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C&P Exam Prep: Pancreatitis
DBQ Overview
Interview + Physical- Form Name
- pancreas
- Form Code
- pancreas
- Page Count
- 8
- Examiner Type
- Gastroenterologist or Physician
- Estimated Duration
- 30-45 minutes
- Exam Format
- Interview + Physical
What to Expect During Your Exam
Exam Overview
To document the current severity, frequency, and functional impact of chronic pancreatitis for VA disability rating purposes under DC 7347. The examiner must determine how frequently you experience abdominal or mid-back pain episodes, whether hospitalizations have been required, what ongoing medical management is needed, and whether complications such as maldigestion, malabsorption, cysts, pseudocysts, intestinal obstruction, or ascites are present.
What the examiner evaluates:
- Frequency of abdominal or mid-back pain episodes per year
- Number of hospitalizations per year required for pain management or complications
- Whether pain requires ongoing physician management
- Presence of maldigestion and malabsorption requiring dietary restriction and pancreatic enzyme supplementation
- Complications including cysts, pseudocysts, intestinal obstruction, and ascites
- Need for outpatient medical treatment for pain or digestive problems
- Current medications prescribed for pancreatitis management
- Results of diagnostic studies confirming abdominal pain results from pancreatitis (per Note 1, 38 CFR 4.114 DC 7347)
- Presence of endocrine dysfunction or diabetes mellitus due to pancreatic insufficiency (rated separately under DC 7913)
- Nutritional status, weight changes, and dietary modifications
- Results of relevant lab work including amylase, lipase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and WBC
- Imaging studies such as CT, MRI/MRCP, EUS, ERCP
- Any surgical history including pancreatectomy or other procedures
- Functional impact on daily activities and occupational functioning
- Presence of scars or disfigurement from surgical interventions
Exam may be conducted in person at a VA facility, VA-contracted clinic, or via telehealth. You have the right to request an in-person examination if a telehealth exam is scheduled and you believe your condition requires physical assessment. Bring all relevant medical records, imaging reports, lab results, and a written symptom summary. In most states, you have the right to record the examination with advance notice.
Typical duration: 30-45 minutes
Serum Amylase
Pancreatic enzyme elevated during acute flares; used to confirm pancreatitis activity
What to expect:
Blood draw; results reviewed in context of clinical history. May be normal between flares in chronic pancreatitis.
Key thresholds:
- Elevated above normal reference range — Supports active pancreatitis diagnosis and confirms pain episodes are pancreatic in origin per Note 1 requirement
- Normal between flares — Does not negate diagnosis; chronic pancreatitis can present with normal amylase; emphasize clinical history and prior documented episodes
Tips:
- Bring copies of prior amylase results from hospitalizations or ER visits
- Note dates when amylase was elevated to correlate with pain episodes
- Inform the examiner if your amylase tends to normalize quickly after flares
Pain considerations: Acute elevation correlates with active pain episodes; document when levels were drawn relative to pain onset
Serum Lipase
More specific pancreatic enzyme than amylase; remains elevated longer during flares
What to expect:
Blood draw; often reviewed alongside amylase. More sensitive and specific for pancreatitis.
