Erectile dysfunction DC 7522
Listed in the rating schedule as “Erectile dysfunction, with or without penile deformity”. VA rates it under diagnostic code 7522 in 38 CFR 4.115b. Body system: Other.
Also searched as: ED, impotence.
How VA rates it
The schedule has one rating level for this code: 0%.
Usually rated 0%, but loss of use of a creative organ qualifies for SMC-K (paid on top of your rating).
The schedule marks this code for special monthly compensation (SMC-K), which is paid on top of your combined rating.
Source: 38 CFR 4.115b on eCFR. Read the full criteria there before you file.
Rating levels and criteria
| Rating | What the schedule says |
|---|---|
| 0% | Erectile dysfunction, with or without penile deformity |
Criteria text from 38 CFR 4.115b, eCFR as of November 10, 2026. The eCFR is the official source if anything here differs.
Notes in the schedule (1)
Note: For the purpose of VA disability evaluation, a disease or traumatic injury of the penis resulting in scarring or deformity shall be rated under diagnostic code 7522.
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.
Diabetes (type 2) DC 7913 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
Generalized anxiety disorder DC 9400 Established link
Anxiety can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction, separate from any medicine side effects.
What to gather: An ED diagnosis and a medical opinion linking it to your anxiety. ED is usually rated 0%, but service connection can bring special monthly compensation (SMC-K).
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); NIDDK (NIH): Symptoms and causes of erectile dysfunction
Hypertension DC 7101 Established link
High blood pressure damages blood vessels, and NIH lists it as a cause of erectile dysfunction.
What to gather: An ED diagnosis and a medical opinion linking it to your high blood pressure. Blood pressure medicines can also cause ED.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); NIDDK (NIH): Symptoms and causes of erectile dysfunction
Major depressive disorder DC 9434 Established link
Depression can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction, separate from any medicine side effects.
What to gather: An ED diagnosis and a medical opinion linking it to your depression. ED is usually rated 0%, but service connection can bring special monthly compensation (SMC-K).
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); Erectile dysfunction and depression: systematic review and meta-analysis (J Sex Med, 2018); NIDDK (NIH): Symptoms and causes of erectile dysfunction
PTSD DC 9411 Possible link
PTSD can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction, separate from any medicine side effects.
What to gather: An ED diagnosis and a medical opinion linking it to your PTSD. ED is usually rated 0%, but service connection can bring special monthly compensation (SMC-K).
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); PTSD and sexual difficulties: systematic review of veterans and military personnel (J Sex Med, 2021)
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) DC 8045 Possible link
VA's TBI rating rule tells raters to consider erectile dysfunction among TBI-related problems.
What to gather: An ED diagnosis and a medical opinion linking it to your TBI, for example through hormone or nerve changes.
Sources: 38 CFR 4.124a, DC 8045 (rate TBI residuals with their own diagnosis separately); NIDDK (NIH): Symptoms and causes of erectile dysfunction
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.
5-alpha reductase inhibitors (for example finasteride, dutasteride) Established link
Impotence is a labeled side effect of finasteride and dutasteride.
Sources: FDA label: Finasteride (DailyMed)
Opioid pain medicines (for example oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, hydromorphone) Established link
Opioid labels warn that long-term use can lower testosterone, which can cause erectile dysfunction.
Sources: FDA label: Oxycodone (DailyMed); Opioid-induced androgen deficiency: literature review (PubMed)
Serotonin modulator antidepressants (for example vilazodone, vortioxetine) Established link
Sexual dysfunction is a labeled side effect of these antidepressants.
Sources: FDA label: Vortioxetine (DailyMed)
SNRI antidepressants (for example venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, levomilnacipran) Established link
Sexual side effects, including erectile dysfunction, are listed in SNRI labels.
Sources: FDA label: Venlafaxine (DailyMed); Prevalence of antidepressant-associated erectile dysfunction (PubMed)
SSRI antidepressants (for example citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine) Established link
Sexual side effects, including erectile dysfunction, are listed in SSRI labels.
Sources: FDA label: Sertraline (DailyMed); Prevalence of antidepressant-associated erectile dysfunction (PubMed)
Thiazide diuretics (for example hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, indapamide, metolazone) Established link
Impotence is a labeled side effect of thiazide diuretics.
Sources: FDA label: Chlorthalidone (DailyMed); Antihypertensive therapy and erectile dysfunction (PubMed)
Tricyclic antidepressants (for example amitriptyline, nortriptyline, doxepin, imipramine) Established link
Impotence and other sexual side effects are listed in tricyclic antidepressant labels.
Sources: FDA label: Amitriptyline (DailyMed)
Beta blockers (for example metoprolol, atenolol, carvedilol, propranolol) Possible link
Some beta blocker labels list impotence. Studies are mixed, so a medical opinion matters.
Sources: FDA label: Propranolol (DailyMed); Antihypertensive medications and erectile dysfunction: beta blockers (PubMed)
Paliperidone (Invega, Invega Sustenna) Established link
Paliperidone raises prolactin, and its label lists erectile dysfunction and other sexual side effects.
Sources: FDA label: Paliperidone (DailyMed)
Risperidone (Risperdal, Perseris) Established link
Risperidone raises prolactin, and its label lists erectile dysfunction and other sexual side effects.
Sources: FDA label: Risperidone (DailyMed)
Spironolactone (Aldactone, CaroSpir) Established link
Spironolactone blocks male hormones, and its label lists erectile problems.
Sources: FDA label: Spironolactone (DailyMed)
Trazodone Possible link
Trazodone labels warn about priapism, a prolonged erection that can damage the penis and leave lasting erectile dysfunction.
Sources: FDA label: Trazodone (DailyMed)
Medications prescribed for it
A prescription shows the condition was diagnosed. It still needs its own link to service.
- PDE5 inhibitors (for example sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, avanafil). FDA labels: Sildenafil (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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