VA Rating for Diabetes Mellitus: DC 7913, 10% to 100% Criteria and 2026 Pay
VA rates diabetes under diagnostic code (DC) 7913 in 38 CFR § 4.119. The schedule has 5 levels: 10%, 20%, 40%, 60% and 100%. The table below quotes each level word for word from the current CFR text and adds a one-line summary; the 2026 monthly compensation figures that follow are VA's published rates.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Criteria checked against the eCFR and Federal Register October 26, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Diabetes rating criteria in 38 CFR § 4.119
Diagnostic code: DC 7913 Diabetes mellitus. Criteria are quoted from the current CFR; the plain-English column is our summary and is not part of the regulation.
| Rating | Criteria as printed in 38 CFR (quotation) | In plain English (our summary) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | Manageable by restricted diet only | Manageable by restricted diet only. |
| 20% | Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin and restricted diet, or; oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet | One or more daily injection of insulin and restricted diet, or an oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet. |
| 40% | Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities | One or more daily injection of insulin, restricted diet and regulation of activities. |
| 60% | Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year or twice a month visits to a diabetic care provider, plus complications that would not be compensable if separately evaluated | As 40%, with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year or twice a month visits to a diabetic care provider, plus complications that would not be compensable if separately evaluated. |
| 100% | Requiring more than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities (avoidance of strenuous occupational and recreational activities) with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider, plus either progressive loss of weight and strength or complications that would be compensable if separately evaluated | More than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet and regulation of activities, with episodes requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider, plus either progressive loss of weight and strength or complications that would be compensable if separately evaluated. |
All 2 notes printed with these criteria (quotation):
Note (1): Evaluate compensable complications of diabetes separately unless they are part of the criteria used to support a 100-percent evaluation. Noncompensable complications are considered part of the diabetic process under DC 7913.
Note (2): When diabetes mellitus has been conclusively diagnosed, do not request a glucose tolerance test solely for rating purposes.
2026 VA monthly pay at each diabetes rating
| Rating | Veteran alone | With spouse |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | Same as alone; spouse amounts start at 30% |
| 20% | $356.66 | Same as alone; spouse amounts start at 30% |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 |
VA does not add ratings together. When a veteran has more than one rated condition, VA combines them with its combined ratings table (38 CFR § 4.25), so the amounts above apply to a combined rating, not to this condition alone. Work out a combined rating with the VA disability calculator at /va-disability-calculator/.
VA disability calculator · Full VA disability pay chart with children and parents
How the criteria are written
DC 7913 is titled "Diabetes mellitus". The criteria do not mention type 1 or type 2 diabetes: the levels turn on treatment (restricted diet, an oral hypoglycemic agent, insulin), regulation of activities, episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions with hospitalizations or visits to a diabetic care provider, and loss of weight and strength or complications.
Note (1) says to evaluate compensable complications of diabetes separately unless they are part of the criteria used to support a 100-percent evaluation, and that noncompensable complications are considered part of the diabetic process under DC 7913. This page does not rate any complication. Whether a complication is service connected is a separate question that this page does not address.
Note (2) says that when diabetes mellitus has been conclusively diagnosed, a glucose tolerance test should not be requested solely for rating purposes.
CFR Appendix A dates the current criteria and note of DC 7913 December 10, 2017, the effective date of the 2017 endocrine final rule (82 FR 50802).
VA publishes Disability Benefits Questionnaires for this area (benefits.va.gov): Diabetes Mellitus DBQ.
Is this the current rule?
Source text. § 4.119 Schedule of ratings—endocrine system. from the eCFR (38 CFR Part 4), text up to date as of October 22, 2026, retrieved October 26, 2026. Read the section on eCFR.
Latest final rule affecting the section. 82 FR 50802 (final rule), Schedule for Rating Disabilities; The Endocrine System, published November 2, 2017, effective December 10, 2017. Latest entry in the section's amendment history in the eCFR.
Rule that set these criteria. 82 FR 50802, effective December 10, 2017. The 2017 endocrine final rule changed the criteria and the note of DC 7913; CFR Appendix A dates those changes December 10, 2017.
- DC 7913: Criterion September 9, 1975; criterion August 13, 1981; criterion June 6, 1996; evaluation June 9, 1996; criterion December 10, 2017; note December 10, 2017.
Upcoming changes. Our Federal Register search on October 26, 2026 found no final rule for this section with an effective date after that day.
Proposed rules. The search found no proposed rule that would change these criteria.
Related conditions
- Hypertension: Another condition rated on listed findings and treatment requirements (DC 7101 uses blood pressure readings and continuous medication).
- Prostate cancer: DC 7528 also has a note that sends later residuals to other diagnostic codes.
- All VA disability ratings by condition
Questions about the Diabetes rating
What diagnostic code does VA use for diabetes?
Diabetes is rated under diagnostic code (DC) 7913 in 38 CFR § 4.119, the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The code lists are quoted from the eCFR text current as of October 22, 2026.
What are the VA rating levels for diabetes?
The schedule has 5 levels for diabetes: 10%, 20%, 40%, 60% and 100%. Each level has its own criteria, quoted in the table on this page. VA decides which level applies to a claim.
How much is VA disability pay for a diabetes rating in 2026?
VA's 2026 monthly rates for a veteran alone, with the with-spouse amount for 30% and higher, are 10%: $180.42; 20%: $356.66; 40%: $795.84 ($882.84 with a spouse); 60%: $1,435.02 ($1,566.02 with a spouse); 100%: $3,938.58 ($4,158.17 with a spouse). Rates took effect December 1, 2025. The amount you are paid depends on your combined rating, not on this condition alone.
Are ratings for diabetes added to my other ratings?
No. VA does not add ratings together; it combines them using the combined ratings table in 38 CFR § 4.25. Use the VA disability calculator on this site at /va-disability-calculator/ to see how ratings combine.
Does VA rate type 2 diabetes differently from type 1?
The criteria in DC 7913 do not mention either type. The code is "Diabetes mellitus" and its levels are written in terms of treatment, regulation of activities, episodes and complications, as quoted in the table above.
Are diabetes complications rated separately?
Note (1) under DC 7913 says: "Evaluate compensable complications of diabetes separately unless they are part of the criteria used to support a 100-percent evaluation. Noncompensable complications are considered part of the diabetic process under DC 7913." Whether a complication is service connected is a separate question this page does not address.
Does this page decide my VA rating?
No. FedRateCalc is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. This page quotes the rating schedule and VA's published rates for information only; it is not legal or medical advice. VA decides the rating and the payment.