100% (DC 7110)
Highest listed pathwayThe aortic aneurysm (ascending, thoracic, or abdominal) is 5 centimeters or larger in diameter, symptomatic, or requires surgery.
What separates the next level: 0 percent applies when none of the three conditions is documented. Once the six-month post-surgical-discharge window closes, DC 7110's Note dispatches to two separate, unconfirmed residual determinations -- see the disclosed gap below.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- Evaluate at 100 percent if the aneurysm is any one of the following: Five centimeters or larger in diameter; symptomatic (e.g., precludes exertion); or requires surgery -- 100.
- Qualification explanation
- Reached when any one of the three listed conditions is documented. This tier also covers the period from a physician's recommendation of surgical correction through six months following hospital discharge, per DC 7110's own Note.
- Examples
- Imaging documents an abdominal aortic aneurysm measuring 5.4 centimeters in diameter.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Imaging (CT, ultrasound, or MRI) documenting aneurysm diameter; Records documenting symptom status or a surgical recommendation
- Functional impact examples
- A documented aneurysm meeting the size, symptom, or surgical-requirement threshold.
- Common misconceptions
- This tier is reached by any ONE of the three listed conditions, not all three together.
- Related topics
- dc7110-two-distinct-dispatches
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7110; Current DC 7110 educational pathway. No pending rulemaking found touching this code (RSCH-089).
0% (DC 7110)
Next: 100%The aortic aneurysm does not meet the size, symptom, or surgical-requirement threshold.
What separates the next level: 100 percent applies once any one of DC 7110's three listed conditions is documented.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- Otherwise -- 0.
- Qualification explanation
- Reached when the aneurysm is smaller than 5 centimeters, asymptomatic, and does not require surgery.
- Examples
- Imaging documents an abdominal aortic aneurysm measuring 3.1 centimeters, asymptomatic, with no surgery planned.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Imaging documenting aneurysm diameter; Records documenting the absence of symptoms or a surgical recommendation
- Functional impact examples
- A documented aneurysm below the size threshold, without symptoms or a surgical recommendation.
- Common misconceptions
- This is a real, explicitly stated 0 percent tier, confirmed via two independent primary sources -- not a disclosed gap.
- Related topics
- dc7110-two-distinct-dispatches
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7110; Current DC 7110 educational pathway.
0% (DC 7112, only computable tier)
Highest listed pathwayA small artery aneurysm that is asymptomatic.
What separates the next level: If symptomatic, or following surgery, DC 7112's own Note dispatches to an unnamed body system -- a fully open dispatch this hub discloses but does not compute.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- Asymptomatic -- 0.
- Qualification explanation
- DC 7112's only stated rating tier -- reached when the small artery aneurysm produces no symptoms.
- Examples
- Imaging documents a small artery aneurysm with no associated symptoms.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Imaging documenting the small artery aneurysm and symptom status
- Functional impact examples
- A documented small artery aneurysm producing no symptoms.
- Common misconceptions
- DC 7112 (any small artery) is a different code from DC 7111 (any large artery, other than aorta), which is already built in the Peripheral Arterial Disease / Aneurysm / Buerger's Disease hub -- the two are not interchangeable.
- Related topics
- dc7112-open-dispatch
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7112; Current DC 7112 educational pathway.
100% (DC 7113, ceiling tier)
Highest listed pathwayA traumatic arteriovenous fistula with high-output heart failure.
What separates the next level: 60 percent applies without heart failure, but with an enlarged heart, wide pulse pressure, and tachycardia.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- With high-output heart failure -- 100.
- Qualification explanation
- Reached when high-output heart failure is documented as a consequence of the traumatic arteriovenous fistula.
- Examples
- Cardiology records document high-output heart failure attributed to a documented traumatic arteriovenous fistula.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Cardiology records documenting heart failure and its cause
- Functional impact examples
- Most severe documented finding reachable under DC 7113.
- Common misconceptions
- DC 7113's tiers are cardiac-status-first, not extremity-first -- the 100 and 60 percent tiers apply regardless of which extremity is affected.
- Related topics
- dc7113-amputation-rule-cap
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7113; Current DC 7113 educational pathway.
60% (DC 7113)
Next: 100%No heart failure, but an enlarged heart, wide pulse pressure, and tachycardia are documented.
What separates the next level: 100 percent applies once heart failure is also documented; 50 or 40 percent applies once cardiac involvement is absent entirely.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- Without heart failure but with enlarged heart, wide pulse pressure, and tachycardia -- 60.
