Body system: Infectious Diseases, Immune Disorders, and Nutritional DeficienciesRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.88b
Shigella species cause bacillary dysentery, an acute infectious diarrhea with bloody stools, sometimes followed by post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome or reactive arthritis. The VA rates this condition under the General Rating Formula for Infectious Diseases (38 CFR § 4.88b): 100% during the active phase of disease (acute infection requiring treatment), then 0% under this DC once the active disease has resolved. Any lasting damage from the infection (residuals) is rated SEPARATELY under whichever body-system code best matches the deficit (post-infectious irritable bowel under the digestive codes, reactive arthritis under the musculoskeletal codes, and dehydration sequelae under the renal codes), then combined under § 4.25.
Rating levels
- 100% — You qualify for 100% during active Shigella infection. The 100% rating recognizes that an active systemic infection of this severity is incapacitating, regardless of which specific organ systems are affected at the time. Once the active phase resolves, the DC itself drops to 0% and any lasting damage is rated under the appropriate body-system codes.
- 0% — After the active phase of Shigella infection has resolved, DC itself rates at 0%. Any lasting damage (residuals) is NOT rated under this DC, instead it is rated under whichever body-system code best captures the damage, including post-infectious irritable bowel under the digestive codes, reactive arthritis under the musculoskeletal codes, and dehydration sequelae under the renal codes. Per 38 CFR § 4.88b General Rating Formula for Infectious Diseases.
- -1% — Once the active phase of Shigella infection has resolved, DC itself rates at 0% and any lasting damage is rated under whichever body-system code best captures the deficit (post-infectious irritable bowel under the digestive codes, reactive arthritis under the musculoskeletal codes, and dehydration sequelae under the renal codes). Multiple residual ratings are combined under 38 CFR § 4.25.