Diabetes is a health condition in which your blood sugar levels are elevated because your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it the right way. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body attacks itself and stops producing insulin, requiring daily insulin injections. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels. Gestational diabetes can occur during pregnancy and typically goes away after the baby is born.

What are the different VA disability rating levels for diabetes?

VA disability ratings for diabetes can be 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, or 100%. A 10% rating is for diabetes manageable through a restricted diet only. A 20% rating applies when you need insulin or an oral hypoglycemic agent plus a restricted diet. A 40% rating requires insulin, a restricted diet, and physician-prescribed regulation of activities (avoiding strenuous occupational and recreational activities). A 60% rating requires insulin, restricted diet, 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. A 100% rating indicates multiple daily insulin injections, progressive loss of weight and strength, a restricted diet, physician-prescribed regulation of activities, and severe complications with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider.

What evidence do I need to support my diabetes VA rating?

Medical evidence is essential. Medical records should include your diagnosis, treatment plan, and documentation of complications or hospitalizations. Your healthcare provider should document how often you need medical care for diabetes and related conditions like hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Personal records of blood sugar readings, insulin requirements, and how diabetes affects daily activities and work capacity can help, and written statements from family members or caregivers describing daily management struggles and physical limitations can strengthen your case.

How do secondary conditions affect my VA disability rating for diabetes?

Diabetes often causes secondary conditions that can qualify for additional VA disability ratings. The VA evaluates these conditions separately from the primary diabetes rating, and multiple ratings may qualify you for greater benefits. Secondary conditions listed include peripheral neuropathy, cardiovascular disease, kidney dysfunction (nephropathy), diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, sleep apnea, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Veterans Affairs combines separate ratings using a combined ratings table to determine the total disability percentage and VA disability compensation.

What’s the VA Disability Rating for Diabetes?

Q: How does the VA rate diabetes?

The VA evaluates diabetes mellitus (Diagnostic Code 7913) under the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Your rating primarily depends on treatment requirements, including insulin usage, dietary restrictions, and physician-prescribed regulation of activities. The VA also considers how often you need to see a healthcare provider for diabetic care and whether you experience episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions, along with a review of your medical history.

A veteran sitting at a table who may be unsure about what the VA rating for diabetes is

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assigns disability ratings for diabetes at 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, or 100%, based on your treatment requirements and how the condition affects your daily life. Your rating determines your monthly compensation and access to VA healthcare benefits.

At Marc Whitehead & Associates, we want veterans who are dealing with diabetes to get a VA rating that accounts for how they manage their condition, the frequency of their medical care, and whether their physical activities are restricted.

If your VA Disability benefits request has been denied or you have received a disability rating that is less than what you feel is fair, our Veterans Affairs Disability benefits claims lawyers are here to help.

Depending on the situation, we can file an appeal on your behalf and build a case designed to prove to the VA why your benefits request is valid.

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a health condition in which your blood sugar levels are elevated because your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it the right way.

Below are details about the main types of diabetes:

Type 1: The body attacks itself and stops producing insulin. Because of this, those who have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes need insulin injections daily to survive.
Type 2: With type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels.
Gestational: This can occur in some women who are pregnant and typically goes away after the baby is born.

The team at Marc Whitehead & Associates offers legal guidance and support to veterans who have been diagnosed with a diabetes disability but have had their benefits request denied or received a low disability rating for it.

We can provide insights into how the VA rates various medical conditions and what to do to contest a disability denial or a low VA rating.

For a free legal consultation, call (800) 562-9830

How Does the VA Rate Diabetes?

The VA evaluates diabetes mellitus (Diagnostic Code 7913) according to the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Your diabetes VA rating primarily depends on your treatment requirements, including your insulin usage, dietary restrictions, and activity regulation.

In addition, Veterans Affairs considers factors like how often you need to see your healthcare provider for diabetic care. The VA also checks whether you experience episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions.

A medical history review is part of determining your rating. The Veterans Affairs Disability benefits claims attorneys at Marc Whitehead & Associates can help you collect medical records and other evidence and present them to the VA to show how your condition affects your health and your prognosis.

