C&P Exam for Gastritis, chronic (DC 7307)

Diagnostic code: 7307Condition: Gastritis, chronicRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.114DBQ: DBQ GI Stomach and Duodenum

Which form the examiner uses

For gastritis, chronic (DC 7307), the C&P examiner completes the following Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ):

DBQ GI Stomach and Duodenum (public PDF on VA.gov)

DBQs are Department of Veterans Affairs Form 21-0960 series documents. Public DBQs are hosted on benefits.va.gov. A handful are examiner-only and are not posted publicly.

What the examiner records

The fields below are reproduced from the DBQ form the examiner completes for this diagnostic code. This is the structural map of the form, showing what the examiner is asked to measure, observe, and record. It is a factual reproduction of the public DBQ, not advice on how to answer.

This DBQ evaluates stomach and duodenal conditions (excluding GERD and esophageal disorders) including peptic ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, postgastrectomy syndrome, and stomach injuries.

How DC 7307 maps to this DBQ: for this diagnostic code specifically, the examiner typically completes sections I-III and VII-XI of this form. Section III is the condition-specific section for this code. Sections IV-VI cover unrelated conditions on this DBQ and are skipped.

DIAGNOSIS (Section I)

1A. List the claimed condition(s) that pertain to this questionnaire:
1B. Select diagnoses associated with the claimed condition(s) (check all that apply): The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis associated with any claimed condition(s) listed above.
Peptic ulcer disease — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
Stenosis of the stomach — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
Stomach, injury of, residuals — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
Chronic gastritis (check all that apply, if known) — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
Helicobacter pylori infection — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
Drug-induced gastritis — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
Portal-hypertensive gastropathy with varix-related complications — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
Postgastrectomy syndrome — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
Status post vagotomy with pyloroplasty — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
Gasteroenterostomy — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
Functional digestive disorder(s) — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
Gastrointestinal dysmotility disorder — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
Stomach cancer — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
Other diagnosis #1 / #2 / #3 — ICD Code / Date of diagnosis

MEDICAL HISTORY (Section II)

2A. Describe the history (including onset and course) of the Veteran's stomach or duodenum conditions (brief summary):
2B. Does the Veteran's treatment plan include taking continuous medication for the diagnosed condition?
If yes, list only those medications used for the diagnosed condition.

PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE, CHRONIC GASTRITIS, OR OTHER STOMACH CONDITIONS (Section III)

3A. Does the Veteran have any of the following signs or symptoms due to peptic ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, or other stomach conditions?
History of peptic ulcer disease documented by endoscopy or diagnostic imaging studies
Episodes of abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting that last for at least three consecutive days and are managed by daily prescribed medication (select frequency)
Occurring three times or less in past 12 months
Occurring four or more times in past 12 months
Continuous abdominal pain with intermittent vomiting
Recurrent hematemesis (vomiting blood)
Melena (tarry stools)
Manifestations of anemia which require hospitalization at least once in the past 12 months — Date of admission / Indicate facility
Post-operative for perforation or hemorrhage — Date of procedure(s) / Indicate facility

STOMACH INJURY (Section IV)

4A. Does the Veteran have, or has had, a stomach injury?
Post-operative (if selected, complete Section V)
Pre-operative — Asymptomatic
Pre-operative — Diarrhea
Pre-operative — Constipation
Pre-operative — Colic
Pre-operative — Vomiting
Pre-operative — Nausea
Pre-operative — Abdominal pain
Medically directed dietary modification other than total parenteral nutrition (TPN)
Persistent partial bowel obstruction
Is the persistent partial bowel obstruction inoperable?
Is the persistent partial bowel obstruction refractory to treatment?
Does the persistent partial bowel obstruction require TPN for obstructive symptoms?
Clinical evidence of recurrent obstructions requiring hospitalization at least once a year — Date of admission / Indicate facility

COMPLICATIONS OF UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL SURGERY AND POSTGASTRECTOMY SYNDROME (Section V)

