Arteries and veins: circulation, Raynaud’s and the exam

How VA rates arteries and veins

38 CFR 4.104, DC 7110 to 7124

Diseases of the arteries and veins are in the second half of 38 CFR 4.104. Many of them are rated one limb at a time. The schedule says that if more than one extremity is affected, each is evaluated separately and the ratings are combined, using the bilateral factor where it applies. See why 50% + 50% is not 100%.

High blood pressure (DC 7101) is in this section too. It has its own page: hypertension VA ratings. Heart disease is on heart conditions VA ratings.

Peripheral arterial disease

38 CFR 4.104, DC 7114

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is rated on circulation tests of the limb. At each level, at least one listed test result is enough:

• 100%: ankle/brachial index (ABI) of 0.39 or less; or ankle pressure under 50 mm Hg; or toe pressure under 30 mm Hg; or transcutaneous oxygen tension under 30 mm Hg.
• 60%: ABI 0.40 to 0.53; or ankle pressure 50 to 65; or toe pressure 30 to 39; or oxygen tension 30 to 39.
• 40%: ABI 0.54 to 0.66; or ankle pressure 66 to 83; or toe pressure 40 to 49; or oxygen tension 40 to 49.
• 20%: ABI 0.67 to 0.79; or ankle pressure 84 to 99; or toe pressure 50 to 59; or oxygen tension 50 to 59.

The ABI is the ankle blood pressure divided by the arm blood pressure. Normal is 0.80 or higher; normal ankle pressure is 100 or higher, toe pressure 60 or higher, and oxygen tension 60 or higher. All measurements must come from objective testing. If only the ABI is of record, VA rates on it, unless the examiner says another test is needed because the ABI does not reflect the severity. Residuals of aortic and large-artery bypass surgery or graft are rated as PAD. Diabetes can lead to PAD; see diabetes, thyroid and adrenal ratings.

Varicose veins and post-phlebitic syndrome

38 CFR 4.104, DC 7120, 7121

Varicose veins (7120) are rated under the post-phlebitic syndrome code (7121), using findings attributed to venous disease:

• 100%: massive board-like edema with constant pain at rest.
• 60%: persistent edema or subcutaneous induration, stasis pigmentation or eczema, and persistent ulceration.
• 40%: persistent edema and stasis pigmentation or eczema, with or without intermittent ulceration.
• 20%: persistent edema, incompletely relieved by elevation of the limb, with or without beginning stasis pigmentation or eczema.
• 10%: intermittent edema or aching and fatigue in the leg after prolonged standing or walking, relieved by elevation or compression hosiery.
• 0%: asymptomatic palpable or visible varicose veins.

Each affected limb is rated separately. For skin findings, see skin conditions VA ratings.

Raynaud’s syndrome and Raynaud’s disease

38 CFR 4.104, DC 7117, 7124

VA rates two kinds separately. Raynaud’s syndrome (secondary, from another condition) is DC 7117:

• 100%: two or more digital ulcers plus auto-amputation of one or more digits, and a history of characteristic attacks.
• 60%: two or more digital ulcers and a history of characteristic attacks.
• 40%: attacks at least daily.
• 20%: attacks four to six times a week.
• 10%: attacks one to three times a week.

Raynaud’s disease (primary) is DC 7124: 10% for characteristic attacks with trophic changes such as tight, shiny skin; 0% for attacks without them. A characteristic attack is a color change of the fingers or toes lasting minutes or longer, set off by cold or emotional upset. The rating is for the disease as a whole, however many limbs, or whether the nose and ears are involved.

Cold injury residuals

38 CFR 4.104, DC 7122

• 30%: arthralgia or other pain, numbness or cold sensitivity plus two or more of the listed findings, such as tissue loss, nail abnormalities, color changes, impaired sensation, excessive or absent sweating, X-ray abnormalities, muscle atrophy, joint deformity, fat pad loss, avascular necrosis, chronic ulceration or carpal or tarsal tunnel syndrome.
• 20%: pain, numbness or cold sensitivity plus one of those findings.
• 10%: pain, numbness or cold sensitivity alone.

Each affected part (hand, foot, ear, nose) is rated separately and the ratings are combined. Finger or toe amputations, skin cancer at a cold injury scar, peripheral neuropathy and Raynaud’s are rated separately under other codes. See nerve damage VA ratings.

Aneurysms

38 CFR 4.104, DC 7110 to 7112

• Aortic aneurysm (7110): 100% if it is five centimeters or larger, or symptomatic (for example, it precludes exertion), or needs surgery; otherwise 0%. When surgery is required, 100% begins on the date a physician recommends it, with a mandatory VA exam six months after hospital discharge.
• Large artery (7111): 100% if symptomatic, and from the date a physician recommends surgery until six months after discharge. After surgery, it is rated as PAD.
• Small artery (7112): 0% if asymptomatic. If symptomatic, it is rated under the body system affected.

Buerger’s, fistula, angioedema, erythromelalgia and sarcoma

38 CFR 4.104, DC 7113, 7115, 7118, 7119, 7123

• Buerger’s disease (7115): the lower limb is rated as PAD. The upper limb runs 100% (deep ischemic ulcers and finger necrosis), 60%, 40% and 20% (diminished pulses).
• Traumatic arteriovenous fistula (7113): 100% with high-output heart failure; 60% with an enlarged heart, wide pulse pressure and fast heartbeat; 50% (lower limb) or 40% (upper limb) with chronic edema, stasis dermatitis and ulceration or cellulitis; 30% or 20% with edema or stasis dermatitis alone.
• Angioneurotic edema (7118): 40%, 20% or 10% by how many attacks a year, how long they last, and whether the throat is involved.
• Erythromelalgia (7119): 100%, 60%, 30% or 10% by how often burning attacks occur, how long they last, and how they respond to treatment.
• Vascular soft tissue sarcoma (7123): 100%, continuing after treatment ends, with a mandatory VA exam six months later. If there is no recurrence or spread, it is rated on residuals.

What VA’s artery and vein exam form covers

VA Artery and Vein Conditions DBQ (updated 2024-07-09)

• Diagnosis checklist of 14 arterial and venous diseases, with the date each was diagnosed.
• Varicose veins and post-phlebitic syndrome: symptoms and findings such as edema, stasis pigmentation, eczema, ulceration and induration, by limb.
• PAD and Buerger’s disease: procedures, and upper-limb signs such as diminished pulses, trophic changes and ulcers.
• Aneurysm: size, symptoms, surgery and residuals.
• Raynaud’s: which kind, attack frequency, digital ulcers and auto-amputation.
• Fistula, angioedema and erythromelalgia: findings and attack history.
• Amputation and assistive devices (wheelchair, brace, cane and others).
• Diagnostic testing: ABI for both legs, with dates, whether the ABI alone reflects severity, and ankle pressure, toe pressure and oxygen tension where available.
• Functional impact on work.

See Preparing for Your C&P Exam.

What I could not verify

• The rating levels come from the eCFR text of 38 CFR 4.104 (current as of October 16, 2026). eCFR is unofficial, and the official text wins over me. The schedule’s most recent amendments are listed there as September 30 and November 9, 2021; I did not verify their effective dates.
• I checked the artery and vein exam form through a text reader of VA’s PDF, not line by line. The form itself is the authority.
• I did not research which conditions cause or lead to these conditions, beyond what the linked pages say.
• I did not research special monthly compensation or the loss-of-use rules that can apply to severe limb disease.
• High blood pressure is rated in this part of the regulation but is not covered here. See the hypertension page.