YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching) VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching) under diagnostic code 7337, in 38 CFR § 4.114 (digestive system), and the schedule provides two evaluation levels for it: 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 Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching)
Pruritus ani is itching of the skin around the anus. This code has one dividing line: whether the itching has produced bleeding or excoriation, meaning broken or abraded skin. With bleeding or excoriation the evaluation is 10 percent; without it, 0 percent. Ten percent is the maximum available under this diagnostic code.
This diagnostic code has only two evaluations and a single objective distinction: pruritus ani with bleeding or excoriation is 10 percent, and pruritus ani without bleeding or excoriation is 0 percent. Nothing in the criteria turns on how often the itching occurs, how intense it is, or what treatment it requires, and the schedule sets no level above 10 percent here. The evaluation therefore rests on whether the perianal skin findings named in the criteria are documented.
- Diagnostic code
- 7337
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.114
- Schedule levels
- 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
Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching) VA rating criteria (DC 7337)
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.
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching) 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 Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching)?
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 Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching) 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
The one finding that separates 10 percent from 0 percent is whether the perianal skin shows bleeding or excoriation, so records that actually describe the skin are what carry the claim.
- 02
Notes written while the skin is broken are the ones that document the finding the criteria name, since the only distinction the two rows draw is bleeding or excoriation versus none.
- 03
Ten percent is the ceiling under this code, so this code alone cannot account for any other anorectal condition that is present.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
An examination that records the complaint of itching but says nothing about the condition of the skin, leaving the only finding the criteria use undocumented.
- 02
Being examined after the skin has healed, with no earlier note in the record documenting bleeding or excoriation when it was present.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Filing on symptom description alone, when the split between 10 percent and 0 percent under this code is an objective skin finding.
- 02
Not submitting outside dermatology or colorectal records that contain those skin findings when the VA record only notes the complaint.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
The two rows name no cause and no onset history — the only distinction they draw is whether bleeding or excoriation is present — so what the record needs to describe is the condition of the perianal skin rather than when the itching began.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching) by the numbers
- Veterans service-connected
- ~600 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~10%
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 Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching)
Is Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching) a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching) under VASRD diagnostic code 7337 (Digestive System). Pruritus ani is itching of the skin around the anus. This code has one dividing line: whether the itching has produced bleeding or excoriation, meaning broken or abraded skin. With bleeding or excoriation the evaluation is 10 percent; without it, 0 percent. Ten percent is the maximum available under this diagnostic code.
What VA disability rating can I get for Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching)?
Possible VA ratings for Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching) are 10%, 0%. Examples: 10%: With bleeding or excoriation; 0%: Without bleeding or excoriation.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching)?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching) at around 10%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 600 veterans are service-connected for Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching).
What evidence helps prove Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching) for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching) claim includes: An examination note that describes the perianal skin and states whether bleeding or excoriation is present; Dermatology, primary care, or colorectal treatment records covering periods when the skin was broken or bleeding; Notes from more than one visit, since a single examination may not capture the skin findings the criteria name.
Which DBQ is used for Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching)?
VA's Rectum & Anus 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 Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching)?
Common pitfalls when filing for Pruritus Ani (Anal Itching): Filing on symptom description alone, when the split between 10 percent and 0 percent under this code is an objective skin finding; Not submitting outside dermatology or colorectal records that contain those skin findings when the VA record only notes the complaint.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.114, Schedule of ratings, digestive system (Diagnostic Code 7337)
- 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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