38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.104

Hyperthyroid heart disease — VA Diagnostic Code 7008

Cardiovascular

Diagnostic code

7008

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38 CFR § 4.104 lists Diagnostic Code 7008 as “Hyperthyroid heart disease:”. The rating cell is empty. The next row says: “Rate under the appropriate cardiovascular diagnostic code, depending on particular findings.” The Diseases of the Heart headnote says: “[Unless otherwise directed, use this general rating formula to evaluate diseases of the heart.]” DC 7008’s row is a direction. The catalog slug is dc-7008-hyperthyroid-heart-disease.

Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was last amended on 2026-08-27. On 2026-10-05 the titles list reports up to date as of 2026-10-02, and the 2026-10-02 XML for the sections quoted here matches the 2026-10-01 XML. Section 4.104 source note: [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

Hyperthyroid heart disease — DC 7008

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Rate under the appropriate cardiovascular diagnostic code, depending on particular findings.

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
—	Rate under the appropriate cardiovascular diagnostic code, depending on particular findings.

The title ends with a colon. The instruction ends with a period. Neither cell prints 100, 60, 30, 10, or 0.

The headnote is in square brackets: “[Unless otherwise directed, use this general rating formula to evaluate diseases of the heart.]” DC 7008 directs a different path. It does not say “use the General Rating Formula.”

The following row is not indented as a DC 7008 criterion. It reads: “For DCs 7009, 7010, 7011, and 7015, a single evaluation will be assigned under the diagnostic code that reflects the predominant disability picture.” That sentence does not name DC 7008.

DC 7007 is “Hypertensive heart disease.” The title ends with a period, and the rating cell is empty. DC 7007 does not print the “rate under the appropriate cardiovascular diagnostic code” sentence. DC 7006 says “Thereafter, use the General Rating Formula.” DC 7008 does not use that sentence. 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.

DC 7900 Note (1), in § 4.119, says: “If hyperthyroid cardiovascular or cardiac disease is present, separately evaluate under DC 7008 (hyperthyroid heart disease).” DC 7008 then points at the appropriate cardiovascular diagnostic code. 38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided, and that the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses is to be avoided.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “7008” or “hyperthyroid.” Paragraph (a) lists “Endocrinopathies.” It does not assign DC 7008. Paragraph (d)(2)(ii) says “Cancer of the thyroid.” That sentence is not hyperthyroid heart disease. Paragraph (e) defines ischemic heart disease and does not name DC 7008. This page does not add DC 7008 to a presumptive row.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.104, Diagnostic Code 7008, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01. The 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].

What the words mean in your records

Otherwise directed

The heart-disease headnote uses the general rating formula unless otherwise directed. DC 7008’s direction is to rate under the appropriate cardiovascular diagnostic code, depending on particular findings.

The 7009 sentence is the next row

It names DCs 7009, 7010, 7011, and 7015. It does not name 7008, 7007, or 7006. It is not indented under the hyperthyroid title.

DC 7900 names this code

The hyperthyroidism note says to separately evaluate hyperthyroid cardiovascular or cardiac disease under DC 7008. The heart schedule then says which cardiovascular code fits the findings.

Evidence that speaks to each level

The findings that pick the cardiovascular code

What the rater needs to see. DC 7008 does not print a percentage. The record has to show the particular cardiovascular findings, and the diagnostic code those findings match.

Where that usually lives. The cardiology note, the electrocardiogram or monitor, and the imaging the named code uses.

The thyroid disease that Note (1) of DC 7900 is talking about

What the rater needs to see. DC 7900 Note (1) uses this code when hyperthyroid cardiovascular or cardiac disease is present. DC 7008 is the heart-schedule pointer, not a list of thyroid symptoms.

Where that usually lives. The endocrine note and the heart findings, kept as two questions.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
The findings that pick the cardiovascular code	DC 7008 does not print a percentage. The record has to show the particular cardiovascular findings, and the diagnostic code those findings match.	The cardiology note, the electrocardiogram or monitor, and the imaging the named code uses.
The thyroid disease that Note (1) of DC 7900 is talking about	DC 7900 Note (1) uses this code when hyperthyroid cardiovascular or cardiac disease is present. DC 7008 is the heart-schedule pointer, not a list of thyroid symptoms.	The endocrine note and the heart findings, kept as two questions.

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

The exam form

DC 7008 does not print a percentage. It points to the appropriate cardiovascular diagnostic code. This page does not say the heart form replaces that sentence.

Related codes and how they interact

Hypertensive heart disease is the row above

DC 7007 is “Hypertensive heart disease.” It does not print DC 7008’s rate-under sentence. The general-formula headnote and DC 7008’s own direction are different sentences.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309 does not contain “7008” or “hyperthyroid.” “Endocrinopathies” and “Cancer of the thyroid” are different lines and do not assign DC 7008. This page does not add DC 7008 to a presumptive 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

How does VA rate hyperthyroid heart disease under DC 7008?

Under 38 CFR § 4.104, Diagnostic Code 7008 says to rate under the appropriate cardiovascular diagnostic code, depending on particular findings. It does not print its own percentage and it does not say to use the General Rating Formula. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Is hyperthyroid heart disease the same row as hypertensive heart disease?

No. DC 7007 is “Hypertensive heart disease.” DC 7008 is “Hyperthyroid heart disease,” and only DC 7008 prints the rate-under sentence. Education only.

FAQ

What percentage does DC 7008 print?

None. The cell says to rate under the appropriate cardiovascular diagnostic code, depending on particular findings. The general rating formula for diseases of the heart applies unless otherwise directed. This code is a direction. Education only.

Does the next sentence apply to DC 7008?

It names DCs 7009, 7010, 7011, and 7015, and assigns a single evaluation under the code that reflects the predominant disability picture. It does not name DC 7008.

Which endocrine note points here?

DC 7900 Note (1) says that if hyperthyroid cardiovascular or cardiac disease is present, separately evaluate under DC 7008 (hyperthyroid heart disease).

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7008 and which cardiovascular diagnostic code was used for the findings.
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 7008 • 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.