Body system: Digestive SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.114DBQ: DBQ GI Intestinal (other than surgical or infectious)
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation anywhere in your digestive tract, leading to severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, and other debilitating symptoms. The VA rates Crohn's from 10% to 100% based on how severe your symptoms are, what medications you need, and how often you're hospitalized. Higher ratings reflect more severe symptoms that significantly impact your ability to work and maintain a normal quality of life.
Rating levels
- 100% — Your Crohn's disease or inflammatory bowel disease must be so severe that medical treatments aren't working, and you need to be hospitalized at least once every year. You must either be unable to work because of your condition, or have ongoing severe stomach pain along with at least two of these problems: six or more episodes of diarrhea daily, six or more episodes of rectal bleeding daily, frequent loss of bowel control, or repeated swelling of your abdomen.
- 60% — You qualify for this rating if you have moderate Crohn's disease or inflammatory bowel disease that requires treatment with strong immune-suppressing medications (drugs that weaken your immune system to reduce inflammation) that you receive as an outpatient. Your symptoms must include recurring stomach pain, four to five episodes of diarrhea every day, and you experience periodic warning signs like fever, rapid heart rate, or low red blood cell count (anemia).
- 30% — You have mild to moderate Crohn's disease or inflammatory bowel disease that your doctor treats with pills you take by mouth and creams or medications applied directly to the affected area, but you don't need the stronger immune-suppressing drugs or biologics. Your symptoms include recurring stomach pain and you have diarrhea three times a day or less, along with only minor signs that your body is struggling with the disease like low-grade fever, fast heart rate, or mild anemia (low red blood cell count).
- 10% — You have mild Crohn's disease or inflammatory bowel disease that's controlled with basic medications like pills or creams, but not the stronger immune-suppressing drugs or biologics (advanced medications that target your immune system). Your symptoms include recurring stomach pain and you have diarrhea three times or less per day, but you don't have signs that the disease is affecting your whole body like fever, weight loss, or severe fatigue.