C&P Exam for Kidney, removal of one (DC 7500)

Diagnostic code: 7500Condition: Kidney, removal of oneRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.115bDBQ: DBQ GU Kidney

Which form the examiner uses

For kidney, removal of one (DC 7500), the C&P examiner completes the following Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ):

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 kidney conditions including renal dysfunction, urolithiasis, infections, kidney removal, and transplant.

How DC 7500 maps to this DBQ: for this diagnostic code specifically, the examiner typically completes sections I-II, VI, and VIII-XI of this form. Section VI is the condition-specific section for this code. Sections III-V and VII cover unrelated conditions on this DBQ and are skipped.

DIAGNOSIS (Section I)
  • 1A. List the claimed conditions 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 listed above.
  • Diabetic nephropathy - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Glomerulonephritis - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Hydronephrosis - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Interstitial nephritis - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Kidney transplant - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Nephrosclerosis - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Renal artery stenosis - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Ureterolithiasis - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Neoplasm of the kidney - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Cholesterol emboli - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Cystic kidney disease - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Nephrocalcinosis - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Renal cortical necrosis due to disseminated intravascular coagulation - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Renal tubular disorders - Specify / ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Kidney abscess - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Pyelonephritis, chronic - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Kidney removal - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Nephritis, chronic - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Atherosclerotic renal disease - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Ureter, stricture - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Renal involvement in diabetes mellitus - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Renal disease caused by viral infection such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Papillary necrosis - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Renal amyloid disease - ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Congenital or inherited kidney disorder - Specify / ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Other kidney condition - Other diagnosis #1: ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • Other kidney condition - Other diagnosis #2: ICD Code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. If there are additional diagnoses that pertain to kidney condition(s), list using above format:
  • 1D. Comments:
MEDICAL HISTORY (Section II)
  • 2A. Describe the history (including cause, onset and course) of the Veteran's kidney condition(s) (give a brief summary):
  • 2B. Does the Veteran's treatment plan include taking continuous medication for the diagnosed condition?
  • If yes, list medications taken for the diagnosed condition:
  • 2C. Does the Veteran have hypertension and/or heart disease due to renal dysfunction or caused by any kidney condition?
RENAL DYSFUNCTION (Section III)
  • 3A. Does the Veteran have renal dysfunction?
  • 3B. Does the Veteran require regular dialysis?
  • 3C. Does the Veteran have a cystic, obstructive, or glomerular structural kidney abnormality for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months?
  • If yes, check all that apply: Cystic / Obstructive / Glomerular
  • Tests/evidence discussion:
  • 3D. Is there a renal tubular disorder?
  • If yes, is the renal tubular disorder symptomatic?
  • 3E. Does the Veteran have any signs or symptoms of hydronephrosis due to obstruction other than upper urinary tract urolithiasis?
  • If yes, indicate severity: Requires catheter drainage / Causing infection (pyonephrosis) / Causing impaired kidney function / Other, describe:
  • 3F. Does the Veteran have attacks of renal colic due to obstruction other than upper urinary tract urolithiasis?
  • If yes, indicate frequency: Occasional attacks of colic / Frequent attacks of colic
UROLITHIASIS (Section IV)
  • 4A. Does the Veteran now have or has he/she ever had kidney or ureteral calculi (urolithiasis)?
  • 4B. Indicate current/past location of calculi (check all that apply): Kidney / Ureter
  • 4C. Does the stone formation cause stricture of the ureter?
  • If yes, discuss test(s)/evidence used to confirm ureteral stricture:
  • 4D. Has the Veteran had treatment for recurrent stone formation in the kidney or ureter?
  • If yes, indicate treatment: Diet therapy required - specify diet and dates of use
  • Drug therapy required - list medication and dates of use
  • Invasive or non-invasive procedures - indicate average number of times per year: 0 to 1 per year / 2 per year / more than 2 per year
  • Date and facility of most recent invasive or non-invasive procedure:
  • 4E. Does the Veteran have any signs or symptoms due to upper urinary tract urolithiasis?
  • If yes, indicate severity: Requiring catheter drainage / Causing infections (pyonephrosis) / Causing hydronephrosis / Causing impaired kidney function / Other, describe:
  • 4F. Does the Veteran have attacks of colic due to upper urinary tract urolithiasis?
  • If yes, indicate frequency: Occasional attacks of colic / Frequent attacks of colic
URINARY TRACT/KIDNEY INFECTION (Section V)
  • 5A. Does the Veteran have a history of recurrent symptomatic urinary tract or kidney infections?
  • 5B. Etiology of recurrent urinary tract or kidney infections:
  • 5C. Indicate all treatment modalities used for recurrent urinary tract or kidney infections (check all that apply): No treatment
  • Suppressive drug therapy - Lasting 6 months or longer / For less than 6 months
  • If checked, list medications used and indicate dates for courses of treatment over the past 12 months:
  • Hospitalization - indicate frequency: 1 or 2 per year / More than 2 per year
  • Drainage by stent or nephrostomy tube - indicate dates when drainage was performed over the past 12 months:
  • Continuous intensive management required - indicate types of treatment and medications used over the past 12 months:
  • Other, describe:
KIDNEY REMOVAL OR TRANSPLANT (INCLUDING ELIGIBILITY) (Section VI)
  • 6A. Has the Veteran had a kidney removed, is eligible for a kidney transplant, or has had a kidney transplant?
  • 6B. Has the Veteran had a kidney removed?
  • If yes, provide reason: Kidney donation / Due to disease / Due to trauma or injury / Other, describe
  • 6C. Is the Veteran's renal disease course such that it is medically determined that the Veteran warrants transplant consideration?
  • If yes, provide the date the Veteran's renal function was noted to have declined enough to warrant transplant consideration:
  • 6D. Has the Veteran had a kidney transplant?
  • Date of transplant:
  • Date Veteran became eligible, if known:
  • Name of treatment facility, date of admission, and date of discharge for transplant:
  • 6E. If the Veteran underwent kidney removal, is the remaining kidney affected by nephritis, infection, or other pathology?
  • 6F. If the Veteran underwent a kidney transplant, is there nephritis, infection, or other pathology of the transplanted kidney?
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
  • Primary / Secondary (metastatic) - If secondary, indicate the primary site, if known:
  • 7C. Does the Veteran have a voiding dysfunction related to the neoplasm of the kidney (benign or malignant)?
  • 7D. Has the Veteran completed treatment or is the Veteran currently undergoing treatment for a benign or malignant neoplasm or metastases?
  • If yes, indicate type of treatment: Treatment completed
  • Surgery - describe / Date(s) of surgery:
  • Radiation therapy - Date of most recent treatment / Date of completion or anticipated date of completion:
  • Antineoplastic chemotherapy - Date of most recent treatment / Date of completion or anticipated date of completion:
  • Other therapeutic procedure - describe procedure / Date of most recent procedure:
  • Other therapeutic treatment - describe treatment / Date of completion or anticipated date of completion:
  • 7E. 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):
  • 7F. If there are additional benign or malignant neoplasms or metastases related to any of the diagnoses in the diagnosis section, describe using the above format:
OTHER PERTINENT PHYSICAL FINDINGS, COMPLICATIONS, CONDITIONS, SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, AND SCARS (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. Are there laboratory or other diagnostic studies in the medical records?
  • If yes, provide most recent results (if available):
  • 9B. Were laboratory or other diagnostic studies performed in conjunction with this examination?
  • If yes, provide most recent results (if available):
  • 9C. GFR - Date / Result (up to three entries)
  • 9D. Has the Veteran had albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) greater than or equal to 30mg/g, RBC casts, WBC casts, or granular casts present for at least 3 consecutive months during the past 12 months?
  • If yes, check all that apply: RBC casts / WBC casts / Granular casts / ACR greater than or equal to 30mg/g
  • Tests/evidence used to confirm their presence to include dates:
  • 9E. Are there any other significant diagnostic test findings and/or results?
  • If yes, provide type of test or procedure, date and results (brief summary):
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 7500

