What are the VA rating percentages for Stress Urinary Incontinence?

Stress Urinary Incontinence (DC 7542) is rated at 60%, 40%, 20% under 38 CFR § 4.115a. Requiring the use of an appliance or the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed more than 4 times per day

What rates 60% for Stress Urinary Incontinence under 38 CFR § 4.115a?

Under 38 CFR § 4.115a (DC 7542), a 60% rating for Stress Urinary Incontinence requires: Requiring the use of an appliance or the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed more than 4 times per day

What rates 40% for Stress Urinary Incontinence under 38 CFR § 4.115a?

Under 38 CFR § 4.115a (DC 7542), a 40% rating for Stress Urinary Incontinence requires: Requiring the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed 2 to 4 times per day

What rates 20% for Stress Urinary Incontinence under 38 CFR § 4.115a?

Under 38 CFR § 4.115a (DC 7542), a 20% rating for Stress Urinary Incontinence requires: Requiring the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed less than 2 times per day

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CLAIM RECON INTEL

Stress Urinary Incontinence

Q: What evidence do I need for a Stress Urinary Incontinence VA claim?

Key evidence for a Stress Urinary Incontinence claim includes: A voiding diary recording pad/appliance changes per day, daytime voiding intervals, and nighttime awakenings; Lab reports showing GFR or eGFR across at least 3 consecutive months (renal dysfunction); Urology records showing post-void residual volume, uroflowmetry peak flow, or catheterization needs; Records of recurrent UTIs, including hospitalizations and any suppressive drug therapy; Imaging or operative reports confirming the genitourinary diagnosis. All evidence should document both the condition and its impact on daily functioning.

DC 754238 C.F.R. § 4.115a

Diagnostic Code

DC 7542

38 C.F.R. § 4.115a

Rating Range

20–60%

3 severity tiers

Source

Verified

38 C.F.R. § 4.115b

Stress Urinary Incontinence is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 7542 of 38 CFR § 4.115a across 3 severity tiers (60% / 40% / 20%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.

Educational tool only. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.

Overview

Urine leaks when pressure is placed on the bladder from coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising, or lifting heavy objects. Results from weakened pelvic floor muscles or urethral sphincter.

Rating Criteria

60%

Requiring the use of an appliance or the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed more than 4 times per day

40%

Requiring the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed 2 to 4 times per day

20%

Requiring the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed less than 2 times per day

Key Evidence

—A voiding diary recording pad/appliance changes per day, daytime voiding intervals, and nighttime awakenings

—Lab reports showing GFR or eGFR across at least 3 consecutive months (renal dysfunction)

—Urology records showing post-void residual volume, uroflowmetry peak flow, or catheterization needs

—Records of recurrent UTIs, including hospitalizations and any suppressive drug therapy

—Imaging or operative reports confirming the genitourinary diagnosis

—Complete list of genitourinary medications

C&P Exam Tips

1If your condition causes voiding dysfunction, the rating often turns on absorbent materials or appliance use (38 CFR 4.115a) - count and report how many times per day you change a pad or appliance (more than 4x/day supports the highest level).

2For urinary frequency, document your daytime voiding interval and how many times you wake to void at night - both are explicit thresholds.

3For obstructed voiding, ask whether your record shows post-void residual volume, peak flow rate (uroflowmetry), or a need for catheterization.

4If the kidneys are involved, the rating is driven by GFR (38 CFR 4.115a) - request an eGFR lab and note that it must persist for at least 3 consecutive months in the past 12 months.

5For recurrent urinary tract infections, document drainage by stent/nephrostomy, hospitalizations per year, and any continuous/suppressive drug therapy.

6Report your worst days, bring a voiding diary, and describe how the condition affects sleep, work, and daily activity.

Tools

Rating Calculator →Secondaries Explorer →C&P Exam Prep →PACT Act Scanner →2026 Rates →

Sources & Editorial

Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.115b (Genitourinary system — diagnoses). Source verified 2026-06-04 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.

View § 4.115b on eCFR →Cornell Law mirror →Editorial Standards →Suggest a correction →

EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026

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