VASRD 7331 · Infectious Diseases / Digestive System
Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis) VA Disability Rating
Tuberculous peritonitis is tuberculosis infection of the peritoneum, the membrane lining the abdominal cavity. DC 7331 prints a single evaluation: active tuberculous peritonitis is rated 100 percent. The code's title covers the condition "active or inactive", but inactive disease carries no percentage here — the entry reads "Inactive: See §§ 4.88b and 4.89", sending that part of the evaluation outside DC 7331.
VA Rating Tiers
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Active tuberculosis infection of the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum). |
How the VA Evaluates Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis)
There is no graded ladder under DC 7331. The schedule prints one criteria row, "Active", at 100 percent, and one instruction beneath it: "Inactive: See §§ 4.88b and 4.89." The evaluation under this code therefore turns on a single question the record has to answer — whether the tuberculous peritonitis is active — and once it is inactive the schedule refers the evaluation to those sections rather than assigning a lower step here. The code is also specific about both cause and site: peritonitis that is tuberculous, of the peritoneum. Peritoneal adhesions due to surgery, trauma, disease, or infection are a separate code, DC 7301, with criteria of its own.
Veterans service-connected
~70 veterans
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule — not official VA statistics.
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Best Evidence to Gather
- •Laboratory or pathology results establishing tuberculosis.
- •Imaging, operative, or biopsy findings identifying the peritoneum as the site of involvement.
- •Infectious disease treatment records showing the course of therapy and the dates the disease was documented as active.
Strategy Tips
- •Confirm the record documents tuberculous peritonitis specifically. DC 7331 is "Peritonitis, tuberculous" — peritonitis from another cause is not this code, and adhesions of the peritoneum are DC 7301.
- •Keep the laboratory or pathology results that established tuberculosis in the file alongside the imaging, operative, or biopsy findings that placed it in the peritoneum.
- •Make sure the record shows whether the disease was active or inactive on each date. The 100 percent evaluation attaches to active disease, and the schedule sends inactive disease to §§ 4.88b and 4.89.
C&P Exam Pitfalls
- •A record that shows peritonitis without establishing that it is tuberculous, which is what this code is written for.
- •No date in the file marking the move from active to inactive disease, when that is the only distinction the code's rows draw.
Common Filing Mistakes
- •Describing the claim as intestinal tuberculosis. DC 7331 is written for tuberculous peritonitis — the peritoneum is the membrane lining the abdominal cavity, not the intestine itself.
- •Expecting a graded ladder. DC 7331 prints one evaluation, 100 percent for active disease, and refers inactive disease to §§ 4.88b and 4.89 instead of assigning a lower step.
- •Submitting abdominal findings with no tuberculosis testing behind them, or tuberculosis testing with nothing tying the infection to the peritoneum.
Onset Patterns
- •The schedule's own title — "Peritonitis, tuberculous, active or inactive" — treats this as a condition that moves between an active and an inactive state, and DC 7331 assigns a percentage only to the active state.
- •Because of that, the date on which the record stops documenting active disease is a turning point in the file rather than an administrative detail.
Secondary Conditions
Conditions commonly linked to Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis). Service-connecting a secondary condition can increase your combined rating.
Common questions about Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis)
- Is Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis) a VA-rated disability?
- Yes. The VA rates Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis) under VASRD diagnostic code 7331 (Infectious Diseases / Digestive System). Tuberculous peritonitis is tuberculosis infection of the peritoneum, the membrane lining the abdominal cavity. DC 7331 prints a single evaluation: active tuberculous peritonitis…
- What VA disability rating can I get for Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis)?
- Possible VA ratings for Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis) are 100%. Examples: 100%: Active tuberculosis infection of the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum)..
- What evidence helps prove Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis) for VA disability?
- Strong evidence for a Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis) claim includes: Laboratory or pathology results establishing tuberculosis.; Imaging, operative, or biopsy findings identifying the peritoneum as the site of involvement.; Infectious disease treatment records showing the course of therapy and the da…
- What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis)?
- Common pitfalls when filing for Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis): Describing the claim as intestinal tuberculosis. DC 7331 is written for tuberculous peritonitis — the peritoneum is the membrane lining the abdominal cavity, not the intestine itself.; Expecting a graded ladder. DC 7331 prints one evalua…
- Is Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis) a presumptive condition for VA benefits?
- Yes, Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis) is recognized as a presumptive condition. Service-related TB recognized in some deployments
- What conditions are commonly secondary to Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis)?
- Conditions often service-connected as secondary to Tuberculous Peritonitis (Abdominal Tuberculosis) include: Malnutrition, GI Bleeding. Filing for secondary conditions can increase a veteran's combined VA rating.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.114 — Schedule of ratings — digestive system (Diagnostic Code 7331)
Rating criteria on this page are an educational summary of the cited regulation — the eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
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