Diabetes mellitus (DC 7913) | VA Rating Tool
| Diagnostic Code | 7913 |
|---|---|
| Category | The Endocrine System |
| Also Known As | Mellitus, diabetes, type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes, blood sugar, insulin, diabetic, A1C, glucose |
📊 What Veterans Actually Get
Diabetes is most commonly rated at 20% (requiring insulin or oral medication AND restricted diet). About 50% receive 20%. The 40% rating requires regulation of activities (doctor-ordered activity restrictions).
Next Steps for This Condition
Rating Criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Conditions Secondary to This
9 linksDiabetes significantly increases cardiovascular risk.
Diabetes damages blood vessels and nerves that affect sexual function.
Diabetes and hypertension frequently co-occur and worsen each other.
Diabetes increases risk of carpal tunnel syndrome through nerve damage and tissue swelling affecting the median nerve.
Diabetic nephropathy is a leading cause of kidney failure.
Diabetic retinopathy is a direct complication of diabetes, progressing to glaucoma and vision loss.
Diabetic nephropathy is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease.
Diabetic retinopathy damages blood vessels in the retina.
Diabetes is the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy, damaging nerves in the extremities.
This May Be Secondary To
3 linksChronic pancreatitis damages insulin-producing cells, commonly causing diabetes mellitus.
Atypical antipsychotics used to treat bipolar disorder significantly increase diabetes risk through metabolic changes.
Antipsychotic medications for schizophrenia cause metabolic syndrome and significantly increase diabetes risk.
Disclaimer: Secondary connections shown are based on commonly established medical links. Individual claims require medical evidence. Consult a VSO or VA-accredited attorney.