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VA rating schedule, diagnostic code 7530
"Kidney disease" (also called renal disease) is handled by the VA under the genitourinary part of its rating rules. The VA notes that diseases of this system generally cause problems with renal (kidney) function, voiding (urinating), infections, or a mix of these, and when a diagnostic code points to one of these areas, only the main (predominant) area of trouble is used for rating. To service-connect a kidney condition, the general rule is that a veteran shows the disease is linked to their military service; the VA can also connect it on a presumptive or secondary basis (for example, kidney damage caused by service-connected diabetes is rated under code 7541, "renal involvement in diabetes mellitus type I or II," and rated as renal dysfunction).
Most kidney conditions are listed in 38 CFR 4.115b but are scored using the single "renal dysfunction" formula in 38 CFR 4.115a. Examples include 7530 (chronic renal disease requiring regular dialysis), 7533 (cystic diseases such as polycystic kidney disease), 7536 (glomerulonephritis), and 7537 (interstitial nephritis) - all of which say "rate as renal dysfunction." Under that formula, the percentage is driven mainly by kidney function measured by GFR (glomerular filtration rate): a 100% level applies for GFR under 15, for needing regular dialysis, or for being an eligible kidney transplant recipient; 80% for GFR 15-29; 60% for GFR 30-44; 30% for GFR 45-59; and 0% for milder findings like protein or casts in the urine with near-normal GFR. A kidney transplant (code 7531) is rated 100% after surgery and then carries at least a 30% minimum afterward, and a malignant (cancerous) genitourinary tumor (code 7528) is rated 100% during active treatment, then re-evaluated on what remains.
There is also an exposure pathway that can ease the "nexus" (link) burden. For veterans, reservists, or National Guard members exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune who meet the service requirements, the VA lists kidney cancer as a disease that "shall be service-connected" even with no record of it during service, subject to a rebuttable presumption. A presumption like this means the VA assumes the link to service, so the veteran does not have to prove that part on their own.
This is educational information about how the VA's rules generally work - it is not legal advice, not a medical opinion, and not a VA decision about any individual claim.
Grounded in federal regulations and VA guidance, independently reviewed June 2026. Educational information, not legal advice or a VA determination.
Across 16,735 Board decisions mentioning Kidney disease
A denial is often not the end either — remands (shown below) are sent back for more development and can still end in a grant. These are whole-decision outcomes, not condition-specific success rates or a prediction of your case.
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These are decision-level labels in granted or partly granted decisions mentioning Kidney disease. They do not establish which theory succeeded for this condition.
In appeals where Kidney disease was the only condition decided and the Board granted it, the rating most often assigned was:
A decision may address several conditions. Its overall outcome or exposure tags do not establish what happened to each individual claim. Verify the specific issue against the original Board decision.
Browse decisions mentioning Kidney disease →Jump to the decisions from a specific year.
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Veterans appealing Kidney disease often look at outcomes for these too:
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