Browse VA Diagnostic Codes by Body Area

This diagnostic code covers situations where you've lost part of your skull bone, including both the outer layer and inner layer of the skull. The VA rates t...

Diagnostic Code 5325 covers injuries to the facial muscles. The VA does not assign a multi-tier rating under DC 5325 itself, instead it evaluates your facial...

Choroidopathy includes inflammatory eye conditions affecting the uvea (the middle layer of your eye), such as uveitis, iritis, cyclitis, and choroiditis. The...

Keratopathy is damage or disease affecting the cornea (the clear front layer of your eye). The VA rates this condition under the General Rating Formula for D...

Scleritis is inflammation of the sclera (the white part of your eye), causing pain, redness, and vision problems. The VA rates this condition under the Gener...

Retinopathy or maculopathy refers to damage or disease affecting the retina (the light-sensing tissue at the back of your eye) or the macula (the central par...

Intraocular hemorrhage is bleeding inside the eye, which can result from trauma, high blood pressure, diabetes, or other causes. The VA rates this condition...

Retinal detachment is when the thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye pulls away from its normal position, which can cause serious vision problems or bl...

An unhealed eye injury is an eye injury that has not properly healed and continues to cause problems. The VA rates this condition under the General Rating Fo...

The VA does not rate tuberculosis of the eye under a single ladder. During active disease, the rating is 100%. Once inactivity is attained, the post-inactivi...

Retinal scars, atrophy, or irregularities (Diagnostic Code 6011) covers damage to the retina - the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye that's cruc...

Angle-closure glaucoma is a form of glaucoma where the drainage angle of the eye becomes blocked, causing rapid rises in intraocular pressure that can damage...

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma, where the drainage angle remains open but fluid drains too slowly, causing gradual increases in intr...

This covers cancerous tumors in your eye, the socket around your eye (orbit), or nearby structures like your eyelids - but not skin cancers. The VA gives a 1...

This covers non-cancerous growths (benign tumors) in and around your eyes, but not skin cancers on the eyelids. The VA rates this condition from 0% to 100% b...

Central nystagmus is a condition where your eyes make involuntary, repetitive movements (like jerking or bouncing) due to problems with your brain or brainst...

Trachomatous conjunctivitis is a bacterial eye infection that mainly affects the membrane covering the eye and inner eyelid. When active, the VA rates this c...

Chronic conjunctivitis (nontrachomatous) is ongoing inflammation of the conjunctiva (the clear membrane covering the eye and inner eyelids) not caused by tra...

Ptosis is when your upper eyelid droops down over your eye, either in one eye (unilateral) or both eyes (bilateral). The VA rates ptosis based on how much vi...

Ectropion is when your lower eyelid turns outward, pulling away from your eye instead of lying flat against it. This creates a droopy, sagging appearance and...

Entropion is when your eyelid turns inward, causing your eyelashes to rub against your eyeball - it's uncomfortable and can damage your vision if left untrea...

Lagophthalmos is when you can't fully close one or both of your eyelids - there's always a gap that stays open even when you try to shut your eyes completely...

This condition covers the complete loss of eyebrows on one or both eyes, whether from injury, burns, disease, or other causes. The VA rates complete eyebrow...

This diagnostic code covers the complete loss of eyelashes on one eye (unilateral) or both eyes (bilateral). The VA rates this condition at 10% disability re...

This diagnostic code covers problems with your tear ducts and the parts of your eye that make and drain tears. When these don't work properly, you might have...

Optic neuropathy is damage to the optic nerve, the nerve that carries visual information from your eye to your brain. The VA rates this condition under 38 CF...

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of the eye that makes vision blurry or dim. The VA rates this condition under the General Rating Formula for Dis...

Aphakia means the natural lens of the eye is missing (usually because it was surgically removed for cataract treatment without an artificial replacement lens...

Paralysis of accommodation is a condition where your eye can't adjust its focus properly to see things at different distances, caused by damage to the third...

Loss of eyelids (partial or complete) is rated differently than other VA conditions because it affects you in multiple ways. The VA doesn't give this conditi...

Pterygium is a non-cancerous growth of tissue that extends from the conjunctiva (the membrane covering the white of the eye) onto the cornea, often caused by...

Keratoconus is a condition where the cornea (the clear front layer of the eye) thins and bulges outward in a cone shape, causing blurred and distorted vision...

Status post corneal transplant covers veterans who have had a cornea replaced (penetrating keratoplasty or similar procedure) and have ongoing residual sympt...

Pinguecula is a yellowish, non-cancerous raised growth on the white of the eye (conjunctiva), typically caused by long-term sun, wind, or dust exposure. Unli...

Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the blood vessels in the retina (the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye) caused by long-term high blood sugar from...

Retinal dystrophy covers several conditions that damage the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye, including retinitis pigmentosa (RP), macular degen...

Post-chiasmal disorders affect the part of the visual system BEHIND the optic chiasm (where the optic nerves cross at the base of the brain). The damage caus...

This diagnostic code covers the complete physical loss of both eyes - meaning the eyes have been surgically removed or destroyed, not just severe vision loss...

