VA Diagnostic Code 7118Angioneurotic edema

Angioneurotic Edema (VA Diagnostic Code 7118)

Understanding how the VA rates angioneurotic edema under the Cardiovascular System schedule (§ 4.104).

What Is Angioneurotic Edema?

Angioneurotic edema is a condition marked by episodes—often called "attacks"—of swelling. When the VA evaluates this condition, it focuses on how these attacks affect you: how long each attack lasts, how often attacks occur over the course of a year, and whether the attacks involve the larynx (the voice box / throat area). Laryngeal involvement is treated as a distinct and important factor because of where the swelling occurs.

Angioneurotic edema is listed under Diagnostic Code 7118 and is rated within the Cardiovascular System (§ 4.104).

Rating Levels

The VA assigns a disability rating based on the frequency, duration, and nature of your attacks. The available rating levels for angioneurotic edema are:

40%

Attacks without laryngeal involvement lasting one to seven days or longer and occurring more than eight times a year, or attacks with laryngeal involvement of any duration occurring more than twice a year.

20%

Attacks without laryngeal involvement lasting one to seven days and occurring five to eight times a year, or attacks with laryngeal involvement of any duration occurring once or twice a year.

10%

Attacks without laryngeal involvement lasting one to seven days and occurring two to four times a year.

What the VA Looks For

When rating angioneurotic edema, the VA considers three key elements from the rating criteria:

• Duration of attacks — how long each attack lasts (the criteria reference attacks lasting one to seven days or longer).
• Frequency of attacks — how many times attacks occur over the course of a year.
• Laryngeal involvement — whether the attacks involve the larynx. Attacks with laryngeal involvement are evaluated separately from those without, and even attacks of any duration can factor into higher rating levels when the larynx is involved.

Documentation that clearly reflects how often your attacks happen, how long they last, and whether they involve the larynx corresponds directly to the criteria the VA uses at each rating level.