YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
BeriberiVA disability rating & claim guide
DC 6314 is written in two halves and the schedule marks the division itself: the three tiers above are all prefaced "as active disease", and the row that closes the code says "thereafter rate residuals under the appropriate body system." So the ladder covers the period the thiamine deficiency is active, and the heart and nerve damage it leaves is rated under the cardiovascular and neurological schedules afterwards. Beriberi is one of the diseases specific to former prisoners of war at 38 CFR 3.309(c).
A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Beriberi
The VA rates Beriberi under diagnostic code 6314, in 38 CFR § 4.88b (infectious diseases, immune disorders, and nutritional deficiencies), and the schedule publishes three evaluation levels for it: 100%, 60% and 30%.
DC 6314 states three evaluations, each prefaced "as active disease". 100 percent: with congestive heart failure, anasarca, or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. 60 percent: with cardiomegaly, or with peripheral neuropathy with footdrop or atrophy of thigh or calf muscles. 30 percent: with peripheral neuropathy with absent knee or ankle jerks and loss of sensation, or with symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, anorexia, dizziness, heaviness and stiffness of legs, headache or sleep disturbance. The code then closes with a single instruction: thereafter rate residuals under the appropriate body system. 38 CFR 4.31 supplies a 0 percent where the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met. The ladder is a cardiac axis and a neurological axis running side by side — congestive heart failure against cardiomegaly, and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome against footdrop or atrophy against absent reflexes with sensory loss — and either axis can carry the evaluation on its own.
- Diagnostic code
- 6314
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.88b
- Ratings published
- 100%, 60% and 30%
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.
This code publishes no 0% row. Under 38 CFR § 4.31, a 0% evaluation is assigned where the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
VA Rating Tiers
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.
FROM READING TO READY
Build your evidence, one piece at a time.
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.
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MAKE YOUR NEXT STEP COUNT
Small details. Better preparation.
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim4 tips
- 01
Establish the period of active disease first, because that is the only period this ladder rates.
- 02
Get reflexes, sensation and muscle bulk into the neurological examination by name — they are what separate 30 from 60 percent.
- 03
Claim the cardiac and neurological residuals separately once the active phase is over, which is what the closing instruction directs.
- 04
If the veteran was a prisoner of war, say so in the claim. 38 CFR 3.309(c) lists beriberi among the diseases specific to former prisoners of war.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind4 tips
- 01
An examination that records neuropathy without testing reflexes. Absent knee or ankle jerks is half of the 30 percent criterion and the presence of footdrop or atrophy is what lifts it to 60.
- 02
Cardiomegaly and congestive heart failure used interchangeably. They are 60 and 100 percent respectively.
- 03
Residual heart or nerve damage described on the beriberi examination and never rated. The code says to rate residuals under the appropriate body system once the active disease has passed.
- 04
Thigh or calf atrophy noted without measurement. It is a named 60 percent finding.
Common filing mistakes4 tips
- 01
Filing on the active-disease ladder once the disease has resolved. The code sends the residuals to the cardiovascular and neurological schedules from that point.
- 02
Claiming the neuropathy as part of the beriberi rating after the fact rather than as its own evaluation under the nerve it affects.
- 03
Assuming a nutritional-deficiency diagnosis is too old to matter. The presumption at 38 CFR 3.309(c) is written for former prisoners of war and does not expire with time.
- 04
Leaving Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome out of the claim. It is one of the three findings at the top of this ladder.
When symptoms may first appear2 tips
- 01
The schedule splits this code explicitly into active disease and what comes after, and prefaces every tier with "as active disease" so the division cannot be missed.
- 02
Its criteria describe two organ systems reached by the same deficiency — the heart and the peripheral nerves — and either can carry the evaluation alone.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Beriberi
Is Beriberi a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Beriberi under VASRD diagnostic code 6314 (Infectious Diseases and Immune Disorders). DC 6314 is written in two halves and the schedule marks the division itself: the three tiers above are all prefaced "as active disease", and the row that closes the code says "thereafter rate residuals under the app…
What VA disability rating can I get for Beriberi?
Possible VA ratings for Beriberi are 100%, 60%, 30%. Examples: 100%: Active disease with congestive heart failure, generalized swelling, or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.; 60%: Active disease with an enlarged heart, or peripheral neuropathy with footdrop or wasting of the thigh or calf muscles.; 30%: Active disease with…
What evidence helps prove Beriberi for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Beriberi claim includes: Cardiac findings by name. Congestive heart failure reaches 100 percent and cardiomegaly 60 percent, and those are the words the criteria use.; A neurological examination recording reflexes and sensation. Absent knee or ankle jerks with loss of sensation is the 30 percent…
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Beriberi?
Common pitfalls when filing for Beriberi: Filing on the active-disease ladder once the disease has resolved. The code sends the residuals to the cardiovascular and neurological schedules from that point.; Claiming the neuropathy as part of the beriberi rating after the fact rather than as its own evaluation under the…
Is Beriberi a presumptive condition for VA benefits?
Yes, Beriberi is recognized as a presumptive condition. Beriberi, including beriberi heart disease, is listed among the diseases specific to former prisoners of war at 38 CFR 3.309(c).
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Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.88b, Schedule of ratings, infectious diseases, immune disorders, and nutritional deficiencies (Diagnostic Code 6314)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
Rating criteria on this page are an educational summary of the cited regulation. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
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