- Qualification explanation
- Reached when all three findings (enlarged heart, wide pulse pressure, tachycardia) are documented together, without heart failure.
- Examples
- Cardiology records document an enlarged heart, wide pulse pressure, and tachycardia attributed to a documented traumatic arteriovenous fistula, without heart failure.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Cardiology records documenting the three findings
- Functional impact examples
- Significant documented cardiac involvement, one tier below DC 7113's ceiling.
- Common misconceptions
- Not yet populated
- Related topics
- dc7113-amputation-rule-cap
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7113; Current DC 7113 educational pathway.
50% (DC 7113, lower extremity)
Next: 60%No cardiac involvement, but chronic edema, stasis dermatitis, and either ulceration or cellulitis, affecting a lower extremity.
What separates the next level: 40 percent applies for the identical finding in an upper extremity instead; 30 percent applies without ulceration or cellulitis.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- Without cardiac involvement but with chronic edema, stasis dermatitis, and either ulceration or cellulitis: Lower extremity -- 50.
- Qualification explanation
- Reached when chronic edema, stasis dermatitis, and either ulceration or cellulitis are all documented together for a lower extremity, without cardiac involvement.
- Examples
- Records document chronic edema, stasis dermatitis, and cellulitis in the affected leg, attributed to a documented traumatic arteriovenous fistula, without cardiac involvement.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Vascular examination records documenting edema, dermatitis, and ulceration/cellulitis findings by extremity
- Functional impact examples
- Documented chronic skin and tissue findings in a lower extremity, without cardiac involvement.
- Common misconceptions
- DC 7113 rates the identical finding differently by extremity (50/30 lower vs. 40/20 upper) -- this is DC 7113's own structure, not a RatingScope assumption.
- Related topics
- dc7113-amputation-rule-cap
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7113; Current DC 7113 educational pathway.
40% (DC 7113, upper extremity)
Next: 60%No cardiac involvement, but chronic edema, stasis dermatitis, and either ulceration or cellulitis, affecting an upper extremity.
What separates the next level: 50 percent applies for the identical finding in a lower extremity instead; 20 percent applies without ulceration or cellulitis.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- Upper extremity -- 40.
- Qualification explanation
- Reached when chronic edema, stasis dermatitis, and either ulceration or cellulitis are all documented together for an upper extremity, without cardiac involvement.
- Examples
- Records document chronic edema, stasis dermatitis, and an ulcer in the affected arm, attributed to a documented traumatic arteriovenous fistula, without cardiac involvement.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Vascular examination records documenting edema, dermatitis, and ulceration/cellulitis findings by extremity
- Functional impact examples
- Documented chronic skin and tissue findings in an upper extremity, without cardiac involvement.
- Common misconceptions
- Not yet populated
- Related topics
- dc7113-amputation-rule-cap
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7113; Current DC 7113 educational pathway.
30% (DC 7113, lower extremity)
Next: 50%No cardiac involvement, and chronic edema or stasis dermatitis (without ulceration or cellulitis), affecting a lower extremity.
What separates the next level: 50 percent applies once ulceration or cellulitis is also documented; 20 percent applies for the identical finding in an upper extremity instead.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- Without cardiac involvement but with chronic edema or stasis dermatitis: Lower extremity -- 30.
- Qualification explanation
- Reached when chronic edema OR stasis dermatitis (not necessarily both) is documented for a lower extremity, without ulceration, cellulitis, or cardiac involvement.
- Examples
- Records document chronic edema in the affected leg, attributed to a documented traumatic arteriovenous fistula, without ulceration, cellulitis, or cardiac involvement.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Vascular examination records documenting edema or dermatitis findings by extremity
- Functional impact examples
- DC 7113's lowest stated lower-extremity finding without cardiac involvement.
- Common misconceptions
- DC 7113's own text names no rating tier at all for a traumatic arteriovenous fistula that is fully asymptomatic, without cardiac involvement and without chronic edema or stasis dermatitis -- this hub only computes the six stated tiers, following the founder-confirmed build scope for this code.
- Related topics
- dc7113-amputation-rule-cap
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7113; Current DC 7113 educational pathway.
20% (DC 7113, upper extremity, floor)
Next: 40%No cardiac involvement, and chronic edema or stasis dermatitis (without ulceration or cellulitis), affecting an upper extremity.
What separates the next level: 40 percent applies once ulceration or cellulitis is also documented; 30 percent applies for the identical finding in a lower extremity instead.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- Upper extremity -- 20.
- Qualification explanation
- Reached when chronic edema OR stasis dermatitis is documented for an upper extremity, without ulceration, cellulitis, or cardiac involvement. DC 7113's lowest stated tier.