Key thresholds:
- Greater than 3x upper limit of normal — Strong objective confirmation of acute pancreatitis episode, supporting hospitalization necessity
- Mildly elevated or borderline — May reflect chronic smoldering disease; document alongside symptom history
Tips:
- Ensure prior hospitalization records showing lipase levels are included in your records
- If lipase was drawn during ER visits, bring those records explicitly
- Discuss with examiner that lipase elevates earlier and stays elevated longer than amylase
Pain considerations: Lipase elevation directly supports that abdominal pain episodes are pancreatic in origin, satisfying the diagnostic confirmation requirement under Note 1 of DC 7347
CT Scan of Abdomen/Pancreas
Structural changes to the pancreas including calcifications, ductal dilation, pseudocysts, and parenchymal atrophy characteristic of chronic pancreatitis
What to expect:
Review of prior imaging; examiner will note findings documented in radiology reports
Key thresholds:
- Calcifications, ductal changes, or pseudocysts present — Confirms structural chronic pancreatitis diagnosis; supports higher rating levels
- Pseudocyst identified — Qualifies as complication under the 30% criterion (ongoing outpatient treatment for management of complications including cyst/pseudocyst)
Tips:
- Bring printed radiology reports, not just the CD of images
- Highlight any reports mentioning pseudocysts, calcifications, ductal dilation, or pancreatic atrophy
- Note the dates of imaging and correlate with symptom flares
Pain considerations: CT findings provide objective structural evidence confirming that abdominal pain originates from the pancreas, which is required by Note 1 of DC 7347
MRI/MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography)
Detailed ductal anatomy, strictures, stones, and parenchymal changes without radiation; highly sensitive for chronic pancreatitis
What to expect:
Review of prior imaging reports; examiner may order if not recently completed
Key thresholds:
- Main pancreatic duct dilation or stricture — Objective structural evidence supporting chronic pancreatitis and related complications
- Intraductal stones or parenchymal fibrosis — Supports diagnosis and severity of chronic pancreatitis
Tips:
- If MRCP was performed, bring the full radiology report
- MRCP is considered the gold standard non-invasive imaging for chronic pancreatitis
Pain considerations: MRCP findings documenting ductal abnormalities strengthen the objective link between pain episodes and pancreatitis
Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Liver Function Tests
WBC elevation indicates infection or inflammation; alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin elevations suggest biliary complications from pancreatitis
What to expect:
Blood draw; results may already be in VA or private records
Key thresholds:
- Elevated WBC during pain episodes — Supports toxicity/infection component of severe episodes
- Elevated alkaline phosphatase or bilirubin — Indicates biliary obstruction or cholangitis as complication of chronic pancreatitis
Tips:
- Bring all hospitalization labs showing WBC and liver function abnormalities
- Note if you have had jaundice, dark urine, or light stools indicating biliary involvement
Pain considerations: Elevated inflammatory markers during pain episodes corroborate the severity and frequency descriptions you provide to the examiner
Fecal Elastase or Fecal Fat Studies
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency causing maldigestion and malabsorption; reduced elastase indicates inadequate pancreatic enzyme production
What to expect:
Stool sample analysis; examiner reviews prior results if available
Key thresholds:
- Fecal elastase below 200 mcg/g — Confirms exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; supports need for dietary restriction and pancreatic enzyme supplementation relevant to 100% rating criterion
- Steatorrhea documented — Objective evidence of malabsorption supporting dietary restriction and enzyme supplementation requirement
Tips:
- If prescribed pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) such as Creon, this is strong evidence of documented malabsorption
- Bring your current medication list showing enzyme supplements
- Document any dietary restrictions such as low-fat diet prescribed by your physician
Pain considerations: Exocrine insufficiency with malabsorption directly maps to the 100% rating criterion requiring maldigestion and malabsorption with dietary restriction and enzyme supplementation
Rating Criteria Breakdown
| Rating % | Criteria | Key Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | Daily episodes of abdominal or mid-back pain that require three or more hospitalizations per year; AND pain management by a physician; AND maldigestion and malabsorption requiring dietary restriction and pancreatic enzyme supplementation. All three elements must be present simultaneously. |
CFR: All three criteria under 38 CFR 4.114 DC 7347 must be met: (1) daily pain episodes with 3+ hospitalizations/year, (2) physician-managed pain, and (3) maldigestion/malabsorption requiring dietary restriction and enzyme supplementation. |
| 60% | Three or more episodes of abdominal or mid-back pain per year AND at least one episode per year requiring hospitalization for management either of complications related to abdominal pain or complications of tube enteral feeding. |
CFR: Under 38 CFR 4.114 DC 7347, three or more pain episodes per year with at least one requiring inpatient hospitalization for complications related to the abdominal pain or tube feeding complications. |
| 30% | At least one episode per year of abdominal or mid-back pain that requires ongoing outpatient medical treatment for pain, digestive problems, or management of related complications including but not limited to cyst, pseudocyst, intestinal obstruction, or ascites. Note 1 requires appropriate diagnostic studies confirming abdominal pain results from pancreatitis. |
CFR: Under 38 CFR 4.114 DC 7347, at least one annual pain episode requiring ongoing outpatient management for pain, digestive problems, or complications. Diagnostic confirmation of pancreatic origin is required under Note 1. |
100% Daily episodes of abdominal or mid-back pain that require th ...
Daily episodes of abdominal or mid-back pain that require three or more hospitalizations per year; AND pain management by a physician; AND maldigestion and malabsorption requiring dietary restriction and pancreatic enzyme supplementation. All three elements must be present simultaneously.
