YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) under diagnostic code 7508, in 38 CFR § 4.115b (genitourinary system), and the schedule provides seven evaluation levels for it: 100%, 80%, 60%, 30%, 20%, 10% 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 Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
Formation of stones in the kidney causing pain and urinary problems.
DC 7508's row reads "Rate as hydronephrosis, except for recurrent stone formation requiring invasive or non-invasive procedures more than two times/year", which is 30 percent. The exception is the code's own and it counts procedures: recurrent stone formation requiring invasive or non-invasive procedures more than two times per year is 30 percent. Outside that exception the evaluation comes from DC 7509's rows — only an occasional attack of colic, not infected and not requiring catheter drainage, is 10 percent; frequent attacks of colic requiring catheter drainage is 20 percent; and frequent attacks of colic with infection (pyonephrosis) and kidney function impaired is 30 percent. DC 7509's severe form is rated as renal dysfunction, graded by glomerular filtration rate held for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months: 0 percent for GFR from 60 to 89 with recurrent casts, structural kidney abnormalities, or an albumin/creatinine ratio of 30 mg/g or more; 30 percent for GFR from 45 to 59; 60 percent for 30 to 44; 80 percent for 15 to 29; and 100 percent for GFR less than 15, regular routine dialysis, or eligibility for a kidney transplant. Diet therapy and drug therapy are not elements of the current code; the counted item is procedures.
- Diagnostic code
- 7508
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.115b
- Schedule levels
- 100%, 80%, 60%, 30%, 20%, 10% 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
Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) VA rating criteria (DC 7508)
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 Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
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 Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) 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 Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)?
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 Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) 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
Count and date the procedures. The code's own 30 percent exception is set at more than two invasive or non-invasive procedures within a year, so each one has to appear in the record with its date and with a note of whether it was invasive or non-invasive.
- 02
Have each attack of colic recorded, including whether infection was present and whether catheter drainage was required. Those two facts move the case between the 10, 20 and 30 percent rows borrowed from hydronephrosis.
- 03
Where infected attacks have occurred, get kidney function documented alongside them, since the 30 percent hydronephrosis row requires colic with infection (pyonephrosis) and impaired kidney function together.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Not linking reported pain to specific documented stone events, which can leave the claim without clear evidence of frequency.
- 02
Missing treatment history that would otherwise show ongoing management.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
No proof of recurrence, since a single stone event years ago typically supports only the lowest tier.
- 02
Lack of imaging confirming the diagnosis and its recurring nature.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
Kidney stones typically cause sudden onset pain, and the condition often recurs, with veterans experiencing repeat episodes over months or years.
SECONDARY TO SOMETHING ELSE
Conditions that can lead to Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
Each links to a page on claiming Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) as secondary to that condition.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- High
- Veterans service-connected
- ~5,200 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 Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
Is Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) under VASRD diagnostic code 7508 (Genitourinary System). Formation of stones in the kidney causing pain and urinary problems.
What VA disability rating can I get for Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)?
Possible VA ratings for Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) are 100%, 80%, 60%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 0%. Examples: 100%: Rated as hydronephrosis (DC 7509), severe, which is rated as renal dysfunction: 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%: Rated as hydronephrosis (DC 7509), severe, which is rated as renal dysfunction: 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%: Rated as hydronephrosis (DC 7509), severe, which is rated as renal dysfunction: 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 Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) at around 30%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 5,200 veterans are service-connected for Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones). Estimated approval outlook: High.
What evidence helps prove Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) claim includes: Dated procedure reports for every invasive or non-invasive procedure performed for stones, since the code's exception turns on more than two within a year; Emergency department and clinic records for each attack of colic, stating whether infection was present and whether catheter drainage was required; Imaging confirming stone formation and its recurrence; Laboratory evidence of kidney function where infected attacks have occurred, which the 30 percent hydronephrosis row names.
Which DBQ is used for Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)?
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 Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)?
Common pitfalls when filing for Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones): No proof of recurrence, since a single stone event years ago typically supports only the lowest tier; Lack of imaging confirming the diagnosis and its recurring nature.
What conditions can be secondary to Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), when a medical opinion links them, include: Hydronephrosis. 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 7508)
- 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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