YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Nephritis, chronic VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Nephritis, chronic under diagnostic code 7502, in 38 CFR § 4.115b (genitourinary system), and the schedule provides five evaluation levels for it: 100%, 80%, 60%, 30% and 0%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Nephritis, chronic
Chronic nephritis is long-term inflammation of the kidneys' filtering structures, which can lead to protein leaking into the urine (proteinuria) and elevated blood pressure as kidney function gradually declines. Because early kidney damage often has no obvious symptoms, lab-confirmed findings are what actually establish and track this condition.
DC 7502 carries no criteria of its own; the entry reads "Rate as renal dysfunction", which is the table in § 4.115a. That table is graded by glomerular filtration rate, with each band required for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months: 30 percent for GFR from 45 to 59 mL/min/1.73 m2, 60 percent for 30 to 44, 80 percent for 15 to 29, and 100 percent for GFR less than 15, or requiring regular routine dialysis, or being an eligible kidney transplant recipient. The 0 percent row is GFR from 60 to 89 for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months together with one of three findings: recurrent red blood cell (RBC) casts, white blood cell (WBC) casts, or granular casts; structural kidney abnormalities (cystic, obstructive, or glomerular); or an albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) of 30 mg/g or greater. Those are the only measures the table names — blood urea nitrogen, blood pressure and general proteinuria do not appear in it. The table's note accepts GFR, estimated GFR (eGFR), and creatinine-based approximations of GFR when determined to be appropriate and calculated by a medical professional.
- Diagnostic code
- 7502
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.115b
- Schedule levels
- 100%, 80%, 60%, 30% and 0%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
Which level applies is set by the criteria the evidence meets, not by the diagnosis. Where there is a question as to which of two evaluations applies, 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher one if the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Nephritis, chronic VA rating criteria (DC 7502)
Choose a percentage to see what that level means. Open the full comparison to read all the criteria in one place.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
IN THE REGULATION’S OWN WORDS
What 38 CFR also says about Nephritis, chronic
The notes 38 CFR Part 4 prints with these criteria, quoted. They govern how the evaluation is made without being a rating level themselves.
- “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.”Renal dysfunction
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Nephritis, chronic claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Nephritis, chronic?
VA's page says: “You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers.”
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Nephritis, chronic claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim3 tips
- 01
Build the file around GFR values with dates. Every band requires the GFR to hold for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months, so a dated series matters more than the single worst reading.
- 02
If GFR is between 60 and 89, the 0 percent row still needs one of three specific findings: recurrent red blood cell, white blood cell or granular casts; a structural kidney abnormality (cystic, obstructive, or glomerular); or an albumin/creatinine ratio of 30 mg/g or greater. Ask for the ACR by name — it is the number the table uses.
- 03
The table's note accepts estimated GFR (eGFR) and creatinine-based approximations of GFR when a medical professional determines them appropriate, so the value does not have to come from a direct measurement.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Lab results that happen to be normal on the day of the C&P exam, since kidney function markers can vary and a single normal reading may not reflect the overall pattern.
- 02
Not clearly establishing how the condition connects to service.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Submitting blood urea nitrogen results and blood pressure readings as the core evidence. Neither appears in the renal dysfunction table; GFR, urinary casts, structural abnormality and albumin/creatinine ratio do.
- 02
Sending a single lab draw, when each band of the table requires the value to hold for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
Chronic nephritis typically develops as a progressive decline in kidney function over years, often without noticeable symptoms until lab testing reveals the damage.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Nephritis, chronic by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Moderately High
- Veterans service-connected
- ~22,000 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~30%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Nephritis, chronic
Is Nephritis, chronic a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Nephritis, chronic under VASRD diagnostic code 7502 (Genitourinary System). Chronic nephritis is long-term inflammation of the kidneys' filtering structures, which can lead to protein leaking into the urine (proteinuria) and elevated blood pressure as kidney function gradually declines. Because early kidney damage often has no obvious symptoms, lab-confirmed findings are what actually establish and track this condition.
What VA disability rating can I get for Nephritis, chronic?
Possible VA ratings for Nephritis, chronic are 100%, 80%, 60%, 30%, 0%. Examples: 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.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Nephritis, chronic?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Nephritis, chronic at around 30%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 22,000 veterans are service-connected for Nephritis, chronic. Estimated approval outlook: Moderately High.
What evidence helps prove Nephritis, chronic for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Nephritis, chronic claim includes: Serial GFR or eGFR results with dates, covering at least 3 consecutive months within the past 12, since that duration is written into every band; An albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) result, which the table names at the 0 percent level; Urinalysis reporting red blood cell, white blood cell or granular casts, and imaging showing any structural kidney abnormality — cystic, obstructive, or glomerular; Nephrology records documenting the chronic nephritis diagnosis and its course.
Which DBQ is used for Nephritis, chronic?
VA's Kidney Conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Nephritis, chronic?
Common pitfalls when filing for Nephritis, chronic: Submitting blood urea nitrogen results and blood pressure readings as the core evidence. Neither appears in the renal dysfunction table; GFR, urinary casts, structural abnormality and albumin/creatinine ratio do; Sending a single lab draw, when each band of the table requires the value to hold for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months.
What conditions can be secondary to Nephritis, chronic?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Nephritis, chronic, when a medical opinion links them, include: Hypertension. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.115b, Schedule of ratings, genitourinary system (Diagnostic Code 7502)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
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