Diabetes Mellitus
VA disability rating criteria for Diabetes Mellitus under Diagnostic Code 7913. The VA assigns ratings of 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 100% based on the severity and functional impact of your condition.
Rating Criteria
Manageable by restricted diet only.
Note: Diabetes mellitus ratings are based on treatment required and complications. Type 2 DM is common in veterans and is a presumptive condition for Agent Orange/herbicide-exposed veterans. Diabetes complications (neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy) should be separately rated as secondary conditions.
Requires insulin and restricted diet, or; oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet.
Requires insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities.
Note: "Regulation of activities" means the veteran must modify their activities (avoid heavy exertion, maintain strict schedules) due to diabetes management. This includes avoidance of strenuous work due to hypoglycemia risk.
Requires insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year or twice a month visits to a diabetic care provider, plus complications that would not be compensable if separately evaluated.
Requires more than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities (avoidance of strenuous occupational and recreational activities) with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider, and progressive loss of weight and strength.
Note: The 100% rating for diabetes requires multiple daily insulin injections, frequent hospitalizations or provider visits, AND progressive weight/strength loss. Many severely diabetic veterans achieve total disability through the combined effects of diabetes and its secondary complications rather than the primary diabetes rating alone.
Secondary Conditions
9 known secondary conditions linked to Diabetes Mellitus
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