Search VA regulations and diagnostic codes

Examination Sufficiency for Specific Disabilities

IV.i.3.B.1.l. Sleep Disorders Examination Review Sleep apnea must be diagnosed with a sleep study. Review the sleep study to ensure the condition is interpreted in relationship to the claimed condition. If there is a service-connected (SC) condition that is comorbid to the sleep apnea that…

Determining the Issues

Example 2: A Veteran who is currently SC for bronchial asthma, evaluated as 30-percent disabling, files a claim for SC for obstructive sleep apnea requiring the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. Result: The RO must decide the sleep apnea claim on its individual…

Developing Presumptive Service Connection (SC) Claims from Persian Gulf Veterans

VIII.ii.1.B.2.g. Example: Gulf War Examination Not Necessary With Known Clinical Diagnosis _Facts_ : A Persian Gulf Veteran claims SC for “sleep disturbance.” Service Treatment Records (STRs) do not show any relevant treatment or diagnoses. Private medical evidence reveals the Veteran…

Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) Proposed Ratings

X.i.6.H.2.c. Decisions Involving Coexisting Claimed and Referred Disabilities If an IDES participant has coexisting _claimed_ and _referred_ disabilities that must be assigned a _single_ disability rating under the rating schedule, the DRAS decision maker must · determine the appropriate…

Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) Development and Examinations

X.i.6.F.2.l. Avoiding Duplication of Effort In order to avoid a duplication of effort, · examiners should use laboratory and x-ray reports that are already of record, as long as · the reports are less than six months old, and · there is no evidence the related disability has worsened, and *…

General Information on Presumptive Service Connection (SC) for Persian Gulf Veterans

VIII.ii.1.A.1.j. Signs and Symptoms of Undiagnosed Illnesses or MUCMIs [38 CFR 3.317](<http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=9f0ce8e46464a943446b3eabce7d0edb&node=se38.1.3_1317&rgn=div8>) specifies the following 13 categories of signs or symptoms that may be manifestations of an undiagnosed…

Schedule of ratings—respiratory system.

| Note (2): Following episodes of total spontaneous pneumothorax, a rating of 100 percent shall be assigned as of the date of hospital admission and shall continue for three months from the first day of the month after hospital discharge. | | | Note (3): Gunshot wounds of the pleural cavity with…

Duty to Assist With Providing a Medical Examination or Opinion

Important: · Service Treatment Records (STRs) _must_ be of record, unless after all required efforts they are unavailable, prior to requesting audiological examination for service connection (SC) for hearing loss because the results of any in-service audiological testing, and potentially other…

Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) and Initial Processing

_Important_ : Accept an unsigned SHA, Part A as complete. Examiners will evaluate the service member and review the SHA, Part A without a signature. Exceptions: · Do _not_ exclude the claim from the BDD program if a completed SHA, Part A is not of record. Instead, follow the…

Compensation for certain disabilities occurring in Persian Gulf veterans.

(5) A qualifying chronic disability referred to in this section shall be rated using evaluation criteria from part 4 of this chapter for a disease or injury in which the functions affected, anatomical localization, or symptomatology are similar. (6) A qualifying chronic disability referred to in…

Schedule of ratings—musculoskeletal system.

| With widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points, with or without associated fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesias, headache, irritable bowel symptoms, depression, anxiety, or Raynaud's-like symptoms: | | | That are constant, or nearly so, and refractory to therapy | 40 | |…

Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders

V.iii.12.A.3.d. Lay Evidence of Prostration from Migraine Headaches A claimant’s own testimony regarding symptoms _and_ limitations when having those symptoms can establish prostration as long as the testimony is credible and symptoms are otherwise competently attributed to migraine headaches…

V.iii.13.1.k. Considering SC for Insomnia Carefully consider the evidence of record when deciding SC for insomnia. Insomnia is generally considered a symptom of another disability due to coexisting medical or neurological conditions. Insomnia can occur as an independent condition or can be a…

5. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome This topic contains information about chronic fatigue syndrome, including · definition of chronic fatigue syndrome, and · rating considerations for chronic fatigue syndrome. August 12, 2019 ### V.iii.3.5.a. Definition: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome **_Chronic fatigue…

Progressive Neurological Disorders

3. Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism This topic contains information on Parkinson’s disease, including · definition of · Parkinson’s disease, and · Parkinsonism · SC for Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism · evaluating Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonism, and · SMC and Parkinson’s…

Diving-Related Disabilities

VIII.iv.9.B.1.c. Toxic Effects of Gases in Diving The table below describes the conditions and associated symptoms that may be due to the toxic effects of gases when diving. Chronic disabilities may result from these responses to diving. | Condition| Symptoms High pressure…

Schedule of ratings—Mental disorders.

| | Rating | | --- | --- | | Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to…

Chronic fatigue syndrome.

§ 4.88a. Chronic fatigue syndrome. (a) For VA purposes, the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome requires: (1) new onset of debilitating fatigue severe enough to reduce daily activity to less than 50 percent of the usual level for at least six months; and (2) the exclusion, by history, physical…

Schedule of ratings—infectious diseases, immune disorders and nutritional deficiencies.

| 6312 Nontuberculosis mycobacterium infection: | | | As active disease | 100 | | Note 1: Continue the rating of 100 percent for the duration of treatment for active disease followed by a mandatory VA exam. If there is no relapse, rate on residuals. Any change in evaluation based upon that or any…

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

V.iii.12.B.1.e. TBI Residuals The resultant disabling effects of a TBI event beyond those that follow immediately from the acute injury to the brain are known as _TBI residuals_ or _TBI sequelae_. The signs and symptoms of TBI residuals can be organized into the three main categories of…