Key Symptoms
- Daily abdominal or mid-back pain episodes
- Three or more hospitalizations per year for pain management
- Active physician management of pain
- Documented maldigestion and malabsorption
- Prescribed dietary restriction (e.g., low-fat diet)
- Pancreatic enzyme supplementation (e.g., Creon, Zenpep)
- Significant weight loss or nutritional deficiencies
- Inability to maintain adequate oral intake without modification
CFR: All three criteria under 38 CFR 4.114 DC 7347 must be met: (1) daily pain episodes with 3+ hospitalizations/year, (2) physician-managed pain, and (3) maldigestion/malabsorption requiring dietary restriction and enzyme supplementation.
60% Three or more episodes of abdominal or mid-back pain per yea ...
Three or more episodes of abdominal or mid-back pain per year AND at least one episode per year requiring hospitalization for management either of complications related to abdominal pain or complications of tube enteral feeding.
Key Symptoms
- Three or more discrete pain episodes per year
- At least one hospitalization per year
- Hospitalization for complications of abdominal pain (e.g., pseudocyst, obstruction, ascites)
- Hospitalization for complications of tube enteral feeding
- Significant functional limitation during flares
- Emergency department visits that escalate to admission
- Pain requiring IV pain management during hospitalizations
- Inability to eat or tolerate oral intake during flares
CFR: Under 38 CFR 4.114 DC 7347, three or more pain episodes per year with at least one requiring inpatient hospitalization for complications related to the abdominal pain or tube feeding complications.
30% At least one episode per year of abdominal or mid-back pain ...
At least one episode per year of abdominal or mid-back pain that requires ongoing outpatient medical treatment for pain, digestive problems, or management of related complications including but not limited to cyst, pseudocyst, intestinal obstruction, or ascites. Note 1 requires appropriate diagnostic studies confirming abdominal pain results from pancreatitis.
Key Symptoms
- At least one pain episode per year
- Ongoing outpatient treatment with a physician for pain or digestive problems
- Management of complications such as pseudocyst, cyst, intestinal obstruction, or ascites
- Prescription medications for pancreatitis management
- Regular gastroenterology or primary care follow-up
- Dietary modifications to manage symptoms
- Diagnostic imaging or lab monitoring for complications
- Functional limitations during pain episodes affecting daily activities
CFR: Under 38 CFR 4.114 DC 7347, at least one annual pain episode requiring ongoing outpatient management for pain, digestive problems, or complications. Diagnostic confirmation of pancreatic origin is required under Note 1.
How to Describe Your Symptoms
Abdominal and Mid-Back Pain Episodes
How to describe:
Describe pain episodes with specific details: onset, location (epigastric radiating to mid-back is classic), intensity on 0-10 scale, duration, and what triggers or worsens episodes (e.g., eating fatty foods, alcohol, stress). State clearly how many distinct episodes you have had in the past 12 months and the past year before that. Distinguish between background daily pain and acute flare episodes.
Worst-day example:
“On my worst days, I wake up with a 9/10 burning and stabbing pain in my upper abdomen that radiates straight through to my mid-back. I cannot eat or drink anything without triggering vomiting. I am unable to get comfortable in any position. The pain is so severe I require IV pain medication in the emergency room. This has happened at least four times this past year, and each time I was admitted for two to five days.”
What the examiner listens for:
The examiner is listening for the number of discrete episodes per year, whether any required hospitalization, the nature and location of pain, whether pain is daily versus episodic, and whether a physician is actively managing the pain. They need this information to check the appropriate rating-level fields on the DBQ.
Understatements to avoid:
Do not say 'I just have some stomach pain sometimes.' Do not minimize the severity by saying 'it comes and goes.' Be specific about frequency, severity, and the impact on your ability to function, eat, and work.
Hospitalization History
How to describe:
Report each hospitalization in the past 12 months with the approximate date, facility name, length of stay, and reason for admission. If you have been hospitalized more than three times in a year, state this clearly and early in the exam. Distinguish between hospitalizations for acute pain management, IV fluids, pseudocyst drainage, obstruction, or other complications.
Worst-day example:
“In the past year I have been hospitalized three times. The first was in February for five days at [facility] because my pain was uncontrollable and I needed IV morphine and fluids. The second was in June for three days when imaging showed my pseudocyst had enlarged and was causing obstruction. The third was in October for four days when I could not keep food down and my lipase was over 2000.”
