrosis
- DC 7539Renal amyloid disease
- DC 7541Renal involvement in diabetes mellitus type I or II
- DC 7542Neurogenic bladder
- DC 7543Varicocele/Hydrocele
- DC 7544Renal disease caused by viral infection such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C
- DC 7545Bladder, diverticulum of
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7540 • va.gov
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