38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.104

Raynaud's syndrome — VA Diagnostic Code 7117

Cardiovascular

Diagnostic code

7117

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38 CFR § 4.104 lists Diagnostic Code 7117 as “Raynaud's syndrome (also known as secondary Raynaud's phenomenon or secondary Raynaud's):”. The lines are 100, 60, 40, 20, and 10. Note (1) defines characteristic attacks for this section. Note (2) sends primary Raynaud's disease to DC 7124. The catalog slug is dc-7117-raynaud-s-syndrome-secondary-raynaud-s-phenomenon-secondary-raynaud-s.

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

Raynaud's syndrome (also known as secondary Raynaud's phenomenon or secondary Raynaud's) — DC 7117

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). With two or more digital ulcers plus auto-amputation of one or more digits and history of characteristic attacks

Rating %: 60

Criteria (verbatim). With two or more digital ulcers and history of characteristic attacks

Rating %: 40

Criteria (verbatim). Characteristic attacks occurring at least daily

Rating %: 20

Criteria (verbatim). Characteristic attacks occurring four to six times a week

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). Characteristic attacks occurring one to three times a week

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	With two or more digital ulcers plus auto-amputation of one or more digits and history of characteristic attacks
60	With two or more digital ulcers and history of characteristic attacks
40	Characteristic attacks occurring at least daily
20	Characteristic attacks occurring four to six times a week
10	Characteristic attacks occurring one to three times a week

Note (1): For purposes of this section, characteristic attacks consist of sequential color changes of the digits of one or more extremities lasting minutes to hours, sometimes with pain and paresthesias, and precipitated by exposure to cold or by emotional upsets. These evaluations are for Raynaud's syndrome as a whole, regardless of the number of extremities involved or whether the nose and ears are involved.

Note (2): This section is for evaluating Raynaud's syndrome (secondary Raynaud's phenomenon or secondary Raynaud's). For evaluation of Raynaud's disease (primary Raynaud's), see DC 7124.

The title says “also known as secondary Raynaud's phenomenon or secondary Raynaud's,” with no comma before “or.” Note (2) drops “also known as” and also has no comma before “or.” DC 7124 Note (3) says “secondary Raynaud's phenomenon, or secondary Raynaud's,” with a comma before “or,” and it keeps “also known as.”

DC 7117 does not print a 0 percent line. The 100 line says “plus auto-amputation.” The 60 line does not. Both the 100 and 60 lines say “two or more digital ulcers” and “history of characteristic attacks.”

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.

DC 7124 is “Raynaud's disease (also known as primary Raynaud's).” Its lines are 10, with trophic change(s), and 0, without trophic change(s). Its Note (1) says characteristic attacks “consist of intermittent and episodic color changes” “lasting minutes or longer, with occasional pain and paresthesias.” DC 7117 Note (1) says “sequential color changes” “lasting minutes to hours, sometimes with pain and paresthesias.” The two notes do not use the same words. DC 7124 Note (3) points syndrome to DC 7117.

DC 7117 Note (1) says the evaluations are for the syndrome as a whole, regardless of the number of extremities involved or whether the nose and ears are involved. That sentence is not the single-extremity note on DC 7114. 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(a) lists “Raynaud's disease.” It does not list Raynaud's syndrome, and it does not contain “7117.” The presumptive row for Raynaud's disease is already linked to DC 7124. This page does not move that link to DC 7117.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.104, Diagnostic Code 7117, 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

No comma before “or” on DC 7117

The title is “secondary Raynaud's phenomenon or secondary Raynaud's.” DC 7124 Note (3) writes “secondary Raynaud's phenomenon, or secondary Raynaud's.” The comma is on the DC 7124 note. It is not on the DC 7117 title.

Sequential, and minutes to hours

DC 7117 Note (1) says sequential color changes lasting minutes to hours, sometimes with pain and paresthesias. DC 7124 Note (1) says intermittent and episodic color changes lasting minutes or longer, with occasional pain and paresthesias.

Auto-amputation is only on the 100 line

The 100 line requires two or more digital ulcers plus auto-amputation of one or more digits and a history of characteristic attacks. The 60 line stops at two or more digital ulcers and that history.

Evidence that speaks to each level

Ulcers and auto-amputation

What the rater needs to see. Two or more digital ulcers plus auto-amputation of one or more digits, with a history of characteristic attacks, for 100. Two or more digital ulcers and that history, without the auto-amputation phrase, for 60.

Where that usually lives. The examination or photographs in the record describing the digits, and the history of attacks.

Attack frequency

What the rater needs to see. Characteristic attacks at least daily (40), four to six times a week (20), or one to three times a week (10). Note (1) defines the attack.

Where that usually lives. A log or treatment notes that count the attacks and describe the color change.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
Ulcers and auto-amputation	Two or more digital ulcers plus auto-amputation of one or more digits, with a history of characteristic attacks, for 100. Two or more digital ulcers and that history, without the auto-amputation phrase, for 60.	The examination or photographs in the record describing the digits, and the history of attacks.
Attack frequency	Characteristic attacks at least daily (40), four to six times a week (20), or one to three times a week (10). Note (1) defines the attack.	A log or treatment notes that count the attacks and describe the color change.

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 7117 prints 100, 60, 40, 20, and 10, and defines characteristic attacks in Note (1). This page does not say the artery and vein form replaces those lines.

Related codes and how they interact

Primary Raynaud's disease is DC 7124

DC 7124 prints 10 and 0. Note (3) of that code sends Raynaud's syndrome to DC 7117. Note (2) of DC 7117 sends Raynaud's disease back to DC 7124. Section 3.309(a) lists “Raynaud's disease,” which is the DC 7124 title, not this one.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309(a) lists “Raynaud's disease.” It does not list Raynaud's syndrome and does not contain “7117.” The Raynaud's disease presumptive row stays on DC 7124. This page does not add DC 7117 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 Raynaud's syndrome under DC 7117?

Under 38 CFR § 4.104, Diagnostic Code 7117 rates Raynaud's syndrome at 100, 60, 40, 20, or 10 percent. The 100 and 60 lines use digital ulcers and a history of characteristic attacks, and the 100 line adds auto-amputation. The 40, 20, and 10 lines count how often characteristic attacks occur. Note (2) sends primary Raynaud's disease to DC 7124. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Why do the two Raynaud's notes disagree about a comma?

DC 7117’s title and Note (2) have no comma before “or.” DC 7124 Note (3) has a comma: “secondary Raynaud's phenomenon, or secondary Raynaud's.” The notes also define characteristic attacks in different words. Education only.

FAQ

What percentages does DC 7117 print?

100, 60, 40, 20, and 10. There is no 0 percent line. The 100 line adds auto-amputation to two or more digital ulcers. The 40, 20, and 10 lines count characteristic attacks. Education only.

How does Note (1) define a characteristic attack?

Sequential color changes of the digits of one or more extremities lasting minutes to hours, sometimes with pain and paresthesias, and precipitated by exposure to cold or by emotional upsets. The evaluations are for the syndrome as a whole.

Is Raynaud's syndrome the chronic disease in § 3.309(a)?

Section 3.309(a) lists “Raynaud's disease.” DC 7124 is primary Raynaud's disease. DC 7117 is the syndrome. The presumptive row stays on DC 7124.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7117 or DC 7124, and whether ulcers, auto-amputation, or attack frequency was the line used.
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. Primary Raynaud's disease is the DC 7124 guide.

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 7117 • 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.