38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.115b
Bladder, diverticulum of — VA Diagnostic Code 7545
Genitourinary
Diagnostic code
7545
38 CFR § 4.115b lists Diagnostic Code 7545 as “Bladder, diverticulum of:”. The title ends with a colon. The next cell says: “Rate as voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant.” That cell ends with a period. The code does not print a percentage of its own. Appendix B to Part 4 uses the same words and ends them with a period: “Bladder, diverticulum of.”
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 § 4.115a source note prints 59 FR 2527, Jan. 18, 1994; 59 FR 10676, Mar. 7, 1994; 86 FR 54085, Sept. 30, 2021.
The rating criteria at each level
7545 Bladder, diverticulum of — the cell this code prints
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Rate as voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant.
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| — | Rate as voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant. |
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 |
Voiding dysfunction: Rate particular condition as urine leakage, frequency, or obstructed voiding
The 10 percent obstructed-voiding number is printed on the row that begins “4. Stricture disease requiring periodic dilatation every 2 to 3 months.”
Urinary tract infection also prints: “Poor renal function: Rate as renal dysfunction.” That row has no percentage.
DC 7512 says only “Rate as voiding dysfunction.” It does not add urinary tract infection.
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.” Distinct disabilities may be evaluated separately under that section, pursuant to § 4.14, if the symptoms do not overlap. The percentages above are the areas the DC 7545 cell names. They are not percentages printed on DC 7545 itself. 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.
DC 7542 is neurogenic bladder and uses the same sentence: voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant. DC 7527 uses that sentence for prostate gland injuries, infections, hypertrophy, postoperative residuals, and bladder outlet obstruction. DC 7512 stops at voiding dysfunction.
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “diverticulum.” Paragraph (f) lists “Bladder cancer.” The chronic-disease list includes “Calculi of the kidney, bladder, or gallbladder.” Neither sentence assigns DC 7545.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.115b, Diagnostic Code 7545, and 38 CFR § 4.115a, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.
What the words mean in your records
The same sentence as neurogenic bladder
DC 7545 and DC 7542 both say to rate as voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant. The titles are different.
Diverticulum is not calculus
Appendix B indexes “Bladder, diverticulum of.” separately from “Bladder, calculus.” Section 3.309(a) names calculi of the kidney, bladder, or gallbladder and does not name diverticulum.
Poor renal function is under the infection heading
If the predominant area is urinary tract infection and renal function is poor, that row says to rate as renal dysfunction. DC 7545 does not print the renal GFR lines in its own cell.
Evidence that speaks to each level
The DC 7545 cell
What the rater needs to see. Whether voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection is the predominant area.
Where that usually lives. The decision and the findings it uses for that choice.
Voiding dysfunction, when that is the area used
What the rater needs to see. The leakage, frequency, or obstructed-voiding line for the particular condition.
Where that usually lives. The voiding record.
Urinary tract infection, when that is the area used
What the rater needs to see. The hospitalization, drainage, or suppressive-therapy facts on the 30, 10, or 0 line.
Where that usually lives. Infection treatment notes. Poor renal function points to renal dysfunction.
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Urinary Tract Conditions” under Genitourinary. The file is Urinary Tract Conditions.
The exam form
DC 7545 prints one sentence and no percentage of its own. This page does not say the form replaces that sentence.
Related codes and how they interact
Chronic cystitis is the shorter instruction.
DC 7512 rates as voiding dysfunction only. DC 7545 adds urinary tract infection and the words “whichever is predominant.”
Secondary conditions and presumptions
Section 3.309 does not contain “diverticulum,” and it does not assign DC 7545. Bladder cancer and bladder calculi stay different sentences.
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 bladder diverticulum?
Under 38 CFR § 4.115b, Diagnostic Code 7545 rates bladder, diverticulum of, as voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant. The percentages are in § 4.115a. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Does Appendix B shorten the title?
Appendix B says “Bladder, diverticulum of.” The rating table uses the same words and ends the title with a colon instead of a period.
FAQ
What does DC 7545 tell the rater to use?
Rate as voiding dysfunction or urinary tract infection, whichever is predominant. The cell ends with a period and does not print a percentage. Education only.
Is a bladder diverticulum the same code as bladder cancer?
No. Section 3.309(f) lists “Bladder cancer.” and does not assign a diagnostic code in that line. DC 7545 is “Bladder, diverticulum of:”. The 2026-10-01 text of § 3.309 does not contain “diverticulum.”
Where are the percentages?
Under § 4.115a. Voiding dysfunction is leakage, frequency, or obstructed voiding. Urinary tract infection is 30, 10, or 0, plus the poor-renal-function sentence.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 7545 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. 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 7540Disseminated intravascular coagulation
- 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
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7545 • va.gov
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