If you’re a veteran experiencing symptoms of a gallbladder condition, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits. This article explains different gallbladder conditions, their diagnostic codes, and how those VA ratings are determined. It also discusses how the VA handles gallbladder removal. Read on to learn more.
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In this article about VA disability for gallbladder removal:
Gallbladder conditions
The gallbladder is a small organ measuring only three to four inches long. It’s located under the liver, behind the lower ribs on the right side of the body. The liver produces bile, a fluid that aids in the digestion of fats, and passes it on to the gallbladder. The gallbladder stores the bile and squeezes it into the small intestine to help digestion.
There are several conditions that can affect the gallbladder, including:
- Gallstones. These are pieces of hardened bile, sometimes referred to as calculi, that can cause significant complications when they become stuck.
- Cholecystitis. If a gallstone becomes trapped in the neck of the gallbladder, the organ becomes inflamed. This condition is known as cholecystitis and can cause pain and fever. Chronic cholecystitis is when these problems persist, sometimes causing the gallbladder to lose function.
- Gallbladder cancer. This is a rare form of cancer. Most forms of cancer found in the gallbladder are adenocarcinomas — cancer that starts in the cells on the surfaces of the body, including surfaces of the organs in the digestive system.
While the gallbladder helps with digestion, you don’t need one to live a normal life. When someone develops issues with their gallbladder, doctors will usually recommend removal. This common surgery is called a cholecystectomy.
VA disability for gallbladder removal and other gallbladder conditions
The VA uses several different diagnostic codes to rate gallbladder conditions.
Since doctors are quick to remove a gallbladder if it is causing symptoms, one of the most commonly used is diagnostic code 7318 for cholecystectomy. A veteran with symptoms of pain and diarrhea as a result of their service-connected gallbladder removal may receive a rating of 10% or 30%. A veteran who is asymptomatic after the surgery will receive a rating of 0%.
Other diagnostic codes for gallbladder conditions include:
- 7301 for peritoneal adhesions due to surgery, trauma, disease, or infection. The peritoneum is the membrane lining the abdominal cavity and covering the abdominal organs, such as the gallbladder and liver. Adhesions are bands of scar tissue that can form after surgery. They can cause pain, bowel obstruction, or other complications. Ratings for peritoneal adhesions range from 0% to 80%.
- 7315 for chronic cholelithiasis. Used for ongoing issues with gallstones, this code directs the VA to rate using diagnostic code 7314 for chronic biliary tract disease. Ratings under DC 7314 range from 0% to 30% depending on the severity and frequency of symptoms such as pain, nausea, or vomiting.
- 7317 for gallbladder injuries. In cases of gallbladder injuries, the VA will use another gallbladder diagnostic code that most similarly reflects the veteran’s symptoms to assign an appropriate disability rating.
- 7343 for malignant neoplasms of the digestive system. Malignant neoplasms are another term for cancerous tumors. All malignant neoplasms rate at 100%. Veterans will continue to receive a 100% rating until six months after the end of cancer treatments. After those six months, veterans are rated under diagnostic codes based on any lingering symptoms of the cancer or effects of the treatment.
Presumptive gallbladder conditions
Some gallbladder conditions are assumed presumptive in certain veterans. A presumptive service connection means that when a qualifying veteran applies for VA disability, they do not need to provide a medical nexus proving their condition is linked to service. Instead, the VA will automatically assume the condition is service connected.
PACT Act gallbladder presumptives
Burn pits are areas of open ground that the U.S. military used to dispose of on-site waste during 21st-century conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Qatar, and other locations throughout the region. As these materials burned, they released toxins that put military personnel at risk for various health conditions.
With the passing of the PACT Act, which expanded benefits for veterans exposed to such toxins, veterans who served near burn pits became eligible for a presumptive service connection for gallbladder cancer.
Other gallbladder presumptive service connections
Gallbladder cancer is also a presumptive condition for ionizing radiation. If you served in an area that had radioactive materials and developed symptoms of radiation-related illnesses, you may be considered an atomic veteran eligible for VA disability benefits.
Finally, gallstones are considered presumptive within a year of service. This means the VA automatically presumes your gallstones stem from service without requiring evidence of a connection if they manifest within a year from your discharge.
TDIU for gallbladder problems
A veteran can be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) benefits if they can’t maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected conditions.
The chronic abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting that can accompany gallbladder conditions can interfere with your ability to keep a job. In severe cases, veterans who develop gallbladder cancer may require hospitalization, making it even more difficult to work.
TDIU pays at the same level as a 100% disability rating, even when the veteran’s combined rating is below 100%.
Veterans will typically be eligible for TDIU if they have:
- One service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling OR
- Two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, veterans can receive VA disability for gallbladder removal as long as the need for this surgery is service connected. The most commonly used diagnostic code for gallbladder removal is 7318 for cholecystectomy.
Yes, some gallbladder conditions are assumed presumptive for qualifying veterans. Veterans exposed to burn pits or ionizing radiation are eligible for a presumptive service connection for gallbladder cancer. Additionally, if you develop gallstones within one year of discharge from service, the condition is considered presumptive.
Neil Woods
VA disability attorney
Woods & Woods
Neil Woods is the firm’s owner and president. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
