38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.104

Pericarditis — VA Diagnostic Code 7002

Cardiovascular

Diagnostic code

7002

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38 CFR § 4.104 prints one block for “7000 Valvular heart disease (including rheumatic heart disease), 7001 Endocarditis, or 7002 Pericarditis.” During active infection with cardiac involvement, and for three months following cessation of therapy for the active infection, the rating is 100. Thereafter, when the diagnosis is confirmed as that sentence requires, the schedule says to use the General Rating Formula. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Pericarditis.” at 7002.

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 § 4.104 source note prints 62 FR 65219, Dec. 11, 1997, as amended at 63 FR 37779, July 14, 1998; 71 FR 52460, Sept. 6, 2006; 79 FR 2100, Jan. 13, 2014; 82 FR 50804, Nov. 2, 2017; 86 FR 54093, Sept. 30, 2021; 86 FR 62095, Nov. 9, 2021.

The rating criteria at each level

DC 7000, DC 7001, or DC 7002

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). During active infection with cardiac involvement and for three months following cessation of therapy for the active infection

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Thereafter, with diagnosis confirmed by findings on physical examination and either echocardiogram, Doppler echocardiogram, or cardiac catheterization, use the General Rating Formula.

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	During active infection with cardiac involvement and for three months following cessation of therapy for the active infection
—	Thereafter, with diagnosis confirmed by findings on physical examination and either echocardiogram, Doppler echocardiogram, or cardiac catheterization, use the General Rating Formula.

General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Heart

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). Workload of 3.0 METs or less results in heart failure symptoms

Rating %: 60

Criteria (verbatim). Workload of 3.1-5.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Workload of 5.1-7.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation confirmed by echocardiogram or equivalent (e.g., multigated acquisition scan or magnetic resonance imaging)

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). Workload of 7.1-10.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or continuous medication required for control

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	Workload of 3.0 METs or less results in heart failure symptoms
60	Workload of 3.1-5.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms
30	Workload of 5.1-7.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation confirmed by echocardiogram or equivalent (e.g., multigated acquisition scan or magnetic resonance imaging)
10	Workload of 7.1-10.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or continuous medication required for control

Note (1): Evaluate cor pulmonale, which is a form of secondary heart disease, as part of the pulmonary condition that causes it.

Note (2): One MET (metabolic equivalent) is the energy cost of standing quietly at rest and represents an oxygen uptake of 3.5 milliliters per kilogram of body weight per minute. When the level of METs at which breathlessness, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope develops is required for evaluation, and a laboratory determination of METs by exercise testing cannot be done for medical reasons, a medical examiner may estimate the level of activity (expressed in METs and supported by specific examples, such as slow stair climbing or shoveling snow) that results in those symptoms.

Note (3): For this general formula, heart failure symptoms include, but are not limited to, breathlessness, fatigue, angina, dizziness, arrhythmia, palpitations, or syncope.

The bracket above the formula says: unless otherwise directed, use this general rating formula to evaluate diseases of the heart. The 7000, 7001, or 7002 block directs a 100 percent evaluation for the active-infection period. The thereafter sentence is the direction to use the General Rating Formula, and it requires the diagnosis to be confirmed by findings on physical examination and either echocardiogram, Doppler echocardiogram, or cardiac catheterization.

The formula does not print a 0 percent line. 38 CFR § 4.31 says that 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.

38 CFR § 4.100(b) says that even if the requirement for a 10% (based on the need for continuous medication) or 30% (based on the presence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation) evaluation is met, METs testing is required in all cases except when there is a medical contraindication, or when a 100% evaluation can be assigned on another basis. The active-infection line is a 100 percent evaluation printed on this block. Section 4.100 does not name DC 7002. Paragraph (a) names electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, or X-ray for hypertrophy or dilatation. The 30 percent formula line names echocardiogram or equivalent, for example a multigated acquisition scan or magnetic resonance imaging.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.104, Diagnostic Codes 7000, 7001, and 7002, and the General Rating Formula, and 38 CFR § 4.100, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

One block, joined by “or”

The schedule prints “7000 Valvular heart disease (including rheumatic heart disease), 7001 Endocarditis, or 7002 Pericarditis.” DC 7000 is the valvular title. The public page is the heart disease guide. DC 7001 is endocarditis. The percentage lines are not three separate ladders.