What Are the Different VA Rating Levels for Diabetes?

The VA uses disability ratings for diabetes to show how much the condition affects your ability to work and perform daily activities. This is done on a percentage scale.

Here are the VA ratings for diabetes:

10% rating: A 10% rating is assigned when your condition is manageable through a restricted diet only. At this level, you don’t require insulin or oral medication to control your blood sugar levels.
20% rating: A 20% rating applies when you need insulin or an oral hypoglycemic agent like metformin, plus a restricted diet. This is the most common rating for veterans with type 2 diabetes who take medication to control their condition.
40% rating: A 40% rating requires insulin, a restricted diet, and physician-prescribed regulation of activities. In accordance with the VA’s guidelines for disability ratings for diabetes, “regulation of activities” means you must avoid strenuous occupational and recreational activities to prevent blood sugar fluctuations.
60% rating: At the 60% level, you require insulin, a 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.
100% rating: A VA 100% disability rating indicates you need multiple daily insulin injections, are dealing with progressive loss of weight and strength, maintain a restricted diet, have a physician-prescribed regulation of activities, and have severe complications with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to your diabetic care provider.

In some cases, veterans who have been diagnosed with diabetes can file separate claims for related conditions, such as nerve damage (neuropathy), eye damage (retinopathy), kidney disease, or cardiovascular issues.

What Evidence Do I Need to Support My Diabetes Rating?

Medical evidence is essential for establishing your diabetes rating. The medical records that you provide to the VA should include your diagnosis, treatment plan, and documentation of any complications or hospitalizations. Your healthcare provider should document how often you need medical care for your diabetes and related conditions like hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.

Keep personal records of your blood sugar readings, insulin requirements, and how diabetes affects your daily activities and work capacity. Written statements from family members and caregivers who can describe your daily management struggles and physical limitations can also strengthen your case for VA disability benefits.

The Veterans Disability attorneys at Marc Whitehead & Associates can share information about how VA disability ratings for conditions are determined and the medical records and other evidence that you will need to provide to support your disability rating.

How Do Secondary Conditions Affect My Rating?

Diabetes often causes secondary conditions that can qualify for additional VA disability ratings. The VA evaluates these conditions separately from your primary diabetes rating. However, if you receive multiple ratings, then you may qualify for greater benefits.

Secondary conditions can include:

Peripheral neuropathy
Cardiovascular disease
Kidney dysfunction (nephropathy)
Diabetic retinopathy
Erectile dysfunction
Hypertension
Sleep apnea
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Each of these conditions can receive its own VA rating. Veterans Affairs will combine these separate ratings using a combined ratings table to determine your total disability percentage and VA disability compensation.

Can My VA Disability Rating Change Over Time?

Your diabetes rating may change if your condition worsens or your treatment requirements increase. If this happens, you can file for an increased rating based on the severity of your condition.

The VA can schedule periodic reviews to assess your insulin dependence, cardiovascular complications, and other factors related to your condition. These reviews help ensure that your rating accurately reflects your current health status. If the VA believes your condition is improving or being better controlled, it can lower your rating.

You have the right to challenge any proposed rating reduction. The Veterans Disability lawyers at Marc Whitehead & Associates want to help you keep your current rating or receive a higher one.

As such, we may advise you to get regular medical care and document any changes in your condition over time. This evidence can help you with your appeal.

Learn More About VA Disability Ratings for Diabetes

The lawyers at Marc Whitehead & Associates want you to understand your VA Disability rating for diabetes, so you can receive the benefits you deserve. Our team is ready to help you navigate the VA Disability claims process and secure the appropriate rating for your condition.

We have 120 years of combined experience on staff and can use what we know to assist you with your VA Disability benefits claim. If your request for disability benefits for diabetes has been rejected or you have received a low VA rating, we are ready to assist.

Allow our attorneys to evaluate your VA benefits case and discuss your legal options with you. If you proceed with an appeal of a VA claim denial or a low rating for diabetes, we will remain on your side every step of the way. To find out more, request a free case consultation.

Call or text (800) 562-9830 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

What Is the VA Rating for Diabetes?