---
title: "DC 7626 - Breast, surgery of:"
diagnostic_code: "7626"
body_system: "Gynecological Conditions and Disorders of the Breast"
cfr_section: "§ 4.116"
canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/gynecological/7626-breast-surgery-of"
source: "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.116"
updated: "2026-07-21T21:04:43.524265Z"
---

# DC 7626 - Breast, surgery of:

Rated under § 4.116. Body system: Gynecological Conditions and Disorders of the Breast.

## Rating criteria

| Rating | Criteria |
| --- | --- |
| 80% | Following radical mastectomy: Both |
| 60% | Following modified radical mastectomy: Both |
| 50% | Following radical mastectomy: One |
| 50% | Following simple mastectomy or wide local excision with significant alteration of size or form: Both |
| 40% | Following modified radical mastectomy: One |
| 30% | Following simple mastectomy or wide local excision with significant alteration of size or form: One |
| 0% | Following wide local excision without significant alteration of size or form: Both or one |

## Notes

- Note: For VA purposes:
- (1) Radical mastectomy means removal of the entire breast, underlying pectoral muscles, and regional lymph nodes up to the coracoclavicular ligament.
- (2) Modified radical mastectomy means removal of the entire breast and axillary lymph nodes (in continuity with the breast). Pectoral muscles are left intact.
- (3) Simple (or total) mastectomy means removal of all of the breast tissue, nipple, and a small portion of the overlying skin, but lymph nodes and muscles are left intact.
- (4) Wide local excision (including partial mastectomy, lumpectomy, tylectomy, segmentectomy, and quadrantectomy) means removal of a portion of the breast tissue.

# Breast Surgery (VA Diagnostic Code 7626)

**Understanding how the VA rates disability following breast surgery.**

*Gynecological Conditions and Disorders of the Breast — evaluated under 38 CFR § 4.116*

---

## What This Rating Covers

VA Diagnostic Code 7626 addresses disability following surgery of the breast. The rating you receive depends on the **type of surgery performed** and **whether one or both breasts were affected**.

For VA purposes, the following surgical terms have specific meanings:

- **Radical mastectomy** — removal of the entire breast, underlying pectoral muscles, and regional lymph nodes up to the coracoclavicular ligament.
- **Modified radical mastectomy** — removal of the entire breast and axillary lymph nodes (in continuity with the breast). The pectoral muscles are left intact.
- **Simple (or total) mastectomy** — removal of all of the breast tissue, nipple, and a small portion of the overlying skin, but lymph nodes and muscles are left intact.
- **Wide local excision** — removal of a portion of the breast tissue. This category includes partial mastectomy, lumpectomy, tylectomy, segmentectomy, and quadrantectomy.

---

## Available Rating Levels

| Rating | Criteria |
|--------|----------|
| **80%** | Following radical mastectomy: **Both** |
| **60%** | Following modified radical mastectomy: **Both** |
| **50%** | Following radical mastectomy: **One** |
| **50%** | Following simple mastectomy or wide local excision with significant alteration of size or form: **Both** |
| **40%** | Following modified radical mastectomy: **One** |
| **30%** | Following simple mastectomy or wide local excision with significant alteration of size or form: **One** |
| **0%** | Following wide local excision without significant alteration of size or form: **Both or one** |

---

## What the VA Looks For

When rating breast surgery under Diagnostic Code 7626, the VA focuses on two main factors:

1. **The type of surgery performed** — radical mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy, simple (total) mastectomy, or wide local excision.
2. **How many breasts were affected** — one or both.

For **simple mastectomy or wide local excision**, the VA also considers whether there was a **significant alteration of size or form**. A wide local excision *without* significant alteration of size or form is assigned a 0% rating, whether one or both breasts are involved.

The more extensive the surgery and the more breasts affected, the higher the assigned rating level, as reflected in the schedule above.

Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.116