VA Disability
Rating Schedule 2026

Rated on affected joint limitation of motion. Each affected joint rated separately.

Note: DC 5276. Separate from plantar fasciitis. Bilateral flat feet is one of the most commonly claimed foot conditions. Unilateral severe = 20%, unilateral pronounced = 30%.

Note: DC 5280. Maximum 10% per foot. Can be rated bilaterally for 10% each foot. Often secondary to flat feet or military footwear.

Note: DC 5017. Rated as degenerative arthritis under DC 5003. Chronic gout with tophi or joint damage may warrant higher ratings. Each affected joint may also be rated on limitation of motion.

Note: Rated under DC 5201 (limitation of arm motion). Often develops after shoulder injury, surgery, or prolonged immobilization during service.

Note: Rated under DC 5201 (limitation of motion) or DC 5203 (impairment of clavicle/scapula). Extremely common military injury. Post-surgical residuals rated on limitation of motion.

Note: Can receive separate ratings for instability (DC 5257), cartilage damage (DC 5258/5259), AND limitation of motion (DC 5260/5261) in the same knee. Commonly service-connected from PT injuries, parachute jumps, or combat.

Note: DC 5242. Rated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. Separate from IVDS (DC 5243) — rate under whichever gives higher rating. Associated radiculopathy rated separately.

Note: DC 5238. Rated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. Commonly develops from years of heavy lifting, rucking, and airborne operations. Associated neurological symptoms (radiculopathy, bowel/bladder dysfunction) rated separately.

Also claimed as: Depression, Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia). All use the same General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (38 CFR 4.130). The specific diagnosis does not change the rating criteria. Often secondary to chronic pain, TBI, or other service-connected conditions.

Note: Uses the same General Rating Formula as PTSD/MDD. GAD often claimed secondary to PTSD, MST, or chronic pain conditions.

Rated on frequency/severity of manic and depressive episodes and their functional impact. Mania-induced behaviors that cause occupational impairment weighted heavily.

70–100% most common given chronic nature. Rated on severity of positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions) and negative symptoms (social withdrawal, flat affect).

Often rated as secondary to PTSD, depression, or chronic pain. Standalone rating uses sleep disorder criteria — 30% if significant functional impairment.

Same General Rating Formula but generally lower ratings as condition is expected to resolve. If chronic, reclassified to persistent depressive disorder or anxiety.

Rated as mild (10%), moderate (20%), moderately severe incomplete paralysis (40%), or severe complete paralysis (60%) based on nerve root affected. Each limb rated separately.

Rated during acute phase (100%), then on residuals at 6 months post-stroke. Residuals include hemiplegia, cognitive deficits, aphasia — each rated separately using appropriate body system criteria.

Often rated under the General Rating Formula for mental disorders (somatic symptom disorder) or under the musculoskeletal system for the underlying condition. 10% minimum if diagnosed and documented.

Note: DC 6204. Often secondary to TBI, acoustic trauma, Meniere's disease, or inner ear damage from blast exposure. Can be claimed alongside tinnitus and hearing loss.

Note: DC 6205. Cannot be combined with separate ratings for tinnitus (DC 6260), hearing loss, or vertigo (DC 6204) — Meniere's rating encompasses all ear symptoms.

PACT Act (2022) created presumptive for constrictive bronchiolitis for veterans who served in Southwest Asia 8/2/1990 or later. Rated as a respiratory condition on FEV-1/FVC. Minimum 30% if diagnosis confirmed.

Rated on FEV-1 and exercise tolerance. Often secondary to other pulmonary or cardiac conditions.

Note: DC 6502. Must be traumatic deviation (broken nose, facial injury during service). Often claimed alongside sinusitis/rhinitis for separate ratings. Can contribute to sleep apnea secondary claim.

Navy/Maritime: DC 6833. Common in veterans who served on ships built before 1980 (engine rooms, boiler rooms, insulation). Latency period of 10-40+ years. Often claimed alongside pleural plaques. File a claim even with mild findings — the rating date goes back to when you file. Can also claim mesothelioma as secondary.

Presumptive: If you served aboard Navy vessels and have a mesothelioma diagnosis, this is presumptively service-connected due to shipboard asbestos exposure. No additional proof of exposure typically required. File immediately upon diagnosis. DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) for survivors if death results.

