How VA rates diabetes (DC 7913)
| Rating | Summary of criteria (38 CFR § 4.119) |
|---|---|
| 10% | Manageable by restricted diet only |
| 20% | Insulin (one or more daily injections) and restricted diet, or oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet |
| 40% | Insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities (medically required avoidance of strenuous activity) |
| 60% | The 40% criteria plus ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic episodes requiring 1–2 hospitalizations a year or twice-monthly diabetic care visits, plus non-compensable complications |
| 100% | More than one daily insulin injection, restricted diet, regulation of activities, frequent hospitalizations or weekly visits, plus weight and strength loss or compensable complications |
"Regulation of activities" must be medically prescribed and documented. It's the most commonly missed element between 20% and 40%.
The Agent Orange presumption
Type 2 diabetes is presumptive for veterans with qualifying herbicide exposure, including service in Vietnam (January 9, 1962 to May 7, 1975), plus locations the PACT Act added, such as Thailand bases, Laos, certain Cambodian provinces, Guam and American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll during specified dates. With a presumption, you don't need a nexus opinion for the diabetes itself.
Don't overlook complications
Under Note (1) of DC 7913, compensable complications are rated separately. Common ones include:
- Peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet (often each extremity rated separately, which can trigger the bilateral factor)
- Diabetic kidney disease
- Erectile dysfunction (0% rating plus possible SMC-K)
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Hypertension in some cases
We'll review your records for separately ratable complications.
Official sources
38 CFR 4.119 · VA: Agent Orange exposure
Rating criteria summarized for general information. Read the full regulation for details. Last reviewed October 2026.