This condition already covers both sides.

This diagnostic code covers the most severe level of vision loss, where you can only detect light but cannot see shapes, movement, or any visual details in b...

This condition already covers both sides.

This rating covers the complete loss of one eye (through removal, trauma, or complete blindness). The VA doesn't rate the missing eye itself - instead, your...

This rating covers veterans who have lost almost all vision in one eye (can only detect light but can't see shapes or objects). Your disability percentage de...

This diagnostic code covers vision problems when one of your eyes can only see at 5 feet what a person with normal vision can see at 200 feet (very poor visi...

Diagnostic Code 6066 covers situations where you have significant vision loss in one eye (10/200 vision or better, meaning you can only see at 10 feet what s...

Visual field defects happen when you lose vision in certain areas of what you can normally see - like having blind spots or tunnel vision. The VA rates this...

This condition already covers both sides.

A scotoma is basically a blind spot or area of reduced vision in one eye where you can't see clearly or at all. The VA rates unilateral scotoma (affecting ju...

Diplopia means you see two images of a single object - essentially double vision. The VA rates this condition based on how far your eyes are misaligned when...

This condition already covers both sides.

Symblepharon is the formation of adhesions (scar bands) between the eyelid and the eyeball, typically caused by burns, chronic inflammation, infections, or s...

Hearing loss is rated based on how well you can hear, measured by two tests: puretone audiometry (how loud sounds need to be for you to hear them at differen...

This condition already covers both sides.

Chronic suppurative otitis media is a long-term ear infection where pus drains from the middle ear, mastoiditis is infection of the bone behind the ear, and...

Chronic nonsuppurative otitis media with effusion (serous otitis media) is long-term fluid buildup behind the eardrum without active infection. DC 6201 itsel...

Otosclerosis is abnormal bone growth in the middle ear that prevents the tiny ossicles (malleus, incus, stapes) from moving properly, causing progressive con...

Peripheral vestibular disorders affect the inner ear's balance system (semicircular canals and otolith organs), causing dizziness, vertigo, and equilibrium p...

Meniere's syndrome is an inner ear disorder that causes hearing loss, dizziness attacks (vertigo), and often ringing in the ears (tinnitus). The VA rates thi...

This diagnostic code covers the loss or deformity of the auricle (the visible outer part of your ear). The VA rates this condition based on how much of the e...

This diagnostic code covers cancerous tumors (malignant neoplasms) that develop in the ear, excluding those that only affect the skin. The VA rates this cond...

Diagnostic Code 6209 covers non-cancerous growths or tumors in your ear (but not on the skin). The VA doesn't have specific percentage ratings for this condi...

Chronic otitis externa is a long-lasting infection or inflammation of your outer ear canal - the tube that leads from your outer ear to your eardrum. Many ve...

A perforated tympanic membrane means you have a hole or tear in your eardrum - the thin tissue that separates your outer ear from your middle ear. The VA rat...

Tinnitus is that persistent ringing, buzzing, whistling, or humming sound in your ears when there's no actual noise around you. The VA rates recurrent tinnit...

This condition already covers both sides.

This diagnostic code covers the complete loss of your sense of smell, medically called anosmia. The VA rates total loss of smell at 10%, which means you'd re...

Complete loss of taste (called ageusia in medical terms) means you can't taste anything at all - sweet, salty, sour, or bitter flavors are all gone. The VA r...

A deviated nasal septum means the wall inside your nose that separates your nostrils is crooked or off-center, making it harder to breathe through your nose....

This rating covers situations where you've lost part of your nose or have significant scarring from an injury or medical condition. The VA gives you a 30% ra...

Chronic pansinusitis is long-term inflammation involving multiple paranasal sinuses (frontal, ethmoid, maxillary, sphenoid) at the same time. The VA rates th...

Chronic ethmoid sinusitis is long-term inflammation of the ethmoid sinuses (a labyrinth of small air cells between the eyes and the base of the skull). The V...

Chronic frontal sinusitis is long-term inflammation of the frontal sinuses (the air cavities behind the forehead, just above the eyebrows). The VA rates this...

Chronic maxillary sinusitis is long-term inflammation of the maxillary sinuses (the largest of the paranasal air cavities, located in the cheekbones under th...

Chronic sphenoid sinusitis is long-term inflammation of the sphenoid sinuses (located deep behind the nose near the base of the skull). The VA rates this con...

Allergic or vasomotor rhinitis is chronic inflammation of your nasal passages caused by allergies or other triggers like weather changes, strong smells, or s...

Bacterial rhinitis is a bacterial infection of your nasal passages that causes long-term inflammation and swelling. The VA rates this condition at either 10%...

Granulomatous rhinitis is chronic inflammation and infection inside your nose and nasal passages that creates small clusters of inflamed tissue called granul...

Soft tissue injuries of the mouth (DC 7200) cover damage to the gums, hard or soft palate, cheeks (buccal mucosa), and floor of the mouth, OTHER than the ton...

