VA Rating for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): 10% to 30% Criteria
VA rates irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) under diagnostic code (DC) 7319 in 38 CFR § 4.114. The schedule has 3 levels: 10%, 20% and 30%. The table below quotes each level word for word from the current CFR text and adds a one-line summary; the 2026 monthly compensation figures that follow are VA's published rates.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Criteria checked against the eCFR and Federal Register October 26, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Irritable bowel syndrome rating criteria in 38 CFR § 4.114
Diagnostic code: DC 7319 Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Criteria are quoted from the current CFR; the plain-English column is our summary and is not part of the regulation.
| Rating | Criteria as printed in 38 CFR (quotation) | In plain English (our summary) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | Abdominal pain related to defecation at least once during the previous three months; and two or more of the following: (1) change in stool frequency, (2) change in stool form, (3) altered stool passage (straining and/or urgency), (4) mucorrhea, (5) abdominal bloating, or (6) subjective distension | Abdominal pain related to defecation at least once in the previous three months, plus two or more of the six listed symptoms. |
| 20% | Abdominal pain related to defecation for at least three days per month during the previous three months; and two or more of the following: (1) change in stool frequency, (2) change in stool form, (3) altered stool passage (straining and/or urgency), (4) mucorrhea, (5) abdominal bloating, or (6) subjective distension | Abdominal pain related to defecation at least three days a month in the previous three months, plus two or more of the six listed symptoms. |
| 30% | Abdominal pain related to defecation at least one day per week during the previous three months; and two or more of the following: (1) change in stool frequency, (2) change in stool form, (3) altered stool passage (straining and/or urgency), (4) mucorrhea, (5) abdominal bloating, or (6) subjective distension | Abdominal pain related to defecation at least one day a week in the previous three months, plus two or more of the six listed symptoms. |
Note printed with these criteria (quotation):
Note: This diagnostic code may include functional digestive disorders (see § 3.317 of this chapter), such as dyspepsia, functional bloating and constipation, and diarrhea. Evaluate other symptoms of a functional digestive disorder not encompassed by this diagnostic code under the appropriate diagnostic code, to include gastrointestinal dysmotility syndrome (DC 7356), following the general principles of § 4.14 and this section.
2026 VA monthly pay at each irritable bowel syndrome rating
| Rating | Veteran alone | With spouse |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | Same as alone; spouse amounts start at 30% |
| 20% | $356.66 | Same as alone; spouse amounts start at 30% |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 |
VA does not add ratings together. When a veteran has more than one rated condition, VA combines them with its combined ratings table (38 CFR § 4.25), so the amounts above apply to a combined rating, not to this condition alone. Work out a combined rating with the VA disability calculator at /va-disability-calculator/.
VA disability calculator · Full VA disability pay chart with children and parents
How the criteria are written
All three levels use the same two-part test: abdominal pain related to defecation over the previous three months, at a stated frequency, and two or more of six listed symptoms (change in stool frequency, change in stool form, altered stool passage, mucorrhea, abdominal bloating, or subjective distension).
The note under DC 7319 says the code may include functional digestive disorders (see § 3.317 of the chapter), such as dyspepsia, functional bloating and constipation, and diarrhea.
The digestive system rule that rewrote these criteria took effect May 19, 2024 (89 FR 19735). The text quoted here is the current CFR text, not the pre-2024 wording.
38 U.S.C. § 1155 says that a readjustment of the rating schedule may not cause a veteran's disability rating in effect on the effective date of the readjustment to be reduced unless an improvement in the veteran's disability is shown to have occurred.
VA publishes Disability Benefits Questionnaires for this area (benefits.va.gov): Intestinal Conditions DBQ.
Is this the current rule?
Source text. § 4.114 Schedule of ratings—digestive system. from the eCFR (38 CFR Part 4), text up to date as of October 22, 2026, retrieved October 26, 2026. Read the section on eCFR.
Latest final rule affecting the section. 89 FR 19735 (final rule), Schedule for Rating Disabilities: The Digestive System, published March 20, 2024, effective May 19, 2024. Latest entry in the section's amendment history in the eCFR.
Rule that set these criteria. 89 FR 19735, effective May 19, 2024. The digestive final rule revised or added these criteria; CFR Appendix A dates the change May 19, 2024.
- DC 7319: Title November 1, 1962; evaluation November 1, 1962; title, evaluation, criterion, and note May 19, 2024.
Upcoming changes. Our Federal Register search on October 26, 2026 found no final rule for this section with an effective date after that day.
Proposed rules. The search found no proposed rule that would change these criteria.
Related conditions
- GERD: Another digestive condition rated in § 4.114 under the digestive system rule effective May 19, 2024.
- All VA disability ratings by condition
Questions about the Irritable bowel syndrome rating
What diagnostic code does VA use for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is rated under diagnostic code (DC) 7319 in 38 CFR § 4.114, the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The code lists are quoted from the eCFR text current as of October 22, 2026.
What are the VA rating levels for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
The schedule has 3 levels for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): 10%, 20% and 30%. Each level has its own criteria, quoted in the table on this page. VA decides which level applies to a claim.
How much is VA disability pay for an irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) rating in 2026?
VA's 2026 monthly rates for a veteran alone, with the with-spouse amount for 30% and higher, are 10%: $180.42; 20%: $356.66; 30%: $552.47 ($617.47 with a spouse). Rates took effect December 1, 2025. The amount you are paid depends on your combined rating, not on this condition alone.
Are ratings for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) added to my other ratings?
No. VA does not add ratings together; it combines them using the combined ratings table in 38 CFR § 4.25. Use the VA disability calculator on this site at /va-disability-calculator/ to see how ratings combine.
Did the IBS rating criteria change in 2024?
Yes. VA's final rule revising the digestive system rating schedule (89 FR 19735) took effect May 19, 2024. CFR Appendix A lists DC 7319 as having its title, evaluation, criterion and note revised on that date, and the criteria quoted on this page are the current text.
Can an IBS rating be combined with other digestive ratings?
Section 4.114 says ratings under diagnostic codes 7301 through 7329, among others, are not combined with each other. When more than one rating is warranted under those codes, it says to assign a single evaluation under the diagnostic code that reflects the predominant disability picture, and to elevate it to the next higher evaluation if warranted by the severity of the overall disability. DC 7319 is within that range.
Does this page decide my VA rating?
No. FedRateCalc is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. This page quotes the rating schedule and VA's published rates for information only; it is not legal or medical advice. VA decides the rating and the payment.