5A. Has the Veteran had upper gastrointestinal surgery performed on the stomach or duodenum?
Post-operative, asymptomatic
Requiring continuous total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for a period longer than 30 consecutive days in the last six months — Start date of TPN / Completion date of TPN or anticipated date of completion
Requiring continuous tube feedings for a period longer than 30 consecutive days in the last six months — Start date of tube feeding / Completion date of tube feeding or anticipated date of completion
Vomiting — Frequency: Less than 2 times a week / 2 or more times a week / Daily
Vomiting — Treatment: No treatment / Managed by ongoing medical treatment / Vomiting despite medical treatment
Vomiting despite medical treatment — Oral dietary modification / Medication / Other (specify)
Watery bowel movements — Frequency: Less than 3 per day every day / 3-5 per day every day / 6 or more per day every day
Explosive bowel movements that are difficult to predict or control
Nausea — Managed by ongoing medical treatment? Yes / No
Post-prandial (meal-induced) light-headedness (syncope) with sweating
Requirement for medications to specifically treat complications of upper GI surgery including dumping syndrome or delayed gastric emptying
Discomfort or pain within an hour of eating and requiring ongoing oral dietary modification
Other, symptom(s) specify:

VAGOTOMY WITH PYLOROPLASTY OR GASTROENTEROSTOMY (Section VI)

6A. Has the Veteran had a vagotomy with pyloroplasty or gastroenterostomy?
Complete vagotomy
Incomplete vagotomy
Symptoms and confirmed diagnosis of alkaline gastritis
With confirmed persisting diarrhea
Following confirmation of post-operative complications of stricture or continuing gastric retention
Date of procedure(s) / Indicate facility

TUMORS AND NEOPLASMS (Section VII)

7A. Does the Veteran currently have, or has had, a benign or malignant neoplasm or metastases related to any condition in the diagnosis section?
7B. Is the neoplasm: Benign / Malignant
If malignant: Active / In remission
If malignant: Primary / Secondary (metastatic) — indicate the primary site, if known
7C. Has the Veteran completed treatment or is the Veteran currently undergoing treatment for a benign or malignant neoplasm or metastases?
Treatment completed
Surgery — describe / Date(s) of surgery
Radiation therapy — Date of most recent treatment / Date of completion of treatment or anticipated date of completion
Antineoplastic chemotherapy — Date of most recent treatment / Date of completion of treatment or anticipated date of completion
Other therapeutic procedure — describe procedure / Date of most recent procedure
Other therapeutic treatment — describe treatment / Date of completion of treatment or anticipated date of completion
7D. Does the Veteran currently have any residuals or complications due to the neoplasm (including metastases) or its treatment, other than those already documented in the report above?
If yes, list residuals or complications (brief summary)

OTHER PERTINENT PHYSICAL FINDINGS, COMPLICATIONS, CONDITIONS, SIGNS AND/OR SYMPTOMS (Section VIII)

8A. Does the Veteran have any other pertinent physical findings, complications, conditions, signs or symptoms related to any conditions listed in the diagnosis section above?
If yes, describe (brief summary)
8B. Does the Veteran have any scars or other disfigurement (of the skin) related to any conditions or to the treatment of any conditions listed in the diagnosis section?

DIAGNOSTIC TESTING (Section IX)

9A. Have clinically relevant diagnostic imaging studies or other diagnostic procedures been performed or reviewed in conjunction with this examination?
Upper endoscopy — Date / Results
Upper GI radiographic studies — Date / Results
MRI — Date / Results
CT — Date / Results
Biopsy, specify site — Date / Results
Other, specify — Date / Results
9B. Has clinically relevant laboratory testing been performed or reviewed in conjunction with this examination?
CBC — Date of test / Hemoglobin / Hematocrit / White blood cell count / Platelets
Helicobacter pylori — Date of test / Results
Other, specify — Date of test / Results
9C. Are there any other clinically relevant diagnostic test findings or results related to the claimed condition(s) and/or diagnosis(es), that were reviewed in conjunction with this examination?
If yes, provide type of test or procedure, date and results (brief summary):
9D. If any test results are other than normal, indicate relationship of abnormal findings to diagnosed conditions:

FUNCTIONAL IMPACT (Section X)

10A. Regardless of the Veteran's current employment status, do the conditions listed in the diagnosis section impact his/her ability to perform any type of occupational task (such as standing, walking, lifting, sitting etc.)?
If yes, describe the functional impact of each condition, providing one or more examples:

REMARKS (Section XI)

11A. Remarks (if any - please identify the section to which the remark pertains when appropriate).