What the examiner listens for:
The examiner needs to document number of hospitalizations per year and the reason for each admission. Three or more hospitalizations per year is a threshold criterion for the 100% rating. Any one hospitalization per year is a threshold for the 60% rating.
Understatements to avoid:
Do not conflate ER visits with hospitalizations but also do not forget to mention ER visits that did not result in admission, as they document the severity and frequency of your pain episodes. Bring discharge summaries and hospitalization records to document each admission accurately.
Maldigestion and Malabsorption
How to describe:
Describe any prescribed dietary restrictions such as a low-fat or low-fiber diet, and all enzyme supplements you take (name, dose, frequency). Describe symptoms of malabsorption including oily or greasy stools (steatorrhea), foul-smelling stools, weight loss, bloating, early satiety, and nutritional deficiencies. State that these were prescribed by your physician as a direct result of your chronic pancreatitis.
Worst-day example:
“I take Creon 36,000 units with every meal and snack as prescribed by my gastroenterologist. Even with the enzymes, I have loose, oily stools several times a day when I eat anything with fat. I have lost 22 pounds over the past 18 months because I cannot absorb nutrients properly. My doctor has restricted me to a strict low-fat diet of under 20 grams of fat per day.”
What the examiner listens for:
The examiner is looking for prescribed dietary restriction and pancreatic enzyme supplementation as objective markers of maldigestion and malabsorption. This combination, together with daily pain and three or more hospitalizations, supports the 100% rating.
Understatements to avoid:
Do not fail to mention enzyme supplementation by name. Do not describe dietary changes as personal choices rather than physician-prescribed restrictions. Bring prescription bottles and your written dietary prescription if available.
Ongoing Outpatient Medical Management
How to describe:
Describe all outpatient appointments for pancreatitis management including gastroenterology visits, primary care visits for pain management, pain management clinic visits, and any procedures such as ERCP or endoscopic ultrasound. State how frequently you are seen and for what purpose. List all current medications prescribed specifically for pancreatitis.
Worst-day example:
“I see my gastroenterologist every three months for monitoring and management of my chronic pancreatitis. I am on scheduled oral opioids for pain management, Creon for malabsorption, and I had an ERCP in [date] for a bile duct stricture related to my pancreatitis. I also see a pain management specialist monthly who monitors my narcotic pain regimen.”
What the examiner listens for:
Active physician management of pain is required for the 100% rating. Ongoing outpatient treatment is the threshold for the 30% rating. The examiner needs to document the nature, frequency, and provider type for outpatient care.
Understatements to avoid:
Do not say you 'just take some Tylenol.' List all prescriptions including enzyme supplements, pain medications, proton pump inhibitors, antinausea medications, and any other drugs prescribed for your pancreatitis. Bring your current medication list.
Complications (Pseudocysts, Cysts, Obstruction, Ascites)
How to describe:
If you have been diagnosed with any complication of pancreatitis, describe it clearly including when it was diagnosed, how it was treated, whether it has recurred, and how it affects your daily life. Complications are relevant at both the 30% and 60% rating levels. Be specific about procedures performed to manage complications.
Worst-day example:
“I was diagnosed with a pancreatic pseudocyst in [date] that was found on CT scan. It caused severe abdominal pain, early satiety, and nausea. I was hospitalized for its management and ultimately required endoscopic drainage. It recurred six months later and I was hospitalized again.”
What the examiner listens for:
The examiner will check whether complications including cysts, pseudocysts, intestinal obstruction, or ascites are present and whether they require outpatient or inpatient management. These complications are explicitly named in DC 7347 as relevant to the 30% and 60% criteria.
Understatements to avoid:
Do not forget to mention complications that have resolved if they required hospitalization. Past hospitalizations for resolved complications still count toward the annual hospitalization tallies.
Functional and Occupational Impact
How to describe:
Describe how pancreatitis affects your ability to work, perform daily activities, eat normally, sleep, and maintain relationships. Be specific about days missed from work, activities you can no longer perform, and how symptoms affect your daily routine. Include fatigue, nausea, and inability to predict or control symptom flares.
