VA Diagnostic Code 7003Pericardial adhesions.
Rated from 10% to 100% under § 4.104. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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What each rating requires
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- 100%
Workload of 3.0 METs or less results in heart failure symptoms
- 60%
Workload of 3.1-5.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms
- 30%
Workload of 5.1-7.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation confirmed by echocardiogram or equivalent (e.g., multigated acquisition scan or magnetic resonance imaging)
- 10%
Workload of 7.1-10.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or continuous medication required for control
General rating formula
General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Heart
Pericardial Adhesions (VA Diagnostic Code 7003)
Understanding This Cardiovascular Condition
Pericardial adhesions is a cardiovascular condition rated by the VA under Diagnostic Code 7003, found in § 4.104. It is evaluated using the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Heart.
Because this condition affects the heart, the VA measures how it impacts your body's ability to handle physical activity. A key part of this evaluation is a measurement called METs (metabolic equivalents), which reflects the level of physical workload your heart can tolerate before heart failure symptoms appear. Lower METs values indicate that symptoms occur at lower levels of exertion.
Available Rating Levels
The VA assigns a disability rating based on the criteria below.
100% Rating
- Workload of 3.0 METs or less results in heart failure symptoms.
60% Rating
- Workload of 3.1–5.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms.
30% Rating
- Workload of 5.1–7.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or
- Evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation confirmed by echocardiogram or equivalent (e.g., multigated acquisition scan or magnetic resonance imaging).
10% Rating
- Workload of 7.1–10.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or
- Continuous medication required for control.
What the VA Looks For
When rating pericardial adhesions under Diagnostic Code 7003, the VA considers:
- Exercise tolerance measured in METs — the level of physical workload at which heart failure symptoms occur. This is the primary factor across every rating level.
- Diagnostic imaging evidence — for the 30% level, evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation confirmed by an echocardiogram or an equivalent test such as a multigated acquisition scan or magnetic resonance imaging.
- Medication requirements — for the 10% level, whether continuous medication is required to control the condition.
Ratings are assigned according to the specific criteria met under the General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Heart.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.104, diagnostic code 7003. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
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