VA Disability Rating for Shigella Infections (DC 6334)
Diagnostic Code 6334 · 38 CFR §4.88b
What Is It?
Shigella infections cause bacillary dysentery — severe bloody diarrhea with abdominal pain, fever, and dehydration. Shigella is highly contagious and spreads rapidly in military units. The VA uses the General Rating Formula. Residuals including hemolytic-uremic syndrome and reactive arthritis are specifically noted and rated under appropriate body system codes.
Rating Criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Active shigella infection with confirmed culture and systemic symptoms during treatment. |
| 0% | Resolved. Residuals including hemolytic-uremic syndrome and reactive arthritis are rated under appropriate body system codes. |
Evidence Needed
Stool culture confirming Shigella species. Service medical records. Deployment records to areas with poor sanitation. Documentation of post-infectious complications. Nexus letter linking chronic conditions to the infection.
C&P Exam Tips
Describe severity and any hospitalization. Report chronic bowel symptoms. Mention joint symptoms developing after the GI illness. Bring deployment records. Have current GI evaluation results.
How to File
File under DC 6334 for the acute infection. File hemolytic-uremic syndrome and reactive arthritis as separate secondary claims.
Common Mistakes
Common mistakes include not recognizing hemolytic-uremic syndrome and reactive arthritis as shigella complications, failing to document the deployment GI illness connection, not obtaining a stool culture, and overlooking kidney damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How common is shigella in military deployments?
Very common, especially in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia where contaminated water and poor field sanitation create ideal conditions for outbreaks.
What is reactive arthritis and how is it connected?
An autoimmune joint condition triggered by certain bacterial infections. Shigella is a classic trigger. It develops 1-4 weeks after the GI infection and can become chronic.