38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.88b

Hansen's disease — VA Diagnostic Code 6302

Infectious / immune

Diagnostic code

6302

Start free worksheet Get the Founding Pass — $9.99/month

38 CFR § 4.88b lists Diagnostic Code 6302 as “Leprosy (Hansen's disease).” The percentage line is 100, for active disease. The note continues that 100 percent beyond the cessation of treatment, then requires a VA examination six months after treatment stops. Section 3.309(a) lists “Hansen's disease.” Section 3.307(a)(3) says Hansen's disease (leprosy) and tuberculosis, within 3 years.

Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was up to date as of 2026-10-01 and last amended on 2026-08-27. The § 4.88b source note prints 61 FR 39875, July 31, 1996, as amended at 84 FR 28230, June 18, 2019.

The rating criteria at each level

Leprosy (Hansen's disease) — DC 6302

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). As active disease

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	As active disease

Note: Continue a 100 percent evaluation beyond the cessation of treatment for active disease. Six months after discontinuance of such treatment, determine the appropriate disability rating by mandatory VA examination. Any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter. Thereafter, rate under the appropriate body system any residual disability of infection, which includes, but is not limited to, skin lesions, peripheral neuropathy, or amputations.

DC 6302 does not say to evaluate under the General Rating Formula for Infectious Diseases. Its own line is “As active disease” at 100, followed by the note. The code does not print a 0 percent line. 38 CFR § 4.31 says: “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.” 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher rating when the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating. Otherwise, the lower rating will be assigned. 38 CFR § 4.6 requires each element affecting the evidence to be studied so that decisions will be equitable and just.

The note’s change in evaluation is subject to 38 CFR § 3.105(e). The residual examples are skin lesions, peripheral neuropathy, or amputations. The note says “including, but is not limited to.”

The opening note of § 4.88b names Brucellosis, Campylobacter jejuni, Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), Malaria, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Nontyphoid Salmonella, Shigella, Visceral Leishmaniasis, and West Nile virus for the long-term health effects in § 3.317(d). It does not name leprosy or Hansen's disease.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.88b, Diagnostic Code 6302, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Active disease, then the six-month examination

The 100 percent line is “As active disease.” The note says to continue a 100 percent evaluation beyond the cessation of treatment for active disease. Six months after discontinuance of such treatment, the rating is determined by mandatory VA examination. Any change based on that or any subsequent examination is subject to § 3.105(e).

Hansen's disease and leprosy are both in the texts

The schedule title is “Leprosy (Hansen's disease).” Section 3.309(a) says “Hansen's disease” and does not print the word leprosy. Section 3.307(a)(3) says “Hansen's disease (leprosy)” and places it, with tuberculosis, within 3 years.

Three years, inside the chronic-disease sentence

Paragraph (a)(3) is the chronic-disease time rule. The main period is 1 year. The parenthetical gives Hansen's disease (leprosy) and tuberculosis 3 years, and multiple sclerosis 7 years. Section 3.309(b) is the tropical-disease list. It does not name Hansen's disease or leprosy.

Evidence that speaks to each level

100 — active disease

What the rater needs to see. Active leprosy (Hansen's disease), which is the only percentage line.

Where that usually lives. The treatment record showing active disease.

After treatment stops

What the rater needs to see. The note’s mandatory VA examination six months after discontinuance of treatment, and residuals rated in the appropriate body system. The examples are skin lesions, peripheral neuropathy, or amputations.

Where that usually lives. The six-month examination and the records of the body system the note uses.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
100 — active disease	Active leprosy (Hansen's disease), which is the only percentage line.	The treatment record showing active disease.
After treatment stops	The note’s mandatory VA examination six months after discontinuance of treatment, and residuals rated in the appropriate body system. The examples are skin lesions, peripheral neuropathy, or amputations.	The six-month examination and the records of the body system the note uses.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Infectious Diseases (other than HIV-related illness chronic fatigue syndrome and tuberculosis)” under Infectious Diseases. The file is Infectious Diseases (other than HIV-related illness chronic fatigue syndrome and tuberculosis). The public list prints that title without commas between “HIV-related illness,” “chronic fatigue syndrome,” and “tuberculosis.”

The exam form

DC 6302 prints one percentage line and one note. This page does not say the form replaces that note.

Related codes and how they interact

Residuals move to the body system involved

The note says to rate any residual disability of infection under the appropriate body system after the examination rule. It does not assign those residuals a second percentage under DC 6302. 38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses is to be avoided.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

38 CFR § 3.309(a) lists “Hansen's disease.” 38 CFR § 3.307(a)(3) says the disease must have become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within 1 year (for Hansen's disease (leprosy) and tuberculosis, within 3 years; multiple sclerosis, within 7 years) from the date of separation from service as specified in paragraph (a)(2). Paragraph (a)(1) requires 90 days or more during a war period or after December 31, 1946.

38 CFR § 3.308(a) says there is no provision for presumptive service connection for chronic disease, as distinguished from tropical diseases, based on peacetime service before January 1, 1947.

Section 3.309(b) does not name Hansen's disease or leprosy. The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309(e) does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.309(f) does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.309(d) does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.320 does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.320a does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.320b does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.316 does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.317 does not name it. Section 3.309(c) does not name it.

A separate question, when a presumption does not decide it, is a medical question on the facts under 38 CFR § 3.310. Paragraph (a) covers disability proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury. Paragraph (b) covers increase in severity and requires a medical baseline.

Short answers

What is the VA rating for DC 6302?

Under 38 CFR § 4.88b, leprosy (Hansen's disease) is rated 100 percent as active disease. The note addresses the period after treatment stops, a mandatory examination at six months, and residuals in the appropriate body system. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

What presumptive period does § 3.307 give Hansen's disease?

Section 3.307(a)(3) says Hansen's disease (leprosy), within 3 years from the date of separation specified in paragraph (a)(2), to a degree of 10 percent or more. Section 3.309(a) is the list that uses that time rule.

FAQ

How does VA rate Hansen's disease under DC 6302?

The schedule title is “Leprosy (Hansen's disease).” Active disease is 100 percent. The note continues that evaluation beyond the cessation of treatment and requires a VA examination six months after treatment stops. A change based on that examination is subject to § 3.105(e). Residuals are then rated under the appropriate body system. Education only.

Is the presumptive period one year or three years?

Section 3.307(a)(3) says within 1 year, and then says for Hansen's disease (leprosy) and tuberculosis, within 3 years. Section 3.309(a) lists “Hansen's disease.” The tropical-disease list in § 3.309(b) does not.

Does DC 6302 use the general infectious-disease formula?

The code does not say “Evaluate under the General Rating Formula.” It prints “As active disease” at 100 and its own note about treatment, the six-month examination, and residuals.

Is Hansen's disease on the herbicide or Camp Lejeune list?

The 2026-10-01 text of §§ 3.309(e) and 3.309(f) does not name Hansen's disease or leprosy. Sections 3.320, 3.320a, 3.320b, 3.316, and 3.317 do not name it.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 6302, whether disease was called active, and the date treatment stopped.
The free worksheet is a place to write the code, the findings, and the records you already have. It does not file a claim or protect a filing date. An accredited representative is at find a VSO.
Other codes in this schedule are on the infectious-disease diagnostic-code index.

Education only. Not legal or medical advice. My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative and does not file claims. VA decides every claim on its own evidence.

Other codes in this body system

Nearby catalog entries in Infectious / immune, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Infectious / immune codes

Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 6302 • va.gov

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.