38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.104
Varicose veins — VA Diagnostic Code 7120
Cardiovascular
Diagnostic code
7120
38 CFR § 4.104 lists Diagnostic Code 7120 as “Varicose veins:” and then prints “Evaluate under diagnostic code 7121.” DC 7120 itself has no percentage in that cell. DC 7121 is “Post-phlebitic syndrome of any etiology,” with findings attributed to venous disease. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Varicose veins.” at 7120.
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
7120 Varicose veins
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Evaluate under diagnostic code 7121.
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| — | Evaluate under diagnostic code 7121. |
7121 Post-phlebitic syndrome of any etiology — findings attributed to venous disease
Rating %: 100
Criteria (verbatim). Massive board-like edema with constant pain at rest
Rating %: 60
Criteria (verbatim). Persistent edema or subcutaneous induration, stasis pigmentation or eczema, and persistent ulceration
Rating %: 40
Criteria (verbatim). Persistent edema and stasis pigmentation or eczema, with or without intermittent ulceration
Rating %: 20
Criteria (verbatim). Persistent edema, incompletely relieved by elevation of extremity, with or without beginning stasis pigmentation or eczema
Rating %: 10
Criteria (verbatim). Intermittent edema of extremity or aching and fatigue in leg after prolonged standing or walking, with symptoms relieved by elevation of extremity or compression hosiery
Rating %: 0
Criteria (verbatim). Asymptomatic palpable or visible varicose veins
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 100 | Massive board-like edema with constant pain at rest |
| 60 | Persistent edema or subcutaneous induration, stasis pigmentation or eczema, and persistent ulceration |
| 40 | Persistent edema and stasis pigmentation or eczema, with or without intermittent ulceration |
| 20 | Persistent edema, incompletely relieved by elevation of extremity, with or without beginning stasis pigmentation or eczema |
| 10 | Intermittent edema of extremity or aching and fatigue in leg after prolonged standing or walking, with symptoms relieved by elevation of extremity or compression hosiery |
| 0 | Asymptomatic palpable or visible varicose veins |
Note: These evaluations are for involvement of a single extremity. If more than one extremity is involved, evaluate each extremity separately and combine (under § 4.25), using the bilateral factor (§ 4.26), if applicable.
The 0 percent line, “Asymptomatic palpable or visible varicose veins,” is printed under DC 7121. DC 7120’s own cell is the instruction to evaluate under 7121.
The 60 percent line uses “or” between persistent edema and subcutaneous induration, then “and persistent ulceration.” The 40 percent line uses “and” between persistent edema and stasis pigmentation or eczema.
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 sends more than one extremity to 38 CFR § 4.25 and, if applicable, the bilateral factor in 38 CFR § 4.26.
DC 7122 is cold injury residuals. It has its own lines. It is not the code DC 7120 names.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.104, Diagnostic Codes 7120 and 7121, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.
What the words mean in your records
The percentage table is on 7121
DC 7120 prints the instruction. DC 7121 prints 100, 60, 40, 20, 10, and 0, introduced by “With the following findings attributed to venous disease.” The 0 percent words are asymptomatic palpable or visible varicose veins.
One extremity, then combine
The note says the evaluations are for a single extremity. More than one extremity is evaluated separately and combined under § 4.25, using the bilateral factor if applicable.
Board-like edema is the 100 percent line
The 100 percent line is massive board-like edema with constant pain at rest. The hyphen in “board-like” is in the 2026-10-01 text. Persistent ulceration is on the 60 percent line, together with persistent edema or subcutaneous induration, and stasis pigmentation or eczema.
Evidence that speaks to each level
The DC 7121 lines DC 7120 names
What the rater needs to see. Findings attributed to venous disease, using the edema, pigmentation, eczema, ulceration, aching, or asymptomatic varicose-vein words on the matching line.
Where that usually lives. The vein examination and the treatment record for the extremity the note treats as one extremity.
More than one extremity
What the rater needs to see. A separate evaluation for each extremity, combined under § 4.25, with the bilateral factor if applicable.
Where that usually lives. The same examination, read one extremity at a time.
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 7120 prints an instruction. DC 7121 prints the percentages and the single-extremity note. This page does not say the form replaces that text.
Related codes and how they interact
Cold injury residuals are a different code.
DC 7122 rates cold injury residuals in affected parts. The DC 7120 row does not mention cold injury.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “varicose.”
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 varicose veins?
Under 38 CFR § 4.104, Diagnostic Code 7120 says to evaluate varicose veins under diagnostic code 7121. That code runs from 100 percent for massive board-like edema with constant pain at rest to 0 percent for asymptomatic palpable or visible varicose veins. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Is varicose veins a chronic disease under § 3.309(a)?
The 2026-10-01 text of § 3.309 does not contain “varicose.”
FAQ
Where are the percentages for varicose veins?
DC 7120 says to evaluate under diagnostic code 7121. DC 7121 prints 100, 60, 40, 20, 10, and 0 for post-phlebitic syndrome of any etiology, with findings attributed to venous disease. The 0 percent line is asymptomatic palpable or visible varicose veins. Education only.
Does the note rate both legs as one number?
The note says the evaluations are for a single extremity. If more than one extremity is involved, evaluate each extremity separately and combine under § 4.25, using the bilateral factor if applicable.
Which line requires persistent ulceration?
The 60 percent line requires persistent edema or subcutaneous induration, stasis pigmentation or eczema, and persistent ulceration. The 40 percent line is persistent edema and stasis pigmentation or eczema, with or without intermittent ulceration.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 7120 or 7121, which extremity was evaluated, and which venous-disease line was 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.
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
- DC 7019Cardiac transplantation
- DC 7020Cardiomyopathy
- DC 7101Hypertensive vascular disease
- DC 7110Aortic aneurysm: ascending, thoracic, abdominal
- DC 7111Aneurysm, large artery
- DC 7112Aneurysm, small artery
- DC 7113Arteriovenous fistula, traumatic
- DC 7114Peripheral arterial disease
- DC 7115Thrombo-angiitis obliterans (Buerger's Disease)
- DC 7117Raynaud's syndrome (secondary Raynaud's phenomenon, secondary Raynaud's)
- DC 7118Angioneurotic edema
- DC 7119Erythromelalgia
- DC 7121Post-phlebitic syndrome
- DC 7122Cold injury residuals
- DC 7123Soft tissue sarcoma
- DC 7124Raynaud's disease (primary Raynaud's)
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7120 • 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.