VA Disability Conditions

Rating criteria, evidence the VA looks for, and the right DBQ form for 150+ service-connected conditions. Updated for 2026.

Each VA disability condition is rated under a specific diagnostic code in 38 CFR Part 4 (the Schedule for Rating Disabilities). The brackets, evidence, and DBQ form vary by condition. Below: the most-rated conditions on this site. The full set of 150 condition guides is being published throughout 2026.

PTSD

PTSD is rated on the General Mental Disorders scale (38 CFR 4.130) at 0% / 10% / 30% / 50% / 70% / 100%. Diagnostic code 9411.

Mental health · DBQ 21-0960P-3

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is rated under Diagnostic Code 6260 with a single 10% maximum, regardless of severity or unilateral vs bilateral presentation.

Hearing · DBQ 21-0960N-1

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is rated under Diagnostic Code 6847 at 0% / 30% / 50% / 100%. CPAP-required automatically rates 50% or higher.

Respiratory · DBQ 21-0960L-2

Depression

Depression (MDD, persistent depressive disorder) is rated under 38 CFR 4.130 General Mental scale at 0% / 10% / 30% / 50% / 70% / 100%.

Mental health · DBQ 21-0960P-2

Hypertension

Hypertension is rated under DC 7101 at 10% / 20% / 40% / 60% based on diastolic and systolic blood pressure readings.

Cardiovascular · DBQ 21-0960A-3

Lower Back (Lumbar Spine)

Lumbar spine disabilities are rated under the General Rating Formula for the Spine (38 CFR 4.71a) at 10% / 20% / 40% / 50% based on forward flexion.

Musculoskeletal · DBQ 21-0960M-14

Anxiety Disorders

Generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety are rated under 38 CFR 4.130 at 0% / 10% / 30% / 50% / 70% / 100%.

Mental health · DBQ 21-0960P-2

Migraine Headaches

Migraines are rated under DC 8100 at 0% / 10% / 30% / 50% based on prostrating attack frequency and economic impact.

Neurological · DBQ 21-0960C-8

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is rated under DC 6100 using combined puretone threshold averages and Maryland CNC speech discrimination tables. 0% to 100%.

Hearing · DBQ 21-0960N-2

Radiculopathy

Radiculopathy (nerve root compression) is rated under 38 CFR 4.124a at 10% / 20% / 40% / 60% by severity per affected limb. Sciatic, femoral, ulnar, median.

Neurological · DBQ 21-0960C-2

IBS

IBS is rated under DC 7319 at 0% / 10% / 30% by severity. 38 CFR 4.114.

Digestive · DBQ 21-0960G-3

GERD

GERD is rated analogous to hiatal hernia under DC 7346 at 10% / 30% / 60% based on symptoms and impact on health. 38 CFR 4.114.

Digestive · DBQ 21-0960G-1

Knee Strain

Limited knee flexion is rated under DC 5260 at 0% / 10% / 20% / 30% based on degrees of flexion. 38 CFR 4.71a.

Musculoskeletal · DBQ 21-0960M-9

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is rated under DC 5269 at 10% / 20% / 30% based on treatment response, bilateral status, and surgical history. 38 CFR 4.71a.

Musculoskeletal · DBQ 21-0960M-6

Diabetes Mellitus Type II

Diabetes type II is rated under DC 7913 at 10% / 20% / 40% / 60% / 100% based on insulin requirement, diet, and complications.

Endocrine · DBQ 21-0960E-1

Shoulder Range of Motion

Limited shoulder ROM is rated under DC 5201 at 20% / 30% / 40% based on arm-at-side / shoulder-level / shoulder-blade thresholds. Major vs minor arm matters.

Musculoskeletal · DBQ 21-0960M-12

TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)

TBI residuals are rated under DC 8045 across 10 facets (cognitive, emotional, behavioral, motor, etc.) with the highest facet determining the percentage.

Neurological · DBQ 21-0960C-10

Asthma

Bronchial asthma is rated under DC 6602 at 10% / 30% / 60% / 100% based on FEV-1, FEV-1/FVC ratio, and need for systemic corticosteroids.

Respiratory · DBQ 21-0960L-1

Post-Concussive Syndrome

Post-concussive syndrome residuals are rated under DC 8045 as TBI; symptoms often include cognitive deficits, headaches, dizziness, and mood changes.

Neurological · DBQ 21-0960C-10

Sciatica

Sciatica (sciatic nerve radiculopathy) is rated under DC 8520 at 10% / 20% / 40% / 60% / 80% based on severity. Bilateral cases trigger the 38 CFR 4.26 factor.

