38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.104

Aneurysm, any large artery — VA Diagnostic Code 7111

Cardiovascular

Diagnostic code

7111

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38 CFR § 4.104 lists Diagnostic Code 7111 as “Aneurysm, any large artery:”. The 100 percent line is “If symptomatic; or, for the period beginning on the date a physician recommends surgical correction and continuing for six months following discharge from inpatient hospital admission for surgical correction”. That cell does not end with a period. The next line is “Following surgery: Evaluate under DC 7114 (peripheral arterial disease).” [DC 7110](/conditions/diagnostic-codes/dc-7110-aortic-aneurysm-ascending-thoracic-abdominal) is an aneurysm of the ascending, thoracic, or abdominal aorta. [DC 7112](/conditions/diagnostic-codes/dc-7112-aneurysm-small-artery) is an aneurysm of any small artery. Those are different titles.

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. Section 4.104 was last amended at 86 FR 62095, Nov. 9, 2021. Section 4.100 was amended at 86 FR 67654, Nov. 29, 2021.

The rating criteria at each level

7111 Aneurysm, any large artery

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). If symptomatic; or, for the period beginning on the date a physician recommends surgical correction and continuing for six months following discharge from inpatient hospital admission for surgical correction

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Following surgery: Evaluate under DC 7114 (peripheral arterial disease).

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	If symptomatic; or, for the period beginning on the date a physician recommends surgical correction and continuing for six months following discharge from inpatient hospital admission for surgical correction
—	Following surgery: Evaluate under DC 7114 (peripheral arterial disease).

7114 Peripheral arterial disease — where the following-surgery line directs it

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). At least one of the following: Ankle/brachial index less than or equal to 0.39; ankle pressure less than 50 mm Hg; toe pressure less than 30 mm Hg; or transcutaneous oxygen tension less than 30 mm Hg

Rating %: 60

Criteria (verbatim). At least one of the following: Ankle/brachial index of 0.40-0.53; ankle pressure of 50-65 mm Hg; toe pressure of 30-39 mm Hg; or transcutaneous oxygen tension of 30-39 mm Hg

Rating %: 40

Criteria (verbatim). At least one of the following: Ankle/brachial index of 0.54-0.66; ankle pressure of 66-83 mm Hg; toe pressure of 40-49 mm Hg; or transcutaneous oxygen tension of 40-49 mm Hg

Rating %: 20

Criteria (verbatim). At least one of the following: Ankle/brachial index of 0.67-0.79; ankle pressure of 84-99 mm Hg; toe pressure of 50-59 mm Hg; or transcutaneous oxygen tension of 50-59 mm Hg

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	At least one of the following: Ankle/brachial index less than or equal to 0.39; ankle pressure less than 50 mm Hg; toe pressure less than 30 mm Hg; or transcutaneous oxygen tension less than 30 mm Hg
60	At least one of the following: Ankle/brachial index of 0.40-0.53; ankle pressure of 50-65 mm Hg; toe pressure of 30-39 mm Hg; or transcutaneous oxygen tension of 30-39 mm Hg
40	At least one of the following: Ankle/brachial index of 0.54-0.66; ankle pressure of 66-83 mm Hg; toe pressure of 40-49 mm Hg; or transcutaneous oxygen tension of 40-49 mm Hg
20	At least one of the following: Ankle/brachial index of 0.67-0.79; ankle pressure of 84-99 mm Hg; toe pressure of 50-59 mm Hg; or transcutaneous oxygen tension of 50-59 mm Hg

Note: Six months following discharge from inpatient hospitalization for surgery, 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.

Note (1) under DC 7114: The ankle/brachial index (ABI) is the ratio of the systolic blood pressure at the ankle divided by the simultaneous brachial artery systolic blood pressure. For the purposes of this diagnostic code, normal ABI will be greater than or equal to 0.80. The ankle pressure (AP) is the systolic blood pressure measured at the ankle. Normal AP is greater than or equal to 100 mm Hg. The toe pressure (TP) is the systolic blood pressure measured at the great toe. Normal TP is greater than or equal to 60 mm Hg. Transcutaneous oxygen tension (Tc PO2) is measured at the first intercostal space on the foot. Normal Tc PO2 is greater than or equal to 60 mm Hg. All measurements must be determined by objective testing.

Note (2) under DC 7114: If AP, TP, and Tc PO2 testing are not of record, evaluate based on ABI unless the examiner states that an AP, TP, or Tc PO2 test is needed in a particular case because ABI does not sufficiently reflect the severity of the veteran's peripheral arterial disease. In all other cases, evaluate based on the test that provides the highest impairment value

Note (2) does not end with a period.

Note (3) under DC 7114: Evaluate residuals of aortic and large arterial bypass surgery or arterial graft as peripheral arterial disease.

Note (4) under DC 7114: These evaluations involve a single extremity. If more than one extremity is affected, evaluate each extremity separately and combine (under § 4.25), using the bilateral factor (§ 4.26), if applicable.

