Musculoskeletal · 38 CFR 4.71a · DC 5002
Gout VA Disability Rating
Gout (gouty arthritis) rates under DC 5002 (rheumatoid arthritis) by analogy at 20/40/60/100% based on frequency of incapacitating exacerbations and joint involvement. Often coexists with hypertension and chronic kidney disease — rate each separately.
Rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 20% | One or two exacerbations per year in a well-established diagnosis. |
| 40% | Definite impairment of health with three or more exacerbations per year. |
| 60% | Severe; four or more exacerbations per year, severely incapacitating. |
| 100% | Active disease with constitutional manifestations and complete incapacitation. |
Common secondary conditions
Veterans rated for gout frequently file secondary-service-connection claims for:
- Chronic kidney disease
- Hypertension
- Painful scars
Use the calculator
Once you know the percentage assigned for this condition, plug it into the VA Combined Rating Calculator alongside any other service-connected ratings to see your combined percentage and 2026 monthly compensation.
Source citations
- 38 CFR 4.71a (eCFR)
- VA.gov current monthly compensation rates
- VA Office of General Counsel — Accreditation directory
VetDisabilityCalc is an independent reference site operated by Zoom Lifestyle LLC. We are not VA-accredited and we do not prepare or present VA claims. The information in this guide is reference material based on the cited regulations and is not legal advice. For representation, use the official VA OGC accreditation directory.