- Examples
- Records document stasis dermatitis in the affected arm, attributed to a documented traumatic arteriovenous fistula, without ulceration, cellulitis, or cardiac involvement.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Vascular examination records documenting edema or dermatitis findings by extremity
- Functional impact examples
- DC 7113's lowest stated finding overall.
- Common misconceptions
- Not yet populated
- Related topics
- dc7113-amputation-rule-cap
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7113; Current DC 7113 educational pathway.
40% (DC 7118, ceiling tier)
Highest listed pathwayAttacks 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.
What separates the next level: 20 percent applies at the next lower documented frequency for either pattern.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- 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 -- 40.
- Qualification explanation
- Reached by either of two documented attack patterns: high-frequency non-laryngeal attacks, or laryngeal-involvement attacks occurring more than twice a year.
- Examples
- Records document angioneurotic edema attacks with laryngeal involvement occurring four times in the past year.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Records documenting attack frequency, duration, and whether laryngeal involvement is present
- Functional impact examples
- DC 7118's most severe documented attack pattern.
- Common misconceptions
- Laryngeal-involvement attacks reach this tier at a lower frequency (more than twice a year) than non-laryngeal attacks (more than eight times a year) -- the two branches are not symmetrical.
- Related topics
- dc7118-dc7119-no-zero-floor
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7118; Current DC 7118 educational pathway.
20% (DC 7118)
Next: 40%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.
What separates the next level: 40 percent applies at the higher documented frequency; 10 percent applies at the lower documented frequency for non-laryngeal attacks. DC 7118's text states no tier for a laryngeal-involvement attack occurring less than once a year.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- 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 -- 20.
- Qualification explanation
- Reached by either of two documented attack patterns, one tier below the 40 percent ceiling.
- Examples
- Records document angioneurotic edema attacks without laryngeal involvement occurring six times in the past year.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Records documenting attack frequency, duration, and whether laryngeal involvement is present
- Functional impact examples
- A middle-tier documented attack pattern.
- Common misconceptions
- Not yet populated
- Related topics
- dc7118-dc7119-no-zero-floor
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7118; Current DC 7118 educational pathway.
10% (DC 7118, real floor -- no explicit 0 percent row)
Next: 20%Attacks without laryngeal involvement lasting one to seven days and occurring two to four times a year.
What separates the next level: 20 percent applies at a higher documented frequency, or for any laryngeal-involvement attack occurring once or twice a year.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- Attacks without laryngeal involvement lasting one to seven days and occurring two to four times a year -- 10.
- Qualification explanation
- DC 7118's lowest stated tier -- reached only for non-laryngeal attacks occurring two to four times a year.
- Examples
- Records document angioneurotic edema attacks without laryngeal involvement occurring three times in the past year.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Records documenting attack frequency and duration
- Functional impact examples
- DC 7118's lowest documented qualifying attack pattern.
- Common misconceptions
- Confirmed via two independent primary sources: DC 7118 has NO explicit 0 percent tier. Non-laryngeal attacks occurring fewer than two times a year, and any laryngeal-involvement attack occurring less than once a year, have no stated tier at all -- resolved as a disclosed 38 CFR 4.31 no-qualifying-criterion outcome, never a guessed 0 percent.
- Related topics
- dc7118-dc7119-no-zero-floor
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7118; Current DC 7118 educational pathway.
100% (DC 7119, ceiling tier)
Highest listed pathwayCharacteristic attacks occurring more than once a day, lasting an average of more than two hours each, responding poorly to treatment, and restricting most routine daily activities.
What separates the next level: 60 percent applies with the same frequency, duration, and poor treatment response, but without restricting most routine daily activities.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- Characteristic attacks that occur more than once a day, last an average of more than two hours each, respond poorly to treatment, and that restrict most routine daily activities -- 100.
- Qualification explanation
- Reached when all four elements (frequency, duration, treatment response, and functional restriction) are documented together.
- Examples
- Records document burning pain attacks in the hands and feet occurring twice daily, averaging three hours each, responding poorly to treatment, and preventing most routine daily activities.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Records documenting attack frequency, duration, treatment response, and functional restriction
- Functional impact examples
- DC 7119's most severe documented attack pattern.
- Common misconceptions
- DC 7119's evaluations are for the disease as a whole, regardless of the number of extremities involved -- see the whole-condition disclosure below.
- Related topics
- dc7119-whole-condition-non-bilateral; dc7118-dc7119-no-zero-floor
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7119; Current DC 7119 educational pathway.
