YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Diabetes Mellitus VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Diabetes Mellitus under diagnostic code 7913, in 38 CFR § 4.119 (endocrine system), and the schedule provides five evaluation levels for it: 100%, 60%, 40%, 20% and 10%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
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01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Prepare for your examTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Diabetes Mellitus
A metabolic condition where blood sugar is chronically high due to poor insulin production or use.
DC 7913 rates diabetes on how intensively it must be managed, and the criteria at 40 percent and above are conjunctive — each listed element has to be present. "Regulation of activities" is defined inside the 100 percent criterion as avoidance of strenuous occupational and recreational activities, and it is the element that separates 40 percent from 20. Complications are handled by Note (1): "Evaluate compensable complications of diabetes separately unless they are part of the criteria used to support a 100-percent evaluation. Noncompensable complications are considered part of the diabetic process under diagnostic code 7913." Note (2) adds: "When diabetes mellitus has been conclusively diagnosed, do not request a glucose tolerance test solely for rating purposes."
- Diagnostic code
- 7913
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.119
- Schedule levels
- 100%, 60%, 40%, 20% and 10%
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 prints 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
Diabetes Mellitus VA rating criteria (DC 7913)
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 Diabetes Mellitus
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 (1): Evaluate compensable complications of diabetes separately unless they are part of the criteria used to support a 100-percent evaluation. Noncompensable complications are considered part of the diabetic process under DC 7913.”DC 7913
- “Note (2): When diabetes mellitus has been conclusively diagnosed, do not request a glucose tolerance test solely for rating purposes.”DC 7913
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Diabetes Mellitus 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.
A LITTLE PREPARATION HELPS
What the C&P examiner will ask about Diabetes Mellitus
Think through your own experience before exam day. Open a question to see what the examiner is assessing and which details are useful to describe accurately.
SeverityHow well controlled are your blood sugar levels?
Evaluating glycemic control and frequency of complications which affect rating level.
- Bring recent A1C test results and blood sugar logs
- Document any emergency room visits for blood sugar problems
- Mention frequency of checking blood sugar daily
- Describe symptoms when blood sugar is high or low
- Not bringing recent lab work showing A1C levels
- Not mentioning episodes of dangerous blood sugar levels
- Failing to describe symptoms of poor control
SeverityHave you developed any complications from diabetes?
Documenting diabetic complications which may warrant separate ratings and affect overall disability level.
- List all complications even if they seem minor
- Bring eye exam reports and kidney function tests
- Document any foot problems or slow-healing wounds
- Mention any sexual dysfunction related to diabetes
- Not mentioning complications because you think they're minor
- Not claiming diabetic neuropathy as a separate condition
- Failing to get eye exams to document retinopathy
TreatmentHow do you currently manage your diabetes?
Assessing treatment requirements which determine diabetes rating levels.
- Bring recent lab results showing A1C levels
- List all diabetes medications and dosages
- Describe any complications: neuropathy, eye problems, kidney issues
- Mention frequency of blood sugar testing
- Not mentioning diabetic complications as separate conditions
- Not bringing recent medical records showing control levels
- Not describing how diabetes affects daily life activities
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Diabetes Mellitus?
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 Diabetes Mellitus 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 claim4 tips
- 01
File separately for every compensable complication — peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy (DC 6040), and renal involvement (DC 7541) each carry their own evaluation under Note (1), and they combine with the diabetes rating.
- 02
Get "regulation of activities" documented by your provider in writing if it applies. It is a named criterion at 40 percent and above, and a claim rarely reaches 40 percent without it.
- 03
Keep insulin and oral-medication records showing the treatment regimen over time, since the tiers are drawn on regimen rather than on A1C.
- 04
If you served in a location that supports presumptive service connection, raise it — but note that presumption is a service-connection rule under 38 CFR Part 3, and does not change which rating tier the criteria above produce.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind5 tips
- 01
Failure to document regulation of activities
- 02
No evidence of hospitalizations or complications
- 03
Inconsistent insulin usage history
- 04
Not documenting diabetic complications (neuropathy, retinopathy, kidney involvement) even if you have them, since these are what push the rating toward the higher, more severe tiers.
- 05
Having an incomplete treatment history that doesn't show the progression of medication needs over time.
