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Diabetes Mellitus Type II

A chronic condition affecting how your body processes blood sugar. The VA rates diabetes based on what treatment you require — diet, oral medication, or insulin — and whether it restricts your activities.

Code: 7913
Criteria: 38 CFR 4.119, DC 7913
Exam length: ~30 minutes
Form: Diabetes Mellitus DBQ

Rating steps

0%
10%
20%
40%
60%
100%

The percentages this diagnostic code can be rated at. Which one applies depends on the findings — no tool here can tell you in advance.

What happens at the appointment

The examiner will review your treatment: diet, oral medication, insulin, and whether your activities are restricted.
You will be asked about blood sugar control, A1C levels, and any hospitalizations for high or low blood sugar.
The examiner will check for complications: neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, erectile dysfunction.
You will be asked how often you see your diabetic care provider.
This is mostly a medical records review with an interview — your treatment records do most of the work.

What the examiner is actually filling in

01Treatment required: diet only, oral medication, or insulin.
02Whether activities are medically restricted.
03Frequency of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic episodes.
04Number of hospitalizations and diabetic care visits.
05Presence and severity of diabetic complications.
06Whether there is progressive weight and strength loss.

Rated under 38 CFR 4.119, DC 7913. The examiner records findings on the DBQ; a rating specialist makes the decision.

A complete answer sounds like

The key rating thresholds are: diet only (10%), medication + diet (20%), insulin + diet + activity restriction (40%).
If you take insulin AND your doctor restricts your activities, make absolutely sure there is a written note in your medical records.
Ask your doctor to document activity restrictions in clear language: "Patient is advised to avoid strenuous occupational and recreational activities due to risk of hypoglycemia."
File for every complication separately — each one is rated on its own, in addition to the diabetes rating.

What costs veterans points

Not understanding "regulation of activities" — this does not mean general advice to exercise. It means your doctor has specifically told you to avoid strenuous activities because of your diabetes. It MUST be in your medical records.
Not filing for each complication separately — neuropathy (4 extremities), retinopathy, nephropathy, and ED are each rated under their own codes.
Not documenting ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic episodes that required ER visits or hospitalizations.
Not keeping up with diabetic care appointments — the VA looks at how often you see your provider.

The rating criteria, in plain language

Rating levels for Diabetes Mellitus Type II under 38 CFR 4.119, DC 7913
Rating	Rating criteria	What that means for you
0%	In every instance where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a diagnostic code, a zero percent evaluation shall be assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.	Your diabetes is not managed by a restricted diet — no restricted diet has been prescribed, and you take no oral hypoglycemic agent and no insulin. DC 7913 prints no 0 percent rung of its own; 38 CFR § 4.31 supplies it: no monthly payment, but the condition is on record and a later increase runs from it. The lowest compensable level under this code is 10 percent.
0%	What supports this level Diabetes diagnosis on record with no prescribed restricted diet in the treatment plan No prescription for an oral hypoglycemic agent and no insulin Treatment notes showing blood sugar controlled without a prescribed dietary restriction A dated record of the condition so that a later increase claim has a starting point
10%	Manageable by restricted diet only.	Your diabetes is manageable with diet alone.
10%	What supports this level Diabetes diagnosis (Type II) Managed by diet restriction only No oral hypoglycemic agent or insulin required
20%	Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin and restricted diet, or; oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet.	Your diabetes requires one or more daily injection of insulin and a restricted diet, or an oral hypoglycemic agent and a restricted diet.
20%	What supports this level Prescription for one or more daily injection of insulin, OR a prescription for an oral hypoglycemic agent Restricted diet documented A1C levels and treatment records
40%	Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities.	Your diabetes requires one or more daily injection of insulin, a restricted diet, and regulation of activities (avoidance of strenuous activities).
40%	What supports this level Prescription for one or more daily injection of insulin Restricted diet Medical documentation of activity regulation/restriction Doctor's orders to avoid strenuous activity
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.	Your diabetes requires one or more daily injection of insulin, a 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.
60%	What supports this level One or more daily injection of insulin, diet restriction, and activity regulation Episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions 1-2 hospitalizations per year OR twice monthly diabetic care visits Non-compensable diabetic complications
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.	Your diabetes requires more than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider, plus progressive loss of weight and strength.
100%	What supports this level Multiple daily insulin injections Diet restriction and activity regulation At least 3 hospitalizations per year OR weekly diabetic care visits Progressive weight and strength loss Compensable complications

The middle column is our transcription of the criteria at 38 CFR 4.119, DC 7913, condensed for reading. Read the section itself on eCFR before relying on the exact wording. The items under each level are the kinds of evidence that document it — not a VA checklist, and not a prediction of which level applies to you.