Rating Levels for DC 7307

The following tiers are reproduced from 38 CFR Part 4, the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Toggle between the official VA criteria and a Plain English explanation.

Plain-English summaries are AI-generated to explain the official criteria. The official 38 CFR language is the binding legal standard. When in doubt, ask a VSO.

DC 7304

Evidence cited in published BVA decisions for DC 7307

The counts below are aggregated from published Board of Veterans Appeals decisions for this diagnostic code. Each row reports how often a given evidence type was discussed in the decision text, broken down by outcome. This is a factual aggregate of the public record, not a prediction or recommendation about any specific claim.

VA examination: appeared in 12 granted decisions (9 denied, 20 remanded; 41 total)
Private medical opinion: appeared in 8 granted decisions (0 denied, 1 remanded; 9 total)
Buddy / lay statements: appeared in 3 granted decisions (3 denied, 2 remanded; 8 total)
Service treatment records: appeared in 1 granted decision (0 denied, 1 remanded; 2 total)
Nexus letter: appeared in 0 granted decisions (0 denied, 2 remanded; 2 total)

What the Board discussed in granted decisions for DC 7307

The themes below were extracted by clustering 288 grant-factor sentences from published Board of Veterans Appeals decisions for this diagnostic code. Frequencies indicate how often each theme appeared in the sample. This is a factual aggregate of the public record, not advice or strategy for any specific claim.

31% Benefit of the doubt doctrine cited as legal standard
The Board or decision cited the statutory benefit-of-the-doubt rule, noting that when positive and negative evidence is in approximate balance the claimant prevails.
89 of 288 sample sentences
20% Medical nexus opinion noted as at least as likely as not
A VA or private examiner opined that a diagnosed condition was at least as likely as not incurred in, caused by, or secondary to service or a service-connected disability.
57 of 288 sample sentences
18% Evidence found in equipoise supporting grant
The Board found the evidence at least in relative equipoise on a material issue and accordingly resolved the claim in the Veteran's favor.
52 of 288 sample sentences
12% Preponderance against claim, benefit of the doubt inapplicable
The Board found the preponderance of evidence against the claim and noted the benefit-of-the-doubt doctrine therefore did not apply.
34 of 288 sample sentences
8% Benefit of doubt applied where evidence inapplicable noted in conclusions
The Board's conclusion of law or finding of fact section recorded that benefit of the doubt had been considered and applied, or stated it was not applicable, as part of the formal adjudicative determination.
22 of 288 sample sentences
6% Remand instructions framed as at-least-as-likely-as-not questions
The Board or prior remand order directed an examiner to address whether a specific disability was at least as likely as not related to service or a service-connected condition.
18 of 288 sample sentences
5% Benefit of the doubt applied for specific rating percentage
The Board explicitly applied the benefit of the doubt to assign or uphold a particular schedular rating percentage for a gastrointestinal or other disability.
15 of 288 sample sentences
4% Gastritis or GI condition linked to service-connected medication use
Medical opinions or findings documented that the Veteran's gastritis, GERD, or related gastrointestinal disorder was at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by NSAIDs, Sertraline, or other medications prescribed for service-connected conditions.
12 of 288 sample sentences
3% Evidence of record documented as supporting higher rating
Treatment records, examination findings, or medical evidence collectively documented symptom severity sufficient to support a grant or increase of a schedular rating.
10 of 288 sample sentences
2% Lay statements found credible and supportive of claim
The Board found the Veteran's lay assertions credible and noted they constituted positive evidence supporting a finding of service incurrence, nexus, or symptom severity.
7 of 288 sample sentences

Disclaimer: This page reproduces public Department of Veterans Affairs forms (DBQs) and verbatim text from 38 CFR Part 4 (the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities). It is informational only and is not legal or medical advice. For guidance on a specific claim, contact a VA-accredited representative.