Worst-day example:
“During flares I am completely bedridden for days at a time. I have missed over 30 days of work in the past year due to hospitalizations and recovery. I cannot attend social events involving food without fear of triggering a flare. I have to plan every meal carefully, carry my medications with me at all times, and stay near a bathroom. The unpredictability of my symptoms prevents me from maintaining full-time employment.”
What the examiner listens for:
The DBQ includes a functional impact section where the examiner documents how the condition affects daily activities and employment. This information is critical for a complete and accurate rating and may support a Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) claim.
Understatements to avoid:
Do not describe your best days as typical. Per M21-1 guidance, report how the condition affects you on your worst days and how frequently those worst days occur.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Failing to report the exact number of hospitalizations per year
The number of hospitalizations per year is the primary differentiator between the 30%, 60%, and 100% rating levels under DC 7347. Vague answers like 'a few times' or 'several' may result in an inaccurate lower rating.
Instead: Before your exam, count and write down every hospitalization in the past 12 months and the 12 months before that, including dates, facilities, and lengths of stay. Bring discharge summaries as supporting documentation.
Impact: 60% and 100%
Not mentioning pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy by name
Prescribed enzyme supplementation (e.g., Creon, Zenpep, Pancreaze) combined with dietary restriction is a specific required criterion for the 100% rating. If you take these medications but fail to mention them, the examiner may not document this critical finding.
Instead: Bring your current medication list with drug names, doses, and prescribing physicians. State explicitly that your gastroenterologist prescribed these medications due to documented malabsorption from chronic pancreatitis.
Impact: 100%
Describing dietary changes as personal choices rather than physician-prescribed restrictions
The 100% rating requires maldigestion and malabsorption requiring dietary restriction. If you describe your low-fat diet as something you chose rather than something your doctor prescribed because of documented malabsorption, the examiner may not recognize it as meeting the rating criterion.
Instead: State clearly: 'My gastroenterologist prescribed a low-fat diet of under X grams of fat per day because I have documented malabsorption from my chronic pancreatitis.' Bring any written dietary prescriptions or treatment plans that reference dietary restriction.
Impact: 100%
Minimizing pain severity on the day of the exam because you are having a relatively good day
Per M21-1 guidance, ratings are based on the average condition over time, including worst days. If you underreport pain severity because you feel better on exam day, the DBQ will not capture the true burden of your condition.
Instead: Describe your symptoms across the full spectrum: your average day, your typical flare day, and your worst day. Explicitly tell the examiner 'Today is a relatively good day for me. On my worst days, which occur approximately X times per month, my symptoms are...'
Impact: 30%, 60%, and 100%
Not mentioning complications such as pseudocysts or ascites
Complications including cysts, pseudocysts, intestinal obstruction, and ascites are explicitly named in DC 7347 as qualifying conditions for ongoing outpatient management at the 30% level and as reasons for hospitalization at the 60% level.
Instead: Review your imaging reports and treatment history before the exam. If any complication has been diagnosed, document when it occurred, how it was treated, and whether it required hospitalization. Bring relevant imaging reports.
Impact: 30% and 60%
Failing to address the diagnostic confirmation requirement under Note 1
Note 1 of DC 7347 requires that appropriate diagnostic studies confirm abdominal pain results from pancreatitis. Without objective evidence linking pain to pancreatitis, the rating criteria cannot be applied. If you have not had recent confirmatory testing, the examiner may order it or the claim may be delayed.
Instead: Bring copies of all relevant lab results (amylase, lipase) and imaging reports (CT, MRI/MRCP) that confirm your diagnosis and correlate your pain episodes with pancreatic activity. Highlight reports that specifically state 'consistent with chronic pancreatitis.'
Impact: 30%, 60%, and 100%
Forgetting to mention diabetes mellitus resulting from pancreatic insufficiency
Under Note 2 of DC 7347, diabetes mellitus due to pancreatic insufficiency must be separately rated under DC 7913. If you have diabetes caused by your chronic pancreatitis and do not raise this, you may be leaving a separate ratable condition unaddressed.
Instead: If you have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and your physician has linked it to your chronic pancreatitis (pancreatic exocrine and endocrine insufficiency), inform the examiner and ensure it is documented. File a separate claim for diabetes under DC 7913 if not already claimed.
Impact: Separate DC 7913 claim
Not reporting functional impact on work and daily activities
The DBQ includes a section on functional impact that directly feeds into overall disability determinations including potential TDIU. Veterans who omit functional impact information may receive accurate condition ratings but miss opportunities for unemployability consideration.