Lip injuries cover scarring, tissue loss, or disfigurement of the lips from service-connected trauma, surgery, burns, or chemical/thermal exposure. DC 7201 i...

This rating covers veterans who have lost all or part of their tongue due to injury, disease, or surgery. The VA rates this condition based on how it affects...

This diagnostic code covers scars and disfigurement on your head, face, or neck - whether from burns, injuries, surgeries, or other causes. The VA rates thes...

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) residuals are the lasting effects from a head injury that damaged your brain. The VA rates TBI differently than other conditions...

The VA rates migraines based on how often you have prostrating attacks - meaning headaches so severe they force you to lie down and can't function normally....

Diagnostic Code 8205 covers paralysis of the radial nerve, which controls movement and sensation in your hand, wrist, and fingers. The radial nerve runs down...

Diagnostic Code 8207 covers paralysis of the radial nerve, which controls movement in your wrist, hand, and fingers - specifically your ability to extend (st...

Diagnostic Code 8209 covers paralysis of the musculospiral nerve, which is the nerve that controls muscles in your arm and hand that help you extend your wri...

Diagnostic Code 8210 covers paralysis of the sciatic nerve, which is the large nerve that runs from your lower back down through your hip and leg. The VA rat...

This diagnostic code covers paralysis of various muscles or body parts caused by nerve damage or neurological conditions. The VA rates paralysis based on how...

Diagnostic Code 8212 covers paralysis of the median nerve, which controls movement and sensation in your thumb, index finger, middle finger, and part of your...

Neuritis is inflammation of a nerve that can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the affected area. The VA rates neuritis using the same criteria...

Neuritis is inflammation of your nerves that causes pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the affected area. The VA rates neuritis under diagnostic code 8...

Neuritis is inflammation of a nerve or group of nerves that can cause pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the affected area. The VA rates neuritis based...

Neuritis is inflammation or damage to nerves that can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. The VA rates neuritis using the same criteria as paralysis...

Neuritis is inflammation of one or more nerves that can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. The VA rates neuritis under this code by treating it the...

Neuritis is inflammation of nerves that can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the affected area. The VA rates neuritis using the same criteria a...

Neuralgia is nerve pain that feels like sharp, shooting, or burning sensations along the path of a damaged nerve. The VA rates neuralgia using the same crite...

Neuralgia is nerve pain that causes sharp, shooting, or burning sensations along specific nerve pathways. The VA rates neuralgia using the same criteria as p...

Neuralgia is chronic nerve pain that feels like sharp, burning, or shooting sensations along specific nerve pathways. The VA rates neuralgia using the same c...

Neuralgia is nerve pain - sharp, shooting, or burning pain along the path of a damaged nerve. The VA rates neuralgia using the same criteria as nerve paralys...

Neuralgia is nerve pain that feels like sharp, shooting, or burning sensations along specific nerve pathways. The VA rates neuralgia using the same criteria...

Neuralgia is nerve pain that feels like sharp, shooting, or burning sensations along a nerve pathway. The VA rates neuralgia by borrowing the criteria from p...

DC 9900 covers chronic osteomyelitis (bone infection), osteonecrosis (bone death), or osteoradionecrosis (bone death after radiation therapy) of the maxilla...

This diagnostic code covers the complete loss of your mandible (lower jawbone) between the angles - essentially the entire front and side portions of your lo...

This covers the loss of part or all of your jawbone (mandible), including the back portion called the ramus, on one or both sides. The VA rates this conditio...

This condition covers a broken jaw bone that hasn't healed properly - the bone pieces remain separated instead of fusing back together. The VA requires diagn...

Malunion of the mandible means your jawbone didn't heal properly after a fracture or break, leaving it in a misaligned position. The VA rates this condition...

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) affects your jaw joint and the muscles that control jaw movement, often causing pain, clicking, or difficulty opening your m...

The condyloid process is the rounded end of your jaw bone that connects to your skull, allowing your jaw to move up and down and side to side. If you've lost...

The coronoid process is a small, beak-shaped piece of bone at the front of your lower jaw that helps with chewing muscles. Loss of this bone structure can ha...

This rating covers the loss of your hard palate - the bony roof of your mouth that separates your mouth from your nasal cavity. The VA rates this condition f...

This rating covers tooth loss that happens when part of your jaw bone is damaged or removed, but your jaw remains in one piece. The VA rates this condition f...

This rating covers the loss of more than half of your maxilla (upper jawbone). The VA rates this condition at either 50% or 100% depending on whether the mis...

This condition covers the loss of half or less of your maxilla (the upper jaw bone that holds your upper teeth and forms part of your face). The VA rates thi...

This rating covers problems with your maxilla (upper jaw bone) that didn't heal properly after a fracture or injury, called malunion or nonunion. The VA rate...

A benign neoplasm is a non-cancerous growth in the hard tissues (like jaw bone) or soft tissues (like gums) of your mouth. The VA doesn't have specific ratin...

This diagnostic code covers malignant cancerous tumors (neoplasms) affecting the hard tissues like bones and jawbones, or soft tissues like gums, tongue, and...