38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.104
Post-phlebitic syndrome — VA Diagnostic Code 7121
Cardiovascular
Diagnostic code
7121
38 CFR § 4.104 lists Diagnostic Code 7121 as “Post-phlebitic syndrome of any etiology:”. The title ends with a colon. The next line is “With the following findings attributed to venous disease:”. The lines are 100, 60, 40, 20, 10, and 0. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Post-phlebitic syndrome.” It drops “of any etiology” and uses a period. [DC 7120](/conditions/diagnostic-codes/dc-7120-varicose-veins) is “Varicose veins:” and says “Evaluate under diagnostic code 7121.”
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 § 4.100 source note prints 71 FR 52460, Sept. 6, 2006, as amended at 86 FR 54093, Sept. 30, 2021; 86 FR 67654, Nov. 29, 2021.
The rating criteria at each level
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 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.
The hyphen in “board-like” is in the 100 percent line. The 0 percent line is “Asymptomatic palpable or visible varicose veins.” That line is printed under DC 7121.
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 DC 7121.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.104, Diagnostic Code 7121, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.
What the words mean in your records
Any etiology, then venous-disease findings
The title says “of any etiology.” The next line says the findings are attributed to venous disease. The percentages are on those finding lines.
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.
Varicose veins point here
DC 7120’s cell is the instruction to evaluate under diagnostic code 7121. The 0 percent words, asymptomatic palpable or visible varicose veins, are a DC 7121 line.
Evidence that speaks to each level
100 — board-like edema
What the rater needs to see. Massive board-like edema with constant pain at rest, attributed to venous disease.
Where that usually lives. The examination of that extremity.
60, 40, 20, or 10
What the rater needs to see. The edema, induration, pigmentation, eczema, ulceration, aching, or fatigue the line names, and whether elevation or compression hosiery relieves the symptoms.
Where that usually lives. The same examination, for one extremity.
0
What the rater needs to see. Asymptomatic palpable or visible varicose veins.
Where that usually lives. The examination that uses those words.
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Artery and Vein Conditions” under Cardiovascular. The file linked from that list is Artery and Vein Conditions.
The exam form
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
Varicose veins are the previous code.
DC 7120 says to evaluate under diagnostic code 7121. DC 7121 prints the 100 through 0 lines, including the asymptomatic varicose-vein line.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “phlebit” or “varicose.” This page does not add DC 7121 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 post-phlebitic syndrome under DC 7121?
Under 38 CFR § 4.104, Diagnostic Code 7121 runs from 100 percent for massive board-like edema with constant pain at rest to 0 percent for asymptomatic palpable or visible varicose veins. The note is one extremity, then combine. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Where do varicose veins go?
DC 7120 says to evaluate under diagnostic code 7121. The asymptomatic varicose-vein line is printed on DC 7121 at 0.
FAQ
What percentages does DC 7121 print?
100, 60, 40, 20, 10, and 0, for findings attributed to venous disease. The 100 percent line is massive board-like edema with constant pain at rest. The 0 percent line is asymptomatic palpable or visible varicose veins. Education only.
Does the note cover both legs in one rating?
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.
Is cold injury this code?
No. Cold injury residuals are DC 7122. DC 7121 is post-phlebitic syndrome of any etiology.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 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 7120Varicose veins
- 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 7121 • va.gov
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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.