Diagnostic Code 7510 · 38 CFR §4.115b
Ureterolithiasis is the condition of having stones in the ureter — the narrow tube that carries urine from the kidney down to the bladder. Stones form in the kidney as crystals of calcium, oxalate, uric acid, or struvite, and then drop into the ureter where they can obstruct urine flow and produce severe colicky pain in the flank, lower back, and groin. Repeated stone episodes scar the ureter, can lead to recurrent kidney infections, and over time cause hydronephrosis — backup of urine into the kidney that progressively damages kidney function. Risk factors that overlap with military service include chronic dehydration during deployments, certain ration-related dietary patterns, prolonged heat exposure, and family history. The VA rates DC 7510 under the hydronephrosis framework from DC 7509, with a special pathway for veterans who have recurring stone formation.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Occasional attacks of colic without obstruction or infection — the typical pattern for veterans with one or two stones per year that pass on their own. |
| 20% | Frequent attacks of colic with infection (pyonephrosis) and impaired kidney function on the affected side, OR recurrent stone formation requiring one of: (a) more than two hospital admissions per year for treatment, (b) periodic medical or surgical intervention five or more times per year, or (c) ongoing strict diet, drug therapy, or invasive procedures to prevent further stone formation. |
| 30% | Frequent attacks of colic requiring catheter drainage, severe pain, and significant interference with daily activity — typically the pattern when stones are too large to pass and require repeated lithotripsy or surgical removal. |
CT imaging of the abdomen and pelvis without contrast is the gold standard for documenting stones — it shows the location, size, and number. Ultrasound can also document hydronephrosis. Stone analysis from passed or extracted stones identifies the chemical type, which guides treatment and supports the case for recurrent disease. 24-hour urine collections that show the metabolic pattern (hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria, hyperuricosuria) document the underlying tendency. Records of every episode — ED visits, urology consultations, lithotripsy procedures, ureteroscopy, stent placements — establish the recurrence pattern, which is what drives the rating tier above 10%. Service records documenting in-service stone episodes, deployment-era dehydration, or related abdominal pain support nexus.
Several factors line up: chronic mild dehydration is common in field environments and combat operations, certain ration patterns produce dietary risk factors, and prolonged heat exposure concentrates the urine. Studies on veteran populations and on currently deployed service members consistently show higher stone formation rates than the general public, particularly in those who served in hot climates.
The 20% tier under DC 7510 is reached if you have either (a) more than two hospital admissions per year for stones, (b) five or more medical or surgical procedures per year for stones, or (c) ongoing preventive treatment — strict dietary management, potassium citrate, allopurinol, thiazide, or similar — to prevent further stones. Many veterans miss this pathway because they assume rating depends only on individual attack severity.
The procedures themselves are management, not separate ratable conditions, but their cumulative effect can be. Repeated extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy can produce hypertension, residual renal scarring, and reduced kidney function over time. Those secondary effects are independently ratable when documented.