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. DC 7111 does not print a 0 percent line. DC 7114’s lowest printed line is 20. DC 7112 prints “Asymptomatic” at 0. That 0 percent line is on the small-artery code. 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 100 percent line has two triggers joined by “or.” One is “If symptomatic.” The other is the period that begins on the date a physician recommends surgical correction and continues for six months following discharge from inpatient hospital admission for surgical correction. The Note then requires a mandatory VA examination six months following discharge, and it applies § 3.105(e) to a change in evaluation.

Following surgery, the evaluation is under DC 7114. Note (4) of DC 7114 says the evaluations involve a single extremity. More than one extremity is evaluated separately and combined under § 4.25, using the bilateral factor in § 4.26 if applicable.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.104, Diagnostic Codes 7111 and 7114, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Symptomatic, or the surgical period

The 100 percent cell is met if the aneurysm is symptomatic, or for the dated surgical period the cell describes. The semicolon and the word “or” are in the cell.

Large artery, aorta, and small artery

DC 7111 is any large artery. DC 7110 is ascending, thoracic, or abdominal aortic aneurysm, with its own 100 and 0 percent lines. DC 7112 is any small artery. If a small-artery aneurysm is symptomatic, DC 7112 says to evaluate according to the body system affected.

The foot sentence is printed as written

Note (1) of DC 7114 says transcutaneous oxygen tension is measured at the first intercostal space on the foot. That phrase is in the 2026-10-01 text.

Evidence that speaks to each level

100

What the rater needs to see. A symptomatic large-artery aneurysm, or the period from the physician’s recommendation of surgical correction through six months following discharge from the inpatient admission for that correction.

Where that usually lives. The recommendation date, the admission, and the discharge date, when the surgical period is the period being evaluated.

After surgery

What the rater needs to see. DC 7114: ABI, ankle pressure, toe pressure, or transcutaneous oxygen tension, for a single extremity.

Where that usually lives. The objective test Note (1) describes. Note (2) says which test to use when the others are not of record.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
100	A symptomatic large-artery aneurysm, or the period from the physician’s recommendation of surgical correction through six months following discharge from the inpatient admission for that correction.	The recommendation date, the admission, and the discharge date, when the surgical period is the period being evaluated.
After surgery	DC 7114: ABI, ankle pressure, toe pressure, or transcutaneous oxygen tension, for a single extremity.	The objective test Note (1) describes. Note (2) says which test to use when the others are not of record.

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

The exam form

DC 7111 prints the 100 percent line, the direction to DC 7114 after surgery, and the examination note. This page does not say the form replaces those lines.

Related codes and how they interact

The aorta uses DC 7110.

DC 7110 is “Aortic aneurysm: Ascending, thoracic, or abdominal:”. It evaluates at 100 percent if the aneurysm is any one of the following: five centimeters or larger in diameter; symptomatic (e.g., precludes exertion); or requires surgery. Otherwise the printed line is 0. A separate sentence says to evaluate non-cardiovascular residuals of surgical correction according to organ systems affected. The note says that when surgery is required, a 100-percent evaluation begins on the date a physician recommends surgical correction, with a mandatory VA examination six months following hospital discharge, and that post-surgical residuals are evaluated under the General Rating Formula. DC 7111’s following-surgery line goes to DC 7114.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “aneurysm.” Paragraph (e) lists ischemic heart disease. Note 2 says that term does not include hypertension or peripheral manifestations of arteriosclerosis such as peripheral vascular disease or stroke, or any other condition that does not qualify within the generally accepted medical definition of Ischemic heart disease. This page does not apply that definition to a large-artery aneurysm.

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 an aneurysm of any large artery under DC 7111?

Under 38 CFR § 4.104, DC 7111 is 100 percent if the aneurysm is symptomatic, or during the surgical period that begins when a physician recommends correction and continues for six months after discharge. Following surgery, the evaluation is under DC 7114. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

When is the examination due?

The DC 7111 Note says six months following discharge from inpatient hospitalization for surgery. A change in evaluation based on that examination, or a later one, is subject to § 3.105(e).

FAQ

What does DC 7111 print for a large-artery aneurysm?

100 percent if symptomatic, or for the period from the date a physician recommends surgical correction through six months following discharge from the inpatient admission for that correction. Following surgery, evaluate under DC 7114. Education only.

What are the DC 7114 percentages?

100, 60, 40, and 20. Each line is met by at least one of the listed ankle/brachial index, ankle pressure, toe pressure, or transcutaneous oxygen tension findings. Note (4) says those evaluations involve a single extremity.

Is an aortic aneurysm DC 7111?

DC 7110 is the ascending, thoracic, or abdominal aortic aneurysm. DC 7111 is aneurysm, any large artery. DC 7112 is aneurysm, any small artery. The schedule prints three titles.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7111, whether surgery was recommended, and whether the evaluation moved to DC 7114.
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 7111 • 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.