Pericarditis is not the endocarditis parenthetical

Section 3.309(a) says “Endocarditis. (This term covers all forms of valvular heart disease.)” That parenthetical tracks the DC 7000 title. The 2026-10-01 text of § 3.309 does not contain “pericarditis.” Section 3.309(a) lists “Myocarditis” as its own name. The 2026-10-01 text of § 4.104 does not contain the word myocarditis.

Pericardial adhesions are the next code

DC 7003 prints “Pericardial adhesions.” That row has no percentage in the 2026-10-01 table. DC 7005 is arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease). Its note about superimposed disease is printed under DC 7005. It is not printed under the 7000, 7001, or 7002 block.

Evidence that speaks to each level

100 — active infection with cardiac involvement

What the rater needs to see. Active infection with cardiac involvement, and the three months following cessation of therapy for the active infection. Both parts are in the same 100 percent line.

Where that usually lives. The infection record, the cardiac involvement, and the date therapy for the active infection stopped.

Thereafter — General Rating Formula

What the rater needs to see. Diagnosis confirmed by findings on physical examination and either echocardiogram, Doppler echocardiogram, or cardiac catheterization, then one of the MET lines or the hypertrophy, dilatation, or continuous-medication alternatives.

Where that usually lives. The confirming study named in the thereafter sentence, and the MET or medication findings the formula line uses.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
100 — active infection with cardiac involvement	Active infection with cardiac involvement, and the three months following cessation of therapy for the active infection. Both parts are in the same 100 percent line.	The infection record, the cardiac involvement, and the date therapy for the active infection stopped.
Thereafter — General Rating Formula	Diagnosis confirmed by findings on physical examination and either echocardiogram, Doppler echocardiogram, or cardiac catheterization, then one of the MET lines or the hypertrophy, dilatation, or continuous-medication alternatives.	The confirming study named in the thereafter sentence, and the MET or medication findings the formula line uses.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Heart Conditions” under Cardiovascular. The file is Heart Conditions.

The exam form

The schedule text is the active-infection line, the thereafter sentence, and the General Rating Formula, including Notes (1) through (3). This page does not say the form replaces that text.

Related codes and how they interact

The same lines are already on the endocarditis page.

DC 7001 and DC 7002 share the block. The endocarditis guide quotes the same 100 percent line and the same General Rating Formula. This page is the pericarditis title in that block.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “pericarditis.” It lists “Endocarditis” with the parenthetical that the term covers all forms of valvular heart disease, and it lists “Myocarditis” separately. The endocarditis row in the presumption registry stays on DC 7001. This page does not add DC 7002 to that row.

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 pericarditis?

Under 38 CFR § 4.104, pericarditis is rated with valvular heart disease and endocarditis: 100 percent during active infection with cardiac involvement and for three months following cessation of therapy for the active infection. Thereafter, when the diagnosis is confirmed by physical examination and either echocardiogram, Doppler echocardiogram, or cardiac catheterization, the General Rating Formula applies. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Does § 3.309(a) name pericarditis?

No. The 2026-10-01 text lists endocarditis, with a parenthetical covering valvular heart disease, and lists myocarditis separately. It does not contain the word pericarditis.

FAQ

How does VA rate pericarditis under DC 7002?

DC 7000, DC 7001, and DC 7002 share one block. Active infection with cardiac involvement, and the three months after therapy for that infection stops, is 100 percent. Thereafter, with the diagnosis confirmed by physical examination and either echocardiogram, Doppler echocardiogram, or cardiac catheterization, the schedule uses the General Rating Formula. Education only.

Is pericarditis the same listing as endocarditis?

The rating block joins them with “or.” Section 3.309(a) lists “Endocarditis” and says that term covers all forms of valvular heart disease. The 2026-10-01 text of § 3.309 does not contain “pericarditis.” Myocarditis is a separate § 3.309(a) name, and § 4.104 does not use that word.

What are the MET lines after the active-infection period?

Workload of 3.0 METs or less resulting in heart failure symptoms is 100 percent. Workload of 3.1-5.0 METs is 60 percent. Workload of 5.1-7.0 METs, or cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation confirmed by echocardiogram or equivalent, is 30 percent. Workload of 7.1-10.0 METs, or continuous medication required for control, is 10 percent. Note (3) lists heart failure symptoms and says the list is not limited to those examples.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7000, 7001, or 7002, the date therapy for the active infection stopped, and which General Rating Formula line was used thereafter.
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 cardiovascular codes are on the cardiovascular diagnostic-code index. The category page is cardiovascular conditions.

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 Cardiovascular, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Cardiovascular codes

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

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7002 • 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.