Diabetes (type 2) DC 7913
Listed in the rating schedule as “Diabetes mellitus”. VA rates it under diagnostic code 7913 in 38 CFR 4.119. Body system: Other.
Also searched as: diabetes, type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes, diabetes mellitus, T2D.
How VA rates it
The schedule allows 5 rating levels for this code: 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 100%. VA picks the level whose criteria best match your symptoms and records.
Source: 38 CFR 4.119 on eCFR. Read the full criteria there before you file.
Rating levels and criteria
| Rating | What the schedule says |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 20% | Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin and restricted diet, or; oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet |
| 10% | Manageable by restricted diet only |
Criteria text from 38 CFR 4.119, eCFR as of November 10, 2026. The eCFR is the official source if anything here differs.
Notes in the schedule (2)
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.
Note (2): When diabetes mellitus has been conclusively diagnosed, do not request a glucose tolerance test solely for rating purposes.
Conditions it can lead to
If this condition is service connected, these conditions are often claimed as secondary to it (38 CFR 3.310). Each one still needs its own diagnosis.
Arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) DC 7005 Established link
High blood sugar damages blood vessels and the nerves that control the heart, which leads to heart disease.
What to gather: A coronary artery disease diagnosis and a medical opinion linking it to your diabetes.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); NIDDK (NIH): Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke; 38 CFR 4.104
Carpal tunnel: median nerve DC 8515 Established link Rated separately
Diabetic nerve damage in the hands and arms is rated separately for each arm.
What to gather: A diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the arms or hands in your records. Compensable diabetes complications get their own rating; ones rated 0% are counted as part of your diabetes rating.
Sources: 38 CFR 4.119, DC 7913 Note (1): rate compensable diabetes complications separately; NIDDK (NIH): Diabetic neuropathy; 38 CFR 4.124a (nerve and neurological ratings)
Cataract DC 6027 Established link
Diabetes raises the risk of cataracts.
What to gather: An eye exam documenting cataracts and a medical opinion linking them to your diabetes.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); NEI (NIH): Cataracts; 38 CFR 4.79
Diabetic retinopathy DC 6040 Established link Rated separately
Eye damage from diabetes (diabetic retinopathy) is rated under its own eye code.
What to gather: A diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy from a dilated eye exam in your records. Compensable diabetes complications get their own rating; ones rated 0% are counted as part of your diabetes rating.
Sources: 38 CFR 4.119, DC 7913 Note (1): rate compensable diabetes complications separately; NEI (NIH): Diabetic retinopathy; 38 CFR 4.79
Erectile dysfunction DC 7522 Established link Rated separately
More than half of men with diabetes develop erectile dysfunction. It is usually rated 0% but can bring special monthly compensation (SMC-K).
What to gather: An ED diagnosis linked to your diabetes in your records. Ask VA to consider SMC-K for loss of use of a creative organ.
Sources: 38 CFR 4.119, DC 7913 Note (1): rate compensable diabetes complications separately; NIDDK (NIH): Diabetes, sexual, and bladder problems; 38 CFR 4.115b
Gastrointestinal dysmotility syndrome DC 7356 Established link
Diabetes is the most common known cause of gastroparesis, a slow-emptying stomach caused by nerve damage.
What to gather: A gastroparesis diagnosis, usually from a gastric emptying study, and a medical opinion linking it to your diabetes.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); NIDDK (NIH): Symptoms and causes of gastroparesis; 38 CFR 4.114
Peripheral arterial disease DC 7114 Established link
Diabetes is a major risk factor for blocked arteries in the legs (peripheral artery disease).
What to gather: A peripheral artery disease diagnosis, usually with an ankle-brachial index test, and a medical opinion linking it to your diabetes.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); NHLBI (NIH): Peripheral artery disease causes and risk factors; 38 CFR 4.104
Radiculopathy: leg (sciatic nerve) DC 8520 Established link Rated separately
Diabetic nerve damage in the legs and feet is rated separately for each leg.
What to gather: A diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the legs, ideally with nerve testing in your records. Compensable diabetes complications get their own rating; ones rated 0% are counted as part of your diabetes rating.
Sources: 38 CFR 4.119, DC 7913 Note (1): rate compensable diabetes complications separately; NIDDK (NIH): Diabetic neuropathy; 38 CFR 4.124a (nerve and neurological ratings)
Renal involvement in diabetes mellitus type I or II DC 7541 Established link Rated separately
Kidney damage from diabetes (diabetic nephropathy) is rated under its own kidney code.
