Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations · full text below reproduced from the eCFR, revision of 2026-07-01.
Every lettered or numbered paragraph has its own link (¶) and a Copy cite button, e.g. /cfr/4-115a#a.
Diseases of the genitourinary system generally result in disabilities related to renal or voiding dysfunctions, infections, or a combination of these. The following section provides descriptions of various levels of disability in each of these symptom areas. Where diagnostic codes refer the decision maker to these specific areas of dysfunction, only the predominant area of dysfunction shall be considered for rating purposes. Distinct disabilities may be evaluated separately under this section, pursuant to § 4.14, if the symptoms do not overlap. Since the areas of dysfunction described below do not cover all symptoms resulting from genitourinary diseases, specific diagnoses may include a description of symptoms assigned to that diagnosis.
| Rating | |
|---|---|
| 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 | 100 |
| 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 | 80 |
| 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 | 60 |
| Chronic kidney disease with GFR from 45 to 59 mL/min/1.73 m2 for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months | 30 |
| GFR from 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m2 and either recurrent red blood cell (RBC) casts, white blood cell (WBC) casts, or granular casts for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months; or | |
| GFR from 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m2 and structural kidney abnormalities (cystic, obstructive, or glomerular) for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months; or | |
| GFR from 60 to 89 mL/min/1.73 m2 and albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) ≥30 mg/g for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months | 0 |
| 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. | |
| Voiding dysfunction: | |
| Rate particular condition as urine leakage, frequency, or obstructed voiding | |
| Continual Urine Leakage, Post Surgical Urinary Diversion, Urinary Incontinence, or Stress Incontinence: | |
| Requiring the use of an appliance or the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed more than 4 times per day | 60 |
| Requiring the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed 2 to 4 times per day | 40 |
| Requiring the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed less than 2 times per day | 20 |
| Urinary frequency: | |
| Daytime voiding interval less than one hour, or; awakening to void five or more times per night | 40 |
| Daytime voiding interval between one and two hours, or; awakening to void three to four times per night | 20 |
| Daytime voiding interval between two and three hours, or; awakening to void two times per night | 10 |
| Obstructed voiding: | |
| Urinary retention requiring intermittent or continuous catheterization | 30 |
| Marked obstructive symptomatology (hesitancy, slow or weak stream, decreased force of stream) with any one or combination of the following: | |
| 1. Post void residuals greater than 150 cc. | |
| 2. Uroflowmetry; markedly diminished peak flow rate (less than 10 cc/sec). | |
| 3. Recurrent urinary tract infections secondary to obstruction. | |
| 4. Stricture disease requiring periodic dilatation every 2 to 3 months | 10 |
| Obstructive symptomatology with or without stricture disease requiring dilatation 1 to 2 times per year | 0 |
| Urinary tract infection: | |
| Poor renal function: Rate as renal dysfunction. | |
| Recurrent symptomatic infection requiring drainage by stent or nephrostomy tube; or requiring greater than 2 hospitalizations per year; or requiring continuous intensive management | 30 |
| Recurrent symptomatic infection requiring 1-2 hospitalizations per year or suppressive drug therapy lasting six months or longer | 10 |
| Recurrent symptomatic infection not requiring hospitalization, but requiring suppressive drug therapy for less than 6 months | 0 |
eCFR records 2 amendments to § 4.115a since 2016-12-14 (the versioner’s floor is 2016-12-14). Each row is a word-level comparison of the section’s text before and after that date; the date links to the text as amended on eCFR, where the earlier version is one click back in time. Why it matters: the version in force when a claim was filed or decided can govern it, and a liberalizing change can carry its own effective date (38 CFR 3.114).
| Amended | Words | What changed (first differing passage) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-11-14 | +291 / −160 | was: § 4.115a Ratings of the genitourinary system - dysfunctions. Link to an amendment published at 86 FR 54085, Sept. 30, 2021. Diseases of the genitourinary system generallynow: § 4.115a Ratings of the genitourinary system—dysfunctions. Diseases of the genitourinary system generally · codes near the change: 7101 |
| 2021-09-30 | +12 / −0 | now: of the genitourinary system - dysfunctions. Link to an amendment published at 86 FR 54085, Sept. 30, 2021. Diseases of the genitourinary system generally |
Source note: [59 FR 2527, Jan. 18, 1994; 59 FR 10676, Mar. 7, 1994; 86 FR 54085, Sept. 30, 2021]
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