YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Aortic Aneurysm VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Aortic Aneurysm under diagnostic code 7110, in 38 CFR § 4.104 (cardiovascular system), and the schedule provides two evaluation levels for it: 100% and 0%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic aneurysm involves abnormal bulging in the wall of the aorta that can rupture or require surgical repair.
The rating distinguishes between an asymptomatic aneurysm with moderate dilation at the lower tier and chronic residuals following surgical repair at the higher tier, confirmed through imaging, surgical records, and a cardiologist's evaluation.
- Diagnostic code
- 7110
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.104
- Schedule levels
- 100% and 0%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
Which level applies is set by the criteria the evidence meets, not by the diagnosis. Where there is a question as to which of two evaluations applies, 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher one if the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Aortic Aneurysm VA rating criteria (DC 7110)
Choose a percentage to see what that level means. Open the full comparison to read all the criteria in one place.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
IN THE REGULATION’S OWN WORDS
What 38 CFR also says about Aortic Aneurysm
The notes 38 CFR Part 4 prints with these criteria, quoted. They govern how the evaluation is made without being a rating level themselves.
- “Note: When surgery is required, a 100-percent evaluation begins on the date a physician recommends surgical correction with a mandatory VA examination six months following hospital discharge. Evaluate post-surgical residuals under the General Rating Formula. Any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter.”DC 7110
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Aortic Aneurysm claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Aortic Aneurysm?
VA's page says: “You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers.”
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Aortic Aneurysm claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim2 tips
- 01
Include your operative report if you've had surgical repair, since post-surgical residuals are a specific basis for the higher rating tier.
- 02
Show symptom progression over time, and list any related vascular conditions, since aortic aneurysms often occur alongside other cardiovascular issues.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Lack of surgical proof when claiming post-operative residuals.
- 02
No follow-up imaging showing the aneurysm's current status.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Submitting only pre-operative data without follow-up imaging or evaluation.
- 02
Missing a cardiovascular assessment that would otherwise establish the full clinical picture.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
Aortic aneurysms can develop from post-deployment hypertension or simply from aging-related weakening of the arterial wall.
WHEN VA HOLDS THE LINK
After a service-connected lower-extremity amputation
38 CFR 3.310(c): “Ischemic heart disease or other cardiovascular disease developing in a veteran who has a service-connected amputation of one lower extremity at or above the knee or service-connected amputations of both lower extremities at or above the ankles, shall be held to be the proximate result of the service-connected amputation or amputations.”
38 CFR 3.310(c) does not define "other cardiovascular disease". The rating schedule evaluates Aortic Aneurysm in its cardiovascular section, 38 CFR 4.104.
- DC 5160
Complete Amputation of the Lower Extremity (Hip Disarticulation or Trans-Pelvic)
One service-connected amputation at this level meets the rule.
- DC 5161
Amputation of Thigh at Upper Third
One service-connected amputation at this level meets the rule.
- DC 5162
Amputation of Thigh at Middle or Lower Third
One service-connected amputation at this level meets the rule.
- DC 5163
Amputation of Leg, with Defective Stump
Below the knee: meets the rule only with service-connected amputations of both lower extremities at or above the ankles.
- DC 5164
Leg Amputation Not Improvable by Prosthesis Controlled by Natural Knee Action
Below the knee: meets the rule only with service-connected amputations of both lower extremities at or above the ankles.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Aortic Aneurysm by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Moderate – often approved with clear imaging and surgical history.
- Veterans service-connected
- ~2,500 veterans
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Aortic Aneurysm
Is Aortic Aneurysm a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Aortic Aneurysm under VASRD diagnostic code 7110 (Cardiovascular System). Aortic aneurysm involves abnormal bulging in the wall of the aorta that can rupture or require surgical repair.
What VA disability rating can I get for Aortic Aneurysm?
Possible VA ratings for Aortic Aneurysm are 100%, 0%. Examples: 100%: Evaluate at 100 percent if the aneurysm is any one of the following: Five centimeters or larger in diameter; symptomatic (e.g., precludes exertion); or requires surgery; 0%: Otherwise.
What evidence helps prove Aortic Aneurysm for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Aortic Aneurysm claim includes: CT scan reports documenting the aneurysm's size and location; Surgical records, if repair was performed; A cardiologist's evaluation of the aneurysm and any related heart function.
Which DBQ is used for Aortic Aneurysm?
VA's Artery and Vein Conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Aortic Aneurysm?
Common pitfalls when filing for Aortic Aneurysm: Submitting only pre-operative data without follow-up imaging or evaluation; Missing a cardiovascular assessment that would otherwise establish the full clinical picture.
Does VA hold Aortic Aneurysm to be the result of a service-connected lower-extremity amputation?
38 CFR 3.310(c): "Ischemic heart disease or other cardiovascular disease developing in a veteran who has a service-connected amputation of one lower extremity at or above the knee or service-connected amputations of both lower extremities at or above the ankles, shall be held to be the proximate result of the service-connected amputation or amputations." 38 CFR 3.310(c) does not define "other cardiovascular disease". The rating schedule evaluates Aortic Aneurysm in its cardiovascular section, 38 CFR 4.104.
What conditions can be secondary to Aortic Aneurysm?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Aortic Aneurysm, when a medical opinion links them, include: Hypertension. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.104, Schedule of ratings, cardiovascular system (Diagnostic Code 7110)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
- 38 CFR § 3.310(c), cardiovascular disease after a service-connected lower-extremity amputation
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
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