---
title: "DC 7000 - Valvular heart disease (including rheumatic heart disease)"
diagnostic_code: "7000"
body_system: "Cardiovascular System"
cfr_section: "§ 4.104"
canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/cardiovascular/7000-valvular-heart-disease-including-rheumatic-heart-disease"
source: "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.104"
updated: "2026-07-21T20:41:42.144481Z"
---

# DC 7000 - Valvular heart disease (including rheumatic heart disease)

Rated under § 4.104. Body system: Cardiovascular System.

General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Heart

## Rating criteria

| Rating | Criteria |
| --- | --- |
| 100% | During active infection with cardiac involvement and for three months following cessation of therapy for the active infection |

## Notes

- Note (1): Evaluate cor pulmonale, which is a form of secondary heart disease, as part of the pulmonary condition that causes it.
- Note (2): One MET (metabolic equivalent) is the energy cost of standing quietly at rest and represents an oxygen uptake of 3.5 milliliters per kilogram of body weight per minute. When the level of METs at which breathlessness, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope develops is required for evaluation, and a laboratory determination of METs by exercise testing cannot be done for medical reasons, a medical examiner may estimate the level of activity (expressed in METs and supported by specific examples, such as slow stair climbing or shoveling snow) that results in those symptoms.
- Note (3): For this general formula, heart failure symptoms include, but are not limited to, breathlessness, fatigue, angina, dizziness, arrhythmia, palpitations, or syncope.

# Valvular Heart Disease (Including Rheumatic Heart Disease)

**VA Diagnostic Code 7000 · Cardiovascular System · 38 CFR § 4.104**

## What This Condition Is

Valvular heart disease—including rheumatic heart disease—affects the heart valves and is evaluated by the VA as part of the **General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Heart**.

Under this formula, heart failure symptoms may include, but are not limited to:

- Breathlessness
- Fatigue
- Angina
- Dizziness
- Arrhythmia
- Palpitations
- Syncope (fainting)

## Available Rating Level

The rating schedule for this condition lists the following level:

| Rating | What It Reflects |
| ------ | ---------------- |
| **100%** | During active infection with cardiac involvement, and for three months following cessation of therapy for the active infection |

## What the VA Looks For

The VA rates valvular heart disease using the **General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Heart**. As part of this evaluation, examiners may consider the level of activity—measured in **METs (metabolic equivalents)**—at which symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope develop.

**Understanding METs:** One MET is the energy cost of standing quietly at rest and represents an oxygen uptake of 3.5 milliliters per kilogram of body weight per minute. When a laboratory determination of METs by exercise testing cannot be done for medical reasons, a medical examiner may estimate the level of activity in METs, supported by specific examples such as slow stair climbing or shoveling snow.

### Important Notes on Evaluation

- **Cor pulmonale:** This is a form of secondary heart disease and is evaluated as part of the pulmonary condition that causes it.
- **Active infection:** A 100% evaluation applies during active infection with cardiac involvement and for three months following the cessation of therapy for that active infection.

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*This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule under 38 CFR § 4.104, Diagnostic Code 7000. Individual evaluations depend on your specific medical findings.*

Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.104