VA Disability Rating for Nontyphoid Salmonella Infections (DC 6333)
Diagnostic Code 6333 · 38 CFR §4.88b
What Is It?
Nontyphoid salmonella infections cause gastroenteritis with severe diarrhea, fever, and cramping. Veterans may contract salmonella through contaminated food or water during deployments. The VA uses the General Rating Formula. Salmonella can trigger reactive arthritis, which is specifically noted as a residual condition rated under appropriate body system codes.
Rating Criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Active salmonella infection with confirmed culture and systemic symptoms during treatment. |
| 0% | Resolved. Residual conditions, particularly reactive arthritis, are rated under appropriate body system codes. |
Evidence Needed
Stool or blood culture confirming Salmonella species. Deployment records. Treatment records. Documentation of post-infectious complications, particularly reactive arthritis.
C&P Exam Tips
Bring culture results. Describe deployment conditions. Report chronic digestive symptoms. Mention joint pain or swelling developing after the GI episode. Document hospitalizations.
How to File
File under DC 6333 for the acute infection. File reactive arthritis and post-infectious IBS as separate secondary claims.
Common Mistakes
Common mistakes include not linking chronic digestive problems to the salmonella infection, failing to recognize reactive arthritis as a complication, not preserving culture results, and overlooking that a deployment GI illness may have been salmonella.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can food poisoning during deployment cause long-term problems?
Yes. Salmonella can trigger chronic conditions like post-infectious IBS and reactive arthritis that persist indefinitely.
What if I was not formally diagnosed during service?
Many deployment GI infections go undiagnosed. A medical opinion can still establish the likely connection if you developed chronic conditions afterward.