Note: DC 7122. Each affected extremity is rated separately (hands, feet). Maximum 30% per extremity. Common for veterans who served in cold weather operations, Navy deck duty in arctic conditions, Korean War, or winter field exercises. Also consider secondary claims for peripheral neuropathy and Raynaud's phenomenon.

Note: DC 7120. Each extremity rated separately. Common in veterans who stood for long periods (infantry, guard duty, ship duty). Often secondary to prolonged standing during service.

Rated on functional impairment, liver function tests, presence of cirrhosis, ascites, encephalopathy. Hepatitis C: 10% with positive serology, no symptoms. Higher ratings for cirrhosis sequelae.

Note: DC 6354. Commonly associated with Gulf War service. Requires diagnosis with debilitating fatigue severe enough to reduce daily activity below 50% for at least 6 months. Often co-occurs with fibromyalgia and IBS.

Gulf War Illness encompasses a range of chronic, medically unexplained symptoms in veterans who served in Southwest Asia after 8/2/1990. GI symptoms are rated under the specific condition (IBS, GERD, etc.). Other manifestations — fatigue, cognitive issues, joint pain, skin conditions — are each rated under their respective body system. Does not require a specific diagnosis; presumptive service connection applies if at least 10% disabling and present for 6+ months.

Tip: File each symptom as a separate claim for maximum combined rating. Common Gulf War Illness symptoms include: chronic fatigue (DC 6354), IBS (DC 7319), fibromyalgia (DC 5025), headaches (DC 8100), and skin conditions.

ED itself is rated 0% but qualifies for a Special Monthly Compensation (SMC-K) = $123.04/month (2026). File for it separately in addition to any SMC filing. Often secondary to PTSD, TBI, hypertension medications, low back injury, pelvic trauma.

Same BSA criteria as eczema. Psoriatic arthritis can be rated separately under musculoskeletal.

Note: DC 7825. Can be secondary to medication side effects, stress/PTSD, or environmental exposures during service. Document all episodes and treatments for C&P exam.

10% maximum — rated separately from hearing loss. One of the most commonly claimed conditions. Recurrent tinnitus sufficient for rating.

Rated on visual acuity loss. Common after eye trauma, steroid use, or radiation exposure. Post-surgical residuals rated on remaining visual impairment.

Rated on severity: palpitations, tremor, sweating, weight loss, ophthalmopathy, atrial fibrillation.

Obesity itself is not a ratable condition. However, conditions secondary to obesity (sleep apnea, diabetes, hypertension, joint pain, back conditions) are all independently ratable if the obesity was caused or worsened by service-connected disability (e.g., inability to exercise due to service-connected knee/back injury).

Often secondary to TBI, PTSD-related HPA axis dysregulation, opioid use for service-connected pain, or pituitary trauma. Service connection via secondary nexus is the pathway — file as secondary to existing SC condition.

Veterans who served in Vietnam, Korean DMZ 4/1/68–8/31/71, or were exposed to tactical herbicides: AL amyloidosis, bladder cancer, chronic B-cell leukemia, chloracne, diabetes type 2, Hodgkin's/Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, ischemic heart disease, multiple myeloma, Parkinson's disease, peripheral neuropathy, porphyria cutanea tarda, prostate cancer, respiratory cancers, soft tissue sarcoma.

Veterans who served after 8/2/1990 in covered areas (Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Southwest Asia, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Somalia, Uzbekistan, Djibouti): All cancers not on the exclusion list; constrictive bronchiolitis; constrictive pericarditis; and others. File for any cancer diagnosed after service.

Veterans who served in Southwest Asia after 8/2/1990 with chronic multisymptom illness (fatigue, rashes, headache, joint pain, neurological symptoms). Must be at least 10% disabling and present for ≥6 months. Does not require a specific diagnosis.

Service-connected if diagnosed during or after field/outdoor service. Residuals include arthritis (musculoskeletal ratings), neurological (neuropathy ratings), and cardiac (arrhythmia ratings) — all rated separately.

Note: DC 6351. Service connection established if contracted during active duty. Secondary conditions (neuropathy, skin conditions, mental health) rated separately in addition to the HIV rating.