Mistakes we see most often

Not filing for secondary conditions — diabetes can cause peripheral neuropathy (all four extremities rated separately), retinopathy, nephropathy, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and coronary artery disease.

Not understanding "regulation of activities" — this means a doctor has told you to avoid strenuous activities, and it must be documented in medical records.

Not pursuing separate ratings for each diabetic complication — each complication can be rated under its own diagnostic code.

Presumptive for Agent Orange/herbicide exposure veterans — if you served in Vietnam or other qualifying locations, no nexus letter is needed.

Before & after your exam

These apply to every C&P exam, whatever the condition.

Do not miss the appointment: Missing your C&P exam without a good reason can cost you. Under 38 CFR § 3.655, a missed exam can cause a claim for an increased rating or a reopened claim to be denied, and can cause an original claim to be decided on the evidence already in your file. If you cannot make it, call the VA or the exam company right away to reschedule — a documented good reason (illness, work conflict, no transportation, a family emergency) protects your claim.
Your examiner may be a contractor: Many C&P exams are performed by VA-contracted companies — QTC, Optum Serve (LHI), VES, or MSLA — not at a VA hospital. They will call, text, or mail you to schedule. Do not ignore an unknown number or letter while your claim is pending, and confirm the exam location and time before you go.
The examiner does not decide your claim: The examiner's job is to record findings on the Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ). A rating specialist at the Regional Office makes the actual decision, using the exam together with your full record — service records, medical records, and lay statements. One appointment does not settle everything.
Get a copy of your exam report: After the exam you can request the report (often called the DBQ or C&P exam results) through VA.gov, the Blue Button tool, or your accredited representative. Reading it lets you catch errors while you still have time to respond.
If the exam was inadequate, you have options: If the examiner rushed you, evaluated the wrong condition, or the report is inaccurate, you can submit a statement and new evidence, and — after a decision — request a review (a Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level Review). A single bad exam is not the end of your claim.

View condition guide →View evidence checklist →

Folder readiness

Tick these off as you gather them. Nothing here is required — the exam happens either way — but each one is something the examiner cannot record if it is not in front of them.

Saved in this browser only.

Take it with you

Print the whole guide — what the examiner records, the folder list with your ticks, the criteria table and the mistakes to avoid — and bring it to the appointment.

Frequently paired

Documented secondary or co-occurring conditions. Each is examined separately and has its own guide.

Free tool · 282 guides · DBQ-aligned

C&P Exam Preparation Guides

The VA orders this exam to verify your diagnosis and measure how severe it is right now. It can shape your rating and your monthly compensation — but it does not decide your claim. A rating specialist weighs it against your full record, and if the exam does not reflect your condition, you can say so and ask the VA to correct it.

Source forms
Coverage

What happens at the appointment

The examiner will review your treatment: diet, oral medication, insulin, and whether your activities are restricted.
You will be asked about blood sugar control, A1C levels, and any hospitalizations for high or low blood sugar.
The examiner will check for complications: neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, erectile dysfunction.
You will be asked how often you see your diabetic care provider.
This is mostly a medical records review with an interview — your treatment records do most of the work.

What the examiner is actually filling in

01Treatment required: diet only, oral medication, or insulin.
02Whether activities are medically restricted.
03Frequency of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic episodes.
04Number of hospitalizations and diabetic care visits.
05Presence and severity of diabetic complications.
06Whether there is progressive weight and strength loss.

Rated under 38 CFR 4.119, DC 7913. The examiner records findings on the DBQ; a rating specialist makes the decision.

A complete answer sounds like

The key rating thresholds are: diet only (10%), medication + diet (20%), insulin + diet + activity restriction (40%).
If you take insulin AND your doctor restricts your activities, make absolutely sure there is a written note in your medical records.
Ask your doctor to document activity restrictions in clear language: "Patient is advised to avoid strenuous occupational and recreational activities due to risk of hypoglycemia."
File for every complication separately — each one is rated on its own, in addition to the diabetes rating.

What costs veterans points

Not understanding "regulation of activities" — this does not mean general advice to exercise. It means your doctor has specifically told you to avoid strenuous activities because of your diabetes. It MUST be in your medical records.
Not filing for each complication separately — neuropathy (4 extremities), retinopathy, nephropathy, and ED are each rated under their own codes.
Not documenting ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic episodes that required ER visits or hospitalizations.
Not keeping up with diabetic care appointments — the VA looks at how often you see your provider.