60% (DC 7119)
Next: 100%Characteristic attacks occurring more than once a day, lasting an average of more than two hours each, responding poorly to treatment, but not restricting most routine daily activities.
What separates the next level: 100 percent applies once most routine daily activities are also restricted; 30 percent applies once attacks respond to treatment instead of responding poorly.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- Characteristic attacks that occur more than once a day, last an average of more than two hours each, and respond poorly to treatment, but that do not restrict most routine daily activities -- 60.
- Qualification explanation
- Reached with the same frequency, duration, and treatment response as the 100 percent tier, but without the functional-restriction element.
- Examples
- Records document burning pain attacks occurring twice daily, averaging three hours each, responding poorly to treatment, without preventing most routine daily activities.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Records documenting attack frequency, duration, treatment response, and functional restriction
- Functional impact examples
- Significant documented attacks, one tier below DC 7119's ceiling.
- Common misconceptions
- Not yet populated
- Related topics
- dc7119-whole-condition-non-bilateral
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7119; Current DC 7119 educational pathway.
30% (DC 7119)
Next: 60%Characteristic attacks that occur daily or more often but respond to treatment.
What separates the next level: 60 percent applies once treatment response becomes poor instead; 10 percent applies at a lower documented frequency.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- Characteristic attacks that occur daily or more often but that respond to treatment -- 30.
- Qualification explanation
- Reached when attacks occur at least daily and respond to treatment, distinguishing this tier from the 60/100 percent tiers' poor treatment response.
- Examples
- Records document burning pain attacks occurring daily, responding to treatment.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Records documenting attack frequency and treatment response
- Functional impact examples
- Frequent documented attacks that respond to treatment.
- Common misconceptions
- Not yet populated
- Related topics
- dc7119-whole-condition-non-bilateral
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7119; Current DC 7119 educational pathway.
10% (DC 7119, real floor -- no explicit 0 percent row)
Next: 30%Characteristic attacks that occur less than daily but at least three times a week and respond to treatment.
What separates the next level: 30 percent applies once attacks occur daily or more often.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- Characteristic attacks that occur less than daily but at least three times a week and that respond to treatment -- 10.
- Qualification explanation
- DC 7119's lowest stated tier -- reached when attacks occur at least three times a week (but less than daily) and respond to treatment.
- Examples
- Records document burning pain attacks occurring four times a week, responding to treatment.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Records documenting attack frequency and treatment response
- Functional impact examples
- DC 7119's lowest documented qualifying attack pattern.
- Common misconceptions
- Confirmed via two independent primary sources: DC 7119 has NO explicit 0 percent tier. Attacks occurring less than three times a week have no stated tier at all -- resolved as a disclosed 38 CFR 4.31 no-qualifying-criterion outcome, never a guessed 0 percent.
- Related topics
- dc7118-dc7119-no-zero-floor
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7119; Current DC 7119 educational pathway.
100% (DC 7123, only computable tier)
Highest listed pathwayA confirmed soft tissue sarcoma of vascular origin, while receiving active surgical, X-ray, antineoplastic chemotherapy, or other therapeutic treatment, and for six months after that treatment ends.
What separates the next level: There is no lower tier under DC 7123 while this window applies. Once treatment has been discontinued for six months or more, DC 7123's own Note dispatches to a residual rating determined by mandatory VA examination, disclosed but not computed.
Review CFR criteria, examples, and evidence
- Official CFR language
- Soft tissue sarcoma (of vascular origin) -- 100.
- Qualification explanation
- Reached by a confirmed diagnosis together with active treatment, or treatment that ended less than six months ago, matching the already-live Respiratory Neoplasms hub's DC 6819 pattern exactly.
- Examples
- Records document a confirmed soft tissue sarcoma of vascular origin diagnosis and ongoing or recently concluded (within six months) surgical, radiation, or chemotherapy treatment.
- Medical evidence
- Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ; Oncology treatment records; Pathology or biopsy confirming the diagnosis; Records documenting treatment type and dates, including any cessation date
- Functional impact examples
- Currently undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or another therapeutic procedure for a diagnosed vascular sarcoma.; Treatment ended within the last six months.
- Common misconceptions
- A vascular sarcoma diagnosis does not, by itself, continue at 100 percent indefinitely -- six months after treatment ends, DC 7123's own Note requires a mandatory VA examination to determine the appropriate rating for whatever residuals remain.
- Related topics
- dc7123-residual-dispatch
- Source context
- 38 CFR 4.104; 7123; Current DC 7123 educational pathway.