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.

Evidence cited in published BVA decisions for DC 7500

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 6 granted decisions (6 denied, 9 remanded; 21 total)
  • Private medical opinion: appeared in 2 granted decisions (1 denied, 6 remanded; 9 total)
  • Buddy / lay statements: appeared in 1 granted decision (0 denied, 0 remanded; 1 total)
  • Service treatment records: appeared in 0 granted decisions (2 denied, 3 remanded; 5 total)

What the Board discussed in granted decisions for DC 7500

The themes below were extracted by clustering 500 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.

  1. 32% Benefit of the doubt doctrine cited as applicable standard
    The Board or decision cited the legal standard that when positive and negative evidence is in approximate balance or nearly equal, the benefit of the doubt must be resolved in the claimant's favor.
    162 of 500 sample sentences
  2. 19% Positive nexus opinion documented linking kidney condition to service
    An examiner or physician opined that a kidney disability, renal cancer, nephrectomy, or related condition was at least as likely as not caused by, incurred in, or related to military service or a service-connected condition.
    97 of 500 sample sentences
  3. 16% Benefit of the doubt found inapplicable due to preponderance against claim
    The Board found that the preponderance or persuasive weight of the evidence was against the claim, rendering the benefit of the doubt doctrine inapplicable and resulting in denial.
    82 of 500 sample sentences
  4. 14% Evidence found in relative equipoise supporting grant
    The Board found that the lay and medical evidence for and against the claim was in approximate balance or relative equipoise, resulting in a grant of service connection or an increased rating.
    68 of 500 sample sentences
  5. 6% Examiner instructions recorded for kidney nexus opinion
    The decision documented instructions directing an examiner to opine whether a kidney disability was at least as likely as not related to service, a toxic exposure, or a service-connected condition.
    32 of 500 sample sentences
  6. 6% Toxic or environmental exposure cited as basis for nexus
    A medical opinion or Board finding noted that in-service exposure to herbicide agents, contaminated water, burn pits, PCBs, or other toxic substances was at least as likely as not the cause of a kidney or other disability.
    29 of 500 sample sentences
  7. 4% Secondary service connection nexus documented for kidney disease
    An examiner or Board finding recorded that a kidney disability was at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or medication use.
    18 of 500 sample sentences
  8. 1% Lost or missing records noted with heightened benefit of the doubt duty
    The Board noted that service records were lost or destroyed while in government custody, triggering a heightened obligation to consider the benefit of the doubt rule.
    5 of 500 sample sentences
  9. 1% Board applied benefit of the doubt to rating criteria determination
    The Board resolved the benefit of the doubt in the Veteran's favor when determining which diagnostic code or disability rating percentage applied, where the evidence was in approximate balance.
    5 of 500 sample sentences
  10. 0% Preponderance standard and VA responsibility for weighing evidence noted
    The decision cited VA's responsibility to determine whether the evidence supports a claim, is in relative equipoise with the claimant prevailing, or whether a preponderance is against the claim requiring denial.
    2 of 500 sample sentences
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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.