VASRD 7913 · Endocrine
Diabetes Mellitus VA Disability Rating
A metabolic condition where blood sugar is chronically high due to poor insulin production or use.
VA Rating Tiers
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Multiple daily insulin injections, activity limits, and frequent hospitalizations or weekly care |
| 60% | Daily insulin and activity limits, with hospitalizations or twice-monthly care |
| 40% | Daily insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities |
| 20% | Insulin or oral medication, plus a restricted diet |
| 10% | Controlled by diet alone |
How the VA Evaluates Diabetes Mellitus
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."
Approval outlook
High – especially when treatment history and complications are well-documented.
Veterans service-connected
445,840 veterans
Typical rating awarded
~40%
Veterans service-connected count from the VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), as of September 30, 2025. Approval outlook and typical rating are Vetrify editorial estimates — not official VA statistics.
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Best Evidence to Gather
- •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.
- •Endocrinology treatment notes documenting your diagnosis and management plan.
- •Medication logs showing insulin or oral medication use, which is central to determining the rating tier.
Strategy Tips
- •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.
- •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.
- •Keep insulin and oral-medication records showing the treatment regimen over time, since the tiers are drawn on regimen rather than on A1C.
- •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
- •Failure to document regulation of activities
- •No evidence of hospitalizations or complications
- •Inconsistent insulin usage history
- •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.
- •Having an incomplete treatment history that doesn't show the progression of medication needs over time.
Common Filing Mistakes
- •Not including full treatment records
- •Leaving out documentation of diabetic complications
- •Failing to note lifestyle limitations from diabetes
Onset Patterns
- •Gradual onset of fatigue, thirst, and high blood sugar
- •Can worsen quickly if uncontrolled
- •May follow pancreatic damage or exposure
- •Diabetes typically develops gradually, with blood sugar regulation worsening over months or years before diagnosis.
- •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 Conditions
Conditions commonly linked to Diabetes Mellitus. Service-connecting a secondary condition can increase your combined rating.
Peripheral Neuropathy
High blood sugar damages nerves
Diabetic Retinopathy
Affects vision due to damaged blood vessels in eyes
Kidney Disease
Diabetes stresses and scars kidneys
Neuropathy
Retinopathy
ED
Common questions about Diabetes Mellitus
- Is Diabetes Mellitus a VA-rated disability?
- Yes. The VA rates Diabetes Mellitus under VASRD diagnostic code 7913 (Endocrine). 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 Mellitus?
- Possible VA ratings for Diabetes Mellitus are 100%, 60%, 40%, 20%, 10%. Examples: 100%: Multiple daily insulin injections, activity limits, and frequent hospitalizations or weekly care; 60%: Daily insulin and activity limits, with hospitalizations or twice-monthly care; 40%: Daily insulin, restricted diet, and regulat…
- What's the typical VA rating awarded for Diabetes Mellitus?
- 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), 445,840 veterans were receiving VA compensation for Diabetes Mellitus as of September 30, 2025. Estimated approval outlook: High – especially w…
- What evidence helps prove Diabetes Mellitus 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…
- What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Diabetes Mellitus?
- 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 Mellitus a presumptive condition for VA benefits?
- Yes, Diabetes Mellitus is recognized as a presumptive condition. Presumptive for veterans exposed to Agent Orange or related herbicides
- What conditions are commonly secondary to Diabetes Mellitus?
- Conditions often service-connected as secondary to Diabetes Mellitus include: Peripheral Neuropathy, Diabetic Retinopathy, Kidney Disease. Filing for secondary conditions can increase a veteran's combined VA rating.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.119 — Schedule of ratings — endocrine system (Diagnostic Code 7913)
- VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025) — veterans service-connected count, as of September 30, 2025
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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