Diabetes mellitus VA Rating
How VA rates Diabetes mellitus under diagnostic code 7913, what evidence decides the percentage, and the reasons these claims get denied or under-rated.
Diabetes mellitus is rated under diagnostic code 7913. In the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities it appears as Diabetes mellitus, within the Endocrine System section of 38 CFR Part 4.
The essentials
| Diagnostic code | 7913 |
|---|---|
| Rating schedule name | Diabetes mellitus |
| Body system | Endocrine System |
| Examination form | ENDO Diabetes mellitus |
How VA rates diabetes mellitus
These are the rating levels VA assigns under diagnostic code 7913, quoted from the rating schedule. A rater compares the findings in your examination against each level and assigns the highest one your evidence supports.
| 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 |
- 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.
Criteria quoted from 38 CFR Part 4, Subpart B (eCFR edition 2026-01-01). Where a rating depends on measurements, the figures in your examination report are what decide it — which is why an examination that skipped a required measurement is worth challenging.
Other names for this condition
VA and treating providers may use different terms for the same condition. If your records use any of these, they may still support a claim for Diabetes mellitus:
- Diabetes mellitus type I
- diabetes mellitus type II
- DM
- DMII
What evidence decides the rating
For endocrine system conditions, these are the findings VA weighs when assigning a percentage. If your examination did not address them, the examination may be inadequate for rating purposes — which is itself an argument on appeal.
- Whether the condition requires continuous medication, insulin, or a restricted diet
- Regulation of activities — the specific criterion VA most often fails to develop for diabetes
- Frequency of hospitalisations and visits to a diabetic care provider
- Documented episodes of hypoglycaemia or ketoacidosis
Why these claims get denied or under-rated
These are the failure patterns we see most often on diabetes mellitus and related endocrine system claims:
- Diabetes rated at 20% because 'regulation of activities' was never asked about or documented
- Complications such as peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy or nephropathy were not separately claimed or rated
Secondary service connection
Under 38 CFR §3.310, a condition caused or aggravated by an already service-connected condition is itself service-connected. Secondary claims are where most veterans are leaving compensation on the table — and where most denials turn on the nexus opinion rather than the diagnosis.
Diabetes mellitus is commonly claimed secondary to
- Agent Orange and herbicide exposure presumptives
- Medication side effects
- Pancreatitis
Diabetes mellitus commonly causes or aggravates
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Nephropathy
- Erectile dysfunction
- Hypertension
- Skin conditions
If you are already service-connected for diabetes mellitus and any of these apply to you, they may be claimable as secondary conditions.
If your claim was denied or under-rated
A denial is not the end of the claim. Which route is right depends on why VA decided the way it did:
- Higher-Level Review — when the evidence already in the file supports a grant and VA got the decision wrong, or the examination was inadequate.
- Supplemental Claim — when you have new and relevant evidence, such as a private nexus opinion.
- Board Appeal — when you need a Veterans Law Judge to decide, or want a hearing.
- Clear and Unmistakable Error — when a decision more than a year old contains an undebatable error, which can recover retroactive pay.
Effective dates matter as much as the percentage. See effective dates and back pay for how far back an award can reach.
Sources
Related conditions
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This page is educational information, not legal advice. VA rules and deadlines change — always confirm details with the official source (38 CFR, M21-1) or your accredited claims agent. Borne Accredited Claims is an accredited VA claims agent under 38 CFR §14.629 and is not part of, or endorsed by, the Department of Veterans Affairs. We do not guarantee any specific outcome.