The rating criteria, in plain language

Rating levels for Diabetes Mellitus Type II under 38 CFR 4.119, DC 7913
Rating	Rating criteria	What that means for you
0%	In every instance where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a diagnostic code, a zero percent evaluation shall be assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met.	Your diabetes is not managed by a restricted diet — no restricted diet has been prescribed, and you take no oral hypoglycemic agent and no insulin. DC 7913 prints no 0 percent rung of its own; 38 CFR § 4.31 supplies it: no monthly payment, but the condition is on record and a later increase runs from it. The lowest compensable level under this code is 10 percent.
0%	What supports this level Diabetes diagnosis on record with no prescribed restricted diet in the treatment plan No prescription for an oral hypoglycemic agent and no insulin Treatment notes showing blood sugar controlled without a prescribed dietary restriction A dated record of the condition so that a later increase claim has a starting point
10%	Manageable by restricted diet only.	Your diabetes is manageable with diet alone.
10%	What supports this level Diabetes diagnosis (Type II) Managed by diet restriction only No oral hypoglycemic agent or insulin required
20%	Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin and restricted diet, or; oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet.	Your diabetes requires one or more daily injection of insulin and a restricted diet, or an oral hypoglycemic agent and a restricted diet.
20%	What supports this level Prescription for one or more daily injection of insulin, OR a prescription for an oral hypoglycemic agent Restricted diet documented A1C levels and treatment records
40%	Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities.	Your diabetes requires one or more daily injection of insulin, a restricted diet, and regulation of activities (avoidance of strenuous activities).
40%	What supports this level Prescription for one or more daily injection of insulin Restricted diet Medical documentation of activity regulation/restriction Doctor's orders to avoid strenuous activity
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.	Your diabetes requires one or more daily injection of insulin, a 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.
60%	What supports this level One or more daily injection of insulin, diet restriction, and activity regulation Episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions 1-2 hospitalizations per year OR twice monthly diabetic care visits Non-compensable diabetic complications
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.	Your diabetes requires more than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider, plus progressive loss of weight and strength.
100%	What supports this level Multiple daily insulin injections Diet restriction and activity regulation At least 3 hospitalizations per year OR weekly diabetic care visits Progressive weight and strength loss Compensable complications

Mistakes we see most often

Not understanding "regulation of activities" — this means a doctor has told you to avoid strenuous activities, and it must be documented in medical records.

Not pursuing separate ratings for each diabetic complication — each complication can be rated under its own diagnostic code.

Presumptive for Agent Orange/herbicide exposure veterans — if you served in Vietnam or other qualifying locations, no nexus letter is needed.

Before & after your exam

These apply to every C&P exam, whatever the condition.

Do not miss the appointment: Missing your C&P exam without a good reason can cost you. Under 38 CFR § 3.655, a missed exam can cause a claim for an increased rating or a reopened claim to be denied, and can cause an original claim to be decided on the evidence already in your file. If you cannot make it, call the VA or the exam company right away to reschedule — a documented good reason (illness, work conflict, no transportation, a family emergency) protects your claim.
Your examiner may be a contractor: Many C&P exams are performed by VA-contracted companies — QTC, Optum Serve (LHI), VES, or MSLA — not at a VA hospital. They will call, text, or mail you to schedule. Do not ignore an unknown number or letter while your claim is pending, and confirm the exam location and time before you go.
The examiner does not decide your claim: The examiner's job is to record findings on the Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ). A rating specialist at the Regional Office makes the actual decision, using the exam together with your full record — service records, medical records, and lay statements. One appointment does not settle everything.
Get a copy of your exam report: After the exam you can request the report (often called the DBQ or C&P exam results) through VA.gov, the Blue Button tool, or your accredited representative. Reading it lets you catch errors while you still have time to respond.
If the exam was inadequate, you have options: If the examiner rushed you, evaluated the wrong condition, or the report is inaccurate, you can submit a statement and new evidence, and — after a decision — request a review (a Supplemental Claim or Higher-Level Review). A single bad exam is not the end of your claim.

Diabetes Mellitus Type II

Rating steps

What happens at the appointment

What the examiner is actually filling in

A complete answer sounds like

What costs veterans points

The rating criteria, in plain language

What supports this level

What supports this level

What supports this level

What supports this level

What supports this level

What supports this level

Mistakes we see most often

Before & after your exam

Diabetes Mellitus Type II

Rating steps

What happens at the appointment

What the examiner is actually filling in

A complete answer sounds like

What costs veterans points

The rating criteria, in plain language

What supports this level

What supports this level

What supports this level

What supports this level

What supports this level

What supports this level

Mistakes we see most often

Before & after your exam