Neurological · DBQ 21-0960C-2

Cervical Spine

Cervical spine strain is rated under DC 5237 at 10% / 20% / 30% / 40% based on cervical spine range of motion.

Musculoskeletal · DBQ 21-0960M-13

Hip Strain

Hip limitation of motion is rated under DCs 5251-5253 at 10% / 20% / 30% based on which motion is restricted and to what degree.

Musculoskeletal · DBQ 21-0960M-7

Hemorrhoids

External or internal hemorrhoids are rated under DC 7336 at 0% / 10% / 20% based on severity, recurrence, and anemia.

Digestive · DBQ 21-0960G-2

Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

ED is rated under DC 7522 at 0% schedular plus SMC-K ($136.06/mo in 2026) for loss of use of a creative organ.

Genitourinary · DBQ 21-0960J-3

Chronic Sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis is rated under DCs 6510-6514 at 0% / 10% / 30% / 50% based on incapacitating episodes and antibiotic treatment.

Respiratory · DBQ 21-0960L-3

Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is rated under DC 6522 at 10% or 30% based on nasal obstruction and polyps.

Respiratory · DBQ 21-0960L-3

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel (median nerve impairment) is rated under DC 8515 at 10% / 30% / 50% / 70% based on severity and dominant vs non-dominant hand.

Neurological · DBQ 21-0960C-2

Limited Ankle Motion

Limited ankle range of motion is rated under DC 5271 at 10% or 20% based on whether limitation is moderate or marked.

Musculoskeletal · DBQ 21-0960M-1

Cataracts

Cataracts are rated under DC 6027 by post-operative visual acuity. Pre-treatment cataracts get the underlying visual impairment rating.

Vision · DBQ 21-0960F-1

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is rated under DC 6013 by visual field loss or visual acuity, whichever produces the higher rating.

Vision · DBQ 21-0960F-2

Eczema

Eczema / dermatitis is rated under DC 7806 at 0% to 60% based on body surface area affected and systemic treatment.

Skin · DBQ 21-0960F-3

Painful or Unstable Scars

Painful or unstable scars are rated under DC 7804 at 10% / 20% / 30% based on count of qualifying scars.

Skin · DBQ 21-0960F-4

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is rated under DC 5025 at 10% / 20% / 40% based on response to therapy. Gulf War veterans may have presumptive service connection.

Musculoskeletal · DBQ 21-0960M-5

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar I and II are rated under DC 9432 using the General Mental scale at 0% / 10% / 30% / 50% / 70% / 100%.

Mental health · DBQ 21-0960P-2

IBS-D (Diarrhea Predominant)

IBS subtypes are rated together under DC 7319 at 0% / 10% / 30%. Gulf War veterans may have presumptive service connection.

Digestive · DBQ 21-0960G-3

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is rated under DC 5002 with active-process brackets (20-100%) and chronic-residuals brackets (separately).

Musculoskeletal · DBQ 21-0960M-3

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is rated under DC 7900 at 10% / 30% / 60% / 100% based on cardiovascular, neurological, and constitutional symptoms.

Endocrine · DBQ 21-0960E-2

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is rated under DC 7903 at 10% / 30% / 60% / 100% based on cardiovascular and neurological involvement. Agent Orange presumptive.

Endocrine · DBQ 21-0960E-2

Insomnia

Insomnia is typically rated as a symptom of a primary mental-health condition (PTSD, depression, anxiety) under 38 CFR 4.130, NOT as a standalone disability.

Mental health · DBQ 21-0960P-2

Foot Drop

Foot drop is rated under DC 8521 (external popliteal nerve) at 10% / 20% / 30% / 40% based on severity.

Neurological · DBQ 21-0960C-2

Ischemic Heart Disease

Ischemic heart disease is rated under DC 7005 at 10% / 30% / 60% / 100% based on MET workload, ejection fraction, and treatment requirements. Agent Orange presumptive.

Cardiovascular · DBQ 21-0960A-1

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is rated under DC 8520 (sciatic) or 8624 (femoral) per affected limb at 10% / 20% / 40% / 60%.

Neurological · DBQ 21-0960C-2

Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease (regional enteritis) is rated under DC 7326 at 10% / 30% / 60% / 100% based on severity of symptoms and impact on health.

Digestive · DBQ 21-0960G-3

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is rated under DC 7323 at 10% / 30% / 60% / 100% based on attack severity and frequency.

Digestive · DBQ 21-0960G-3

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is typically rated by analogy to IBS or chronic gastritis at 10% / 30%.

Digestive · DBQ 21-0960G-3

Cluster Headache

Cluster headaches are rated analogously to migraines under DC 8100 at 0% / 10% / 30% / 50% based on prostrating-attack frequency.

Neurological · DBQ 21-0960C-8