Common filing mistakes3 tips
- 01
Not including full treatment records
- 02
Leaving out documentation of diabetic complications
- 03
Failing to note lifestyle limitations from diabetes
When symptoms may first appear5 tips
- 01
Gradual onset of fatigue, thirst, and high blood sugar
- 02
Can worsen quickly if uncontrolled
- 03
May follow pancreatic damage or exposure
- 04
Diabetes typically develops gradually, with blood sugar regulation worsening over months or years before diagnosis.
- 05
For many veterans, onset follows Agent Orange or other in-service chemical exposure, or develops alongside weight gain and reduced activity after separation from service.
SECONDARY TO SOMETHING ELSE
Conditions that can lead to Diabetes Mellitus
Each links to a page on claiming Diabetes Mellitus as secondary to that condition.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Diabetes Mellitus by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- High – especially when treatment history and complications are well-documented.
- Service-connected disabilities (VBA count)
- 445,840 disabilities
- Typical rating awarded
- ~40%
Count of service-connected disabilities from the VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), as of September 30, 2025; the report counts disabilities, not veterans. Approval outlook and typical rating are Vetrify editorial estimates, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Diabetes Mellitus
Is Diabetes a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Diabetes Mellitus under VASRD diagnostic code 7913 (Endocrine System). A metabolic condition where blood sugar is chronically high due to poor insulin production or use.
What VA disability rating can I get for Diabetes?
Possible VA ratings for Diabetes Mellitus are 100%, 60%, 40%, 20%, 10%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 100%: Requiring 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, plus either progressive loss of weight and strength or complications that would be compensable if separately evaluated; 60%: Requiring one or more daily injection of 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; 40%: Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Diabetes?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Diabetes Mellitus at around 40%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. Per the VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), veterans receiving VA compensation as of September 30, 2025 had 445,840 service-connected disabilities rated as Diabetes Mellitus. The report counts disabilities, not veterans. Estimated approval outlook: High – especially when treatment history and complications are well-documented.
What evidence helps prove Diabetes for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Diabetes Mellitus claim includes: VA or private endocrinologist records showing insulin use and complications; Hospital records of diabetic crises (e.g., hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis); Lab work showing chronic hyperglycemia (e.g., A1C reports); A1C test results and blood glucose logs showing your level of control over time.
Which DBQ is used for Diabetes?
VA's Diabetes Mellitus 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 Diabetes?
Common pitfalls when filing for Diabetes Mellitus: Not including full treatment records; Leaving out documentation of diabetic complications; Failing to note lifestyle limitations from diabetes.
Is Diabetes a presumptive condition for VA benefits?
Yes, for a veteran who meets a presumption's conditions. 38 CFR 3.309(a) names "Diabetes mellitus" among the chronic diseases, for a veteran with 90 days or more of continuous active service in a war period or after December 31, 1946, if it became manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within the window 38 CFR 3.307(a)(3) sets, one year from separation for most (38 CFR 3.307(a)(1)). 38 CFR 3.309(e) names "Type 2 diabetes (also known as Type II diabetes mellitus or adult-onset diabetes)" among the diseases associated with herbicide agents, for a veteran exposed to one during service. The regulation presumes that exposure for service in Vietnam, including its offshore waters, from January 9, 1962 to May 7, 1975; in a unit that, as the Department of Defense determined, operated in or near the Korean DMZ where herbicides were applied, from April 1, 1968 to August 31, 1971; or, in the Air Force or Air Force Reserve, regularly and repeatedly aboard C-123 aircraft used to spray herbicides (38 CFR 3.307(a)(6)). The statute, 38 U.S.C. 1116, 1116A and 1116B, also covers U.S. or Royal Thai bases in Thailand, Laos, Mimot or Krek in Cambodia, Guam or American Samoa or their territorial waters, Johnston Atoll or a ship that called there, and the DMZ from September 1, 1967, each in its own period. Type 1 diabetes is not on this list; the chronic-disease presumption above covers any type within its window. Each presumption gives way to affirmative evidence to the contrary (38 CFR 3.307(d)).
What conditions can be secondary to Diabetes?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Diabetes Mellitus, when a medical opinion links them, include: Diabetic Retinopathy. 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 § 4.119, Schedule of ratings, endocrine system (Diagnostic Code 7913)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
- 38 CFR 3.309(a), presumptive service connection
- 38 CFR 3.309(e), presumptive service connection
- VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), service-connected disabilities count, as of September 30, 2025
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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