Body system: Digestive SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.114
This rating covers ongoing problems after gallbladder removal surgery, like bile duct blockages (strictures) or leaks where bile spills into your abdomen. The VA rates these complications based on how much stomach pain and diarrhea you're still having months or years after your surgery. A 30% rating means you're dealing with severe daily symptoms, 10% covers moderate ongoing issues, and 0% means you've healed completely with no symptoms.
Rating levels
- 30% — You must have ongoing stomach pain that comes after eating meals or wakes you up at night, AND you must also have chronic diarrhea with three or more watery bowel movements every day. Both of these symptoms must be present as complications from your gallbladder removal surgery.
- 10% — To qualify for this rating, you must experience ongoing stomach or belly pain that comes and goes (not constant pain), along with diarrhea that involves having one to two watery, loose bowel movements every day. Both the intermittent abdominal pain and the daily watery diarrhea must be present as ongoing complications from your gallbladder removal surgery.
- 0% — You have no symptoms or problems related to your gallbladder removal surgery complications. Your digestive system is working normally, you're not experiencing any pain, nausea, digestive issues, or other health problems that can be traced back to the surgical complications like strictures (narrowing of bile ducts) or biliary leaks (bile escaping where it shouldn't).