The Playbook › Condition guides
Every VA disability rating comes from one document: the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities, in Part 4 of Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations. It lists hundreds of conditions, each with a four-digit diagnostic code and the criteria for each percentage.
This page is a map of that schedule. It is organized the way the schedule is, by body system. For each one you will find our plain-English guides, the conditions most often rated there, and a link to the official criteria.
The short version
- Each condition is rated under a diagnostic code in one of 15 body systems.
- Ratings run from 0% to 100% in steps of 10, but not every condition has every level.
- A condition that is not listed is rated by analogy to the closest listed condition.
- The same symptom cannot be rated twice under two codes.
- Individual ratings are combined, not added. See VA math.
On this page
Find your VA disability rating by body system
Looking for one condition or a code from your letter? Search all 722 diagnostic codes in the conditions A to Z.
| Body system | Regulation | Code series | Our guides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal | 38 CFR 4.71a | 5000s | Back, knee, shoulder, feet |
| Muscle injuries | 38 CFR 4.73 | 5300s | |
| Eye | 38 CFR 4.79 | 6000s | |
| Ear | 38 CFR 4.85 to 4.87 | 6100s to 6200s | Hearing loss, tinnitus |
| Infectious diseases and immune disorders | 38 CFR 4.88b | 6300s | |
| Respiratory | 38 CFR 4.97 | 6500s to 6800s | Sleep apnea, sinusitis and rhinitis |
| Cardiovascular | 38 CFR 4.104 | 7000s to 7100s | Hypertension |
| Digestive | 38 CFR 4.114 | 7200s to 7300s | GERD and IBS |
| Genitourinary | 38 CFR 4.115a and 4.115b | 7500s | |
| Gynecological conditions and the breast | 38 CFR 4.116 | 7600s | |
| Blood and lymphatic | 38 CFR 4.117 | 7700s | |
| Skin | 38 CFR 4.118 | 7800s | |
| Endocrine | 38 CFR 4.119 | 7900s | |
| Neurological | 38 CFR 4.124a | 8000s | Migraines, radiculopathy |
| Mental health | 38 CFR 4.130 | 9200s to 9500s | PTSD, depression and anxiety |
| Dental and oral | 38 CFR 4.150 | 9900s |
Musculoskeletal system
Joints, the spine, bones, and amputations. Most joint conditions are rated on range of motion, with pain, flare-ups, and instability taken into account. This is the most heavily used section of the schedule.
Our guides
Also rated here: hips, ankles, elbows, wrists, arthritis, fibromyalgia, amputations, and joint replacements.
Official criteria: 38 CFR 4.71a, and for muscle injuries 38 CFR 4.73.
Ear
Hearing loss is rated mechanically from audiogram results. Tinnitus has a single 10% rating.
Our guides
Also rated here: Meniere’s disease, vestibular (balance) disorders, and chronic ear infections.
Official criteria: 38 CFR 4.85 and 38 CFR 4.87.
Eye
Rated mainly on visual acuity, visual field loss, and incapacitating episodes.
Commonly rated here: glaucoma, cataracts, dry eye syndrome, retinal conditions, and loss of vision.
Official criteria: 38 CFR 4.79.
Respiratory system
Lung conditions are generally rated on pulmonary function test results. The nose and sinuses are rated on obstruction and episodes.
Our guides
Also rated here: asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, deviated septum, and lung cancer. Many of these are presumptive for burn pit exposure. See the PACT Act guide.
Official criteria: 38 CFR 4.97.
Cardiovascular system
Heart conditions are usually rated on exercise capacity, measured in METs, and on heart function. Blood pressure is rated on readings.
Our guides
Also rated here: ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, heart valve disease, varicose veins, and peripheral arterial disease. Several are presumptive for Agent Orange exposure.
Official criteria: 38 CFR 4.104.
Digestive system
Rewritten in May 2024. Ratings depend on the specific condition: frequency of pain, weight loss, strictures, or the need for surgery.
Our guides
Also rated here: hemorrhoids, hernias, ulcers, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and liver conditions.
Official criteria: 38 CFR 4.114.
Mental health
All mental health conditions share one formula, based on occupational and social impairment, at 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or 100%. You receive one rating covering all mental health diagnoses.
Our guides
Also rated here: bipolar disorder, adjustment disorder, panic disorder, and eating disorders, which have their own formula.
Official criteria: 38 CFR 4.130.
Neurological conditions
Covers the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. Nerve conditions are rated as mild, moderate, or severe for each affected limb.
Our guides
Also rated here: peripheral neuropathy, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and ALS.
Official criteria: 38 CFR 4.124a.
Skin
Most skin conditions are rated on the percentage of the body affected or on the type of treatment required, such as systemic medication. Scars have their own criteria.
Commonly rated here: eczema and dermatitis, psoriasis, scars, acne and chloracne, and skin cancer.
Official criteria: 38 CFR 4.118.
Endocrine system
Commonly rated here: diabetes, rated on whether it requires diet control, oral medication, insulin, and regulation of activities; and thyroid conditions. Type 2 diabetes is presumptive for Agent Orange exposure, and its complications are rated separately.
Official criteria: 38 CFR 4.119.
Genitourinary system
Kidney and bladder conditions are rated on renal function, how often you urinate, or the need for absorbent materials.
Commonly rated here: kidney disease, bladder conditions, prostate conditions, and erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is usually rated 0% but can qualify for Special Monthly Compensation. See the erectile dysfunction guide.
Official criteria: 38 CFR 4.115a and 38 CFR 4.115b.
Gynecological conditions and the breast
Commonly rated here: endometriosis, hysterectomy, removal of ovaries, and breast surgery. Some also qualify for Special Monthly Compensation.
Official criteria: 38 CFR 4.116.
Blood and lymphatic system
Commonly rated here: anemia, leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Cancers are generally rated 100% during active disease and treatment, then on what remains.
Official criteria: 38 CFR 4.117.
Infectious diseases and immune disorders
Commonly rated here: chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, HIV-related illness, malaria, and tuberculosis. Several are presumptive for Gulf War veterans.
Official criteria: 38 CFR 4.88b.
Dental and oral conditions
Commonly rated here: temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, rated on how far the jaw opens, and loss of teeth due to bone loss from trauma or disease.
Official criteria: 38 CFR 4.150.
Rules that apply to every rating
Your condition is not listed. VA rates it by analogy, under the code for the listed condition closest in the body part affected and the symptoms. You will see these written with a hyphen, such as “8199-8100.”
The higher of two ratings. When your symptoms fall between two levels, VA is supposed to assign the higher one if your condition more nearly matches it.
No double counting. The same symptom cannot be compensated under two different codes. Separate ratings are allowed when the symptoms are distinct.
0% still counts. A 0% rating means the condition is service connected but not currently disabling enough for compensation. It still matters for health care and for future increases.
Ratings can change. If a condition worsens, you can ask for more. See filing for an increase. If VA believes it has improved, it must follow set rules before reducing it. See rating protections.
After the individual ratings
- VA math explains how ratings combine.
- The VA disability calculator works out your combined rating and pay.
- Secondary conditions are often the most realistic way to add a rating.
- If your conditions keep you from working, see TDIU.
Free printable checklist. Everything to gather before you file, what to bring to your C&P exam, and what to check in your decision, on two pages.
Last reviewed October 2026. This guide is general educational information, not legal or medical advice, and this site is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rules and rates change. Confirm details on VA.gov or with an accredited representative. See our disclaimer and editorial policy.