Loiasis (African eye worm)

Loiasis is rated under diagnostic code 7326, which covers Crohn's disease and undifferentiated inflammatory bowel disease. The possible ratings are 10%, 30%, 60%, and 100%. What separates each level is a combination of how your condition is managed, how many daily episodes of diarrhea you have, how much abdominal pain you experience, and whether you show signs of systemic toxicity.

At 10%, your symptoms are minimal to mild, managed with oral or topical agents other than immunosuppressants or biologics, with recurrent abdominal pain, three or fewer daily episodes of diarrhea, and no signs of systemic toxicity. At 30%, symptoms are mild to moderate under the same type of management, but with minimal signs of toxicity such as fever, rapid heart rate, or anemia. At 60%, the condition requires immunosuppressants or biologic agents, involves four to five daily episodes of diarrhea, and includes intermittent signs of toxicity. At 100%, the disease is unresponsive to treatment, requires hospitalization at least once a year, and either prevents you from working or involves recurrent abdominal pain with at least two severe features such as six or more daily episodes of diarrhea or rectal bleeding, recurrent rectal incontinence, or recurrent abdominal distension. VA requires the diagnosis to be confirmed by endoscopy or radiologic studies. If you have also had a colectomy or colostomy with ongoing symptoms, VA will rate under this code or under diagnostic code 7329, whichever gives the higher rating. VA will not combine this rating with ratings under most other digestive system diagnostic codes; instead, it assigns a single rating under the code that best captures the overall disability picture.