Diagnostic Code 7631 · 38 CFR §4.116
DC 7631 covers benign (non-cancerous) growths of the female reproductive system and the breast — uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, benign ovarian tumors, vulvar and vaginal cysts, fibroadenomas of the breast, phyllodes tumors that pathology confirmed as benign, and similar non-malignant masses. These growths are not cancer and they do not metastasize, but they can produce real disability: heavy or painful menstrual bleeding from fibroids, pelvic pressure or pain from large ovarian masses, dyspareunia, urinary frequency from a fibroid pressing on the bladder, infertility, and the residuals of surgical removal. For veterans, the typical service-related pathways include exposure to chemicals or radiation that have been implicated in benign gynecological tumor formation, the effects of stress and disrupted menstrual cycles common during deployment, and the cumulative effect of delayed gynecological care during active duty. The VA does not assign a single fixed percentage under DC 7631 — instead, the condition is rated based on the residuals it produces, with each residual code applied and the higher rating taken.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0% | Benign neoplasm confirmed but currently asymptomatic, no surgical intervention required, no residual functional impairment. |
| 10% | Symptoms requiring continuous treatment — typically the floor under the analogous endometriosis/uterine criteria where treatment is needed but not all rating elements are met. |
| 20% | Residuals from the neoplasm or its treatment requiring outpatient management — pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding controlled by hormonal therapy, residual urinary or bowel pressure symptoms. |
| 30% | Symptoms not controlled by continuous treatment — heavy bleeding requiring hospitalization, persistent severe pelvic pain, or significant impact on daily activity. |
| 50% | Severe residuals after surgical removal — significant impairment that the symptom-based residuals rating supports — or where the underlying analogous code (such as residuals after uterine or ovarian surgery) reaches its higher tier. |
A current gynecologist or oncology consult confirming the neoplasm is benign — based on imaging characteristics, biopsy, or surgical pathology — is the anchor. Pelvic ultrasound or MRI documents the size, number, and location of the growths. The pathology report from any surgical removal is decisive evidence that the lesion is benign rather than malignant (which would shift the rating to DC 7627 for gynecological cancer). A symptom log covering menstrual pattern, pain, bleeding heaviness, urinary and bowel symptoms, and impact on daily life captures the functional picture the rater needs. Records of every treatment attempt — hormonal therapy, uterine artery embolization, myomectomy, oophorectomy, hysterectomy — document the management burden. Service records or post-deployment workups showing in-service onset of menstrual irregularities, abnormal bleeding, or pelvic pain support the nexus.
Yes. Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are the most common benign tumor of the female reproductive system and are rated under DC 7631 based on the symptoms they cause — heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, urinary pressure, anemia, and functional impact. The rating depends on the residuals, not on the size or number of the fibroids themselves.
After removal, the rating shifts to whichever framework captures the post-surgical state — DC 7617 for hysterectomy, DC 7619 for ovary removal, or continued evaluation under DC 7631 for residual symptoms. The principle is that the higher of the applicable ratings is taken, not the lower. Many veterans see their rating change after definitive surgery, and the change can go up or down depending on the residuals.
Several chemical exposures recognized under the PACT Act and the burn pit registry have been associated with hormonal disruption and tumor formation. The direct causal link for specific benign growths is less established than for some cancers, but a nexus opinion from a gynecologist tying the exposure history to the current condition can support service connection on a direct-effects theory.