YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano under diagnostic code 7335, in 38 CFR § 4.114 (digestive system), and the schedule provides four evaluation levels for it: 60%, 40%, 20% and 10%.
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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 Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano
An abnormal tunnel between the rectum and skin near the anus, often from infection or abscess.
DC 7335 counts fistulas and looks for abscess. Its four evaluations are: one fistula with drainage and pain, but without abscess, at 10 percent; two or more simultaneous fistulas with drainage and pain, but without abscesses, at 20 percent; one or two simultaneous fistulas with abscess, drainage, and pain at 40 percent; and more than two constant or near-constant fistulas with abscesses, drainage, and pain, which are refractory to medical and surgical treatment, at 60 percent. Note the order: abscess outweighs number, so one or two fistulas with abscess (40 percent) rates above two or more without abscess (20 percent). Drainage and pain are named in every compensable row. The code's title covers anorectal fistula and anorectal abscess.
- Diagnostic code
- 7335
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.114
- Schedule levels
- 60%, 40%, 20% and 10%
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.
This code prints no 0% row. Under 38 CFR § 4.31, a 0% evaluation is assigned where the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano VA rating criteria (DC 7335)
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 Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano 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 Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano?
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 Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano 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
Have the record state how many fistulas are present at the same time, and whether an abscess accompanies them. Those two facts are what the rows are built on.
- 02
Make sure drainage and pain are both documented, since every compensable row of this code names both.
- 03
If medical and surgical treatment have been tried and the fistulas persist, keep the operative and follow-up notes together — refractory to medical and surgical treatment is an element of the 60 percent evaluation.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
An examination performed while the fistula is quiet, so that neither drainage nor pain is recorded, when every compensable row names both.
- 02
A report that says "fistula-in-ano" without stating how many simultaneous fistulas are present or whether an abscess is present with them.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Building the claim on recurrence over time. The current criteria count simultaneous fistulas and look for abscess, drainage and pain — recurrence is not a rating element in this code.
- 02
Leaving out the record of failed medical and surgical treatment, which the 60 percent evaluation requires alongside more than two constant or near-constant fistulas.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
A fistula-in-ano usually follows a perianal abscess or can be associated with an underlying condition like Crohn's disease.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Moderate with surgical or imaging confirmation.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~900 veterans
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 Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano
Is Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano under VASRD diagnostic code 7335 (Digestive System). An abnormal tunnel between the rectum and skin near the anus, often from infection or abscess.
What VA disability rating can I get for Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano?
Possible VA ratings for Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano are 60%, 40%, 20%, 10%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 60%: More than two constant or near-constant fistulas with abscesses, drainage, and pain, which are refractory to medical and surgical treatment; 40%: One or two simultaneous fistulas, with abscess, drainage, and pain; 20%: Two or more simultaneous fistulas with drainage and pain, but without abscesses.
What evidence helps prove Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano claim includes: A colonoscopy or pelvic MRI confirming the fistula; Surgical notes or treatment records from any abscess or fistula procedure.
Which DBQ is used for Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano?
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 Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano?
Common pitfalls when filing for Rectum and Anus, Fistula-in-Ano: Building the claim on recurrence over time. The current criteria count simultaneous fistulas and look for abscess, drainage and pain — recurrence is not a rating element in this code; Leaving out the record of failed medical and surgical treatment, which the 60 percent evaluation requires alongside more than two constant or near-constant fistulas.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.114, Schedule of ratings, digestive system (Diagnostic Code 7335)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent 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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