Diagnostic Code 7315 · 38 CFR §4.114
Cholelithiasis is the medical term for gallstones — solid deposits of cholesterol or bilirubin pigment that form inside the gallbladder. Most gallstones cause no symptoms and sit silently for years. When they migrate into the cystic duct or common bile duct, they trigger gallbladder colic: sudden, intense pain in the right upper abdomen, often radiating to the right shoulder blade, sometimes with nausea and vomiting. Repeated attacks can inflame the gallbladder, scar the ducts, or cause acute pancreatitis. Risk factors that overlap heavily with veteran populations include high-fat field rations during deployments, rapid weight changes, certain medications, and the genetic predisposition that runs in roughly a third of adults. The VA rates DC 7315 under the chronic cholecystitis framework from DC 7314.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0% | Mild disease — stones documented but largely asymptomatic, no significant disruption of daily function, no recurring attacks of gallbladder colic. |
| 10% | Moderate disease — gallbladder dyspepsia (post-meal upper-abdominal discomfort, fatty-food intolerance, bloating) confirmed by imaging, with infrequent attacks of gallbladder colic averaging no more than two or three per year. |
| 30% | Severe disease — frequent recurring attacks of gallbladder colic producing meaningful interference with daily life. |
An abdominal ultrasound — the standard imaging study for gallstones — documents the presence, number, and size of stones. CT or MRCP imaging characterizes more complex disease, particularly stones in the bile ducts. Lab work showing elevated liver enzymes or bilirubin during attacks supports the diagnosis. A symptom log covering several months captures attack frequency. Emergency department records, urgent care visits, or primary care notes documenting individual attacks build the case for the higher rating tier. If a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) is eventually performed, the rating shifts to DC 7318 for the surgical residuals.
There is no single proven service-related cause, but several risk factors are common in active duty: rapid weight cycling, high-fat field rations, prolonged dehydration, and certain medications. The clearest pathway to service connection runs through documentation of in-service onset — abdominal pain episodes during active duty that fit the gallbladder-colic pattern. If those records exist, a nexus opinion linking the in-service attacks to the current cholelithiasis carries the claim.
After a cholecystectomy, the rating shifts to DC 7318 (Gallbladder, removal of), which has its own criteria covering severe, mild, and nondisabling residuals. Many veterans assume removal cures the problem and drop the claim, but post-cholecystectomy syndrome — chronic diarrhea, fat intolerance, persistent right-upper-quadrant discomfort — is common and properly rated under DC 7318.
A 0% rating is possible — symptomatic disease is required for the 10% tier. A 0% rating with established service connection has real value, though: it preserves the connection if symptoms develop later, it can support an increase claim down the road, and it counts toward the 10-or-more service-connected condition thresholds for ancillary benefits.