What to gather: A diagnosis of diabetic kidney disease, shown by urine protein or kidney function tests in your records. Compensable diabetes complications get their own rating; ones rated 0% are counted as part of your diabetes rating.
Sources: 38 CFR 4.119, DC 7913 Note (1): rate compensable diabetes complications separately; NIDDK (NIH): Diabetic kidney disease; 38 CFR 4.115b
Hypertension DC 7101 Possible link
Diabetes can raise blood pressure, mainly once it has started to damage the kidneys.
What to gather: A hypertension diagnosis and a medical opinion linking it to your diabetes. The case is strongest if you also have diabetic kidney disease.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); NIDDK (NIH): Diabetic kidney disease
Commonly claimed as secondary to
If one of these is already service connected, you may be able to claim this condition as secondary to it.
Sleep apnea DC 6847 Possible link
NIH lists type 2 diabetes among the conditions sleep apnea can raise your risk for.
What to gather: A type 2 diabetes diagnosis and a medical opinion linking it to your sleep apnea.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); NHLBI (NIH): Living with sleep apnea
Presumptive rules that include it
If your service matches one of these, VA presumes the link to service and you do not need a medical opinion connecting it.
Agent Orange and herbicides
Covered: Type 2 diabetes.
Who qualifies: Any length of service in Vietnam, on its inland waterways, or within 12 nautical miles offshore (January 9, 1962 to May 7, 1975); at a U.S. or Royal Thai base in Thailand (January 9, 1962 to June 30, 1976); in Laos (December 1, 1965 to September 30, 1969); at Mimot or Krek, Cambodia (April 16 to 30, 1969); on Guam or American Samoa or their waters (January 9, 1962 to July 31, 1980); on Johnston Atoll or a ship that called there (January 1, 1972 to September 30, 1977); in or near the Korean DMZ (September 1, 1967 to August 31, 1971); with regular duty on C-123 aircraft that carried Agent Orange; or handling, testing, or storing Agent Orange.
38 CFR 3.307(a)(6) and 3.309(e). Sources: 38 CFR 3.307; 38 CFR 3.309; VA.gov: Agent Orange exposure and disability compensation; VA.gov: The PACT Act and your VA benefits
Chronic diseases that show up within a year of discharge
Covered: Diabetes mellitus.
Time limit: At least 10% disabling within 1 year of discharge.
Who qualifies: 90 days or more of continuous active service during a war period or after December 31, 1946, and the disease reached at least 10% disabling within 1 year of leaving service (3 years for tuberculosis and Hansen's disease, 7 years for multiple sclerosis).
38 CFR 3.307(a)(3) and 3.309(a). Sources: 38 CFR 3.307; 38 CFR 3.309; VA M21-1, Part V, Subpart iii, Chapter 2, Section B: Conditions of the auditory system
Related medications
Medications that can cause or worsen it
If you take one of these for a service-connected condition, this condition may be claimable as secondary to that condition. You need a diagnosis, your prescription records, and a medical opinion.
Oral and injected steroids (for example prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone) Established link
Steroids raise blood sugar, and their labels list diabetes as a side effect.
Sources: FDA label: Prednisone (DailyMed)
Second-generation antipsychotics (for example quetiapine, aripiprazole, risperidone, olanzapine) Established link
Labels for these antipsychotics warn about high blood sugar and diabetes.
Sources: FDA label: Quetiapine (DailyMed)
Statins (for example atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin) Possible link
Statin labels note small rises in blood sugar, and trials show a slightly higher rate of new diabetes.
Sources: FDA label: Atorvastatin (DailyMed); Statin therapy and new-onset diabetes in randomised trials (PubMed)
Medications prescribed for it
A prescription shows the condition was diagnosed. It still needs its own link to service.
- DPP-4 inhibitors (for example sitagliptin, linagliptin, saxagliptin, alogliptin). FDA labels: Sitagliptin (DailyMed)
- GLP-1 medicines (for example semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide). FDA labels: Semaglutide (DailyMed)
- Insulins (for example insulin glargine, insulin lispro, insulin aspart, insulin detemir). FDA labels: Insulin glargine (DailyMed)
- Metformin (for example metformin). FDA labels: Metformin (DailyMed)
- SGLT2 inhibitors (for example empagliflozin, dapagliflozin, canagliflozin, ertugliflozin). FDA labels: Empagliflozin (DailyMed)
- Sulfonylureas (for example glipizide, glyburide, glimepiride). FDA labels: Glipizide (DailyMed)
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Rating schedule data as of November 10, 2026. Secondary and presumptive links checked November 13, 2026.
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