Instead: Prepare specific examples of how your condition affects work attendance, job performance, daily activities, and social functioning. Include number of workdays missed, activities you have had to stop, and any job accommodations required.
Impact: Overall disability determination and TDIU
Prep Checklist
Before Your Exam
Day Of
During the Exam
After the Exam
Your Rights During a C&P Exam
- You have the right to be examined in person rather than solely through a records review if your condition requires a physical examination. If scheduled for a telehealth or records-only review, you may request an in-person examination.
- In most states, you have the right to record your C&P examination with advance notice to the examiner. Check your state's laws and VA policy before the exam.
- You have the right to receive a copy of the completed DBQ form. Request it at the time of the examination.
- You have the right to submit a buddy statement (VA Form 21-10210) from a family member, caregiver, or fellow veteran attesting to the frequency and severity of your pancreatitis symptoms.
- You have the right to request a new C&P examination if you believe the original examination was inadequate, the examiner failed to review all evidence, or the DBQ contains significant errors or omissions.
- You have the right to submit a private medical opinion from your treating gastroenterologist or other physician to supplement or rebut C&P exam findings.
- You have the right to appeal a rating decision you disagree with through the Supplemental Claim lane, Higher-Level Review lane, or Board of Veterans' Appeals under the AMA appeals process.
- Under 38 CFR 4.114 Note 2, if you have diabetes mellitus resulting from pancreatic insufficiency, you have the right to have this condition separately rated under DC 7913 in addition to your pancreatitis rating under DC 7347.
- You have the right to have the benefit of the doubt applied in your favor when there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding any issue material to your claim (38 CFR 3.102).
- You have the right to have your disability rated based on the full range of your symptoms over time, including your worst days, not solely your condition on the day of the examination.
Related Conditions
- Diabetes Mellitus due to Pancreatic Insufficiency Under Note 2 of DC 7347, diabetes mellitus resulting from endocrine dysfunction caused by pancreatic insufficiency must be separately rated under DC 7913. If you have developed diabetes as a result of chronic pancreatitis, this is a separately ratable secondary condition that can be claimed in addition to your pancreatitis rating.
- Post Pancreatectomy Syndrome Under DC 7357, veterans who have undergone total or partial pancreatectomy are evaluated under pancreatitis (DC 7347), chronic complications of upper GI surgery (DC 7303), or based on residuals such as malabsorption, diarrhea, or diabetes, whichever provides the highest evaluation. A minimum 30% rating applies. If you have had a pancreatectomy, ensure this is fully documented.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Chronic Diarrhea Chronic diarrhea and bowel dysfunction resulting from pancreatic exocrine insufficiency or post pancreatectomy syndrome may be separately ratable under DC 7319 (irritable bowel syndrome) or DC 7326 (Crohn's disease or inflammatory bowel disease) if these conditions exist as separate diagnoses. Discuss with your VSO whether a secondary service connection claim is appropriate.
- Malabsorption / Small Intestine Resection In cases of post pancreatectomy syndrome with significant malabsorption, DC 7328 (intestine, small, resection of) may provide a higher evaluation than DC 7347. Per DC 7357, the rating that provides the highest benefit should be applied.
- Pancreatic Cancer Veterans with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer are evaluated under DC 7071 and may be eligible for a 100% rating during active treatment and for six months following the completion of a treatment program. Chronic pancreatitis is a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer; any new gastrointestinal malignancy diagnosis should be reported to your VA provider and VSO immediately.
- Peptic Ulcer Disease Veterans with chronic pancreatitis may also develop peptic ulcer disease. Under 38 CFR 4.114, peptic ulcer disease is independently ratable under DC 7304. If you have a separate diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease, discuss with your VSO whether a separate claim is warranted.
- Alcohol Use Disorder Alcohol use is a leading cause of chronic pancreatitis. Veterans whose pancreatitis was caused or aggravated by service connected conditions or whose alcohol use disorder is service connected may have a path to service connection for pancreatitis on a secondary basis. Discuss your individual circumstances with a VSO or accredited representative.
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This C&P exam preparation guide is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, medical, or claims advice. Always consult with a qualified Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative or VA-accredited attorney for guidance specific to your claim. Never exaggerate, minimize, or fabricate symptoms during a C&P examination.