Renal tubular disorders (DC 7532)

Body system: Genitourinary SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.115b

DC 7532 covers a group of inherited and acquired renal tubular disorders affecting the way the kidney handles glucose, amino acids, electrolytes, and acid-base balance. Examples include renal glycosurias (sugar in urine without high blood sugar), aminoacidurias (amino acids leaking into urine), renal tubular acidosis (RTA), Fanconi syndrome (defect of proximal tubule reabsorption), Bartter syndrome (defect of loop of Henle sodium reabsorption), Liddle syndrome, Gitelman syndrome, and other tubulopathies. The VA assigns a 20% MINIMUM rating any time the disorder is symptomatic. If kidney function is impaired (GFR < 60 sustained for 3+ consecutive months) or there is end-stage renal disease, the renal dysfunction ladder yields a higher rating (30/60/80/100%). The 20% minimum is unique to this DC.

Rating levels

  • 100% — You qualify for 100% if your renal tubular disorder has progressed to end-stage renal disease — GFR under 15 mL/min/1.73 m² sustained for 3+ consecutive months, OR routine dialysis dependence, OR transplant eligibility. The 20% minimum rule does not apply here because the renal-dysfunction ladder yields a higher result.
  • 80% — You qualify for 80% if your tubular disorder has progressed to Stage 4 CKD — GFR 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m² sustained for 3+ consecutive months.
  • 60% — You qualify for 60% if your tubular disorder has progressed to Stage 3b CKD — GFR 30-44 mL/min/1.73 m² sustained for 3+ consecutive months.
  • 30% — You qualify for 30% if your tubular disorder has progressed to Stage 3a CKD — GFR 45-59 mL/min/1.73 m² sustained for 3+ consecutive months.
  • 20% — You qualify for the 20% MINIMUM rating any time you have a symptomatic renal tubular disorder — regardless of GFR or other renal-dysfunction markers. Symptoms can include polyuria, glycosuria with normal blood glucose, aminoaciduria, metabolic acidosis (from renal tubular acidosis), electrolyte abnormalities (hypokalemia in Bartter's syndrome, hyperkalemia in some distal RTA), bone disease, growth failure, weakness, fatigue, or volume depletion. The 20% floor applies even if the renal-dysfunction ladder would otherwise yield 0%; if renal-dysfunction yields a higher rating, use that instead.
  • 0% — You qualify for 0% under the renal-dysfunction ladder if your tubular disorder is asymptomatic and your GFR is 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m² with one of the additional markers (urinary casts, structural abnormalities, proteinuria) sustained for 3+ consecutive months. If the tubular disorder produces symptoms at all, the 20% minimum applies instead — this 0% tier is reached only when both conditions are met: asymptomatic AND the renal-dysfunction findings are at Stage 2 level.

Disclaimer: This tool is for informational purposes only and is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with your VSO representative or a qualified veterans benefits attorney for guidance on your specific claim.