38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.117

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma — VA Diagnostic Code 7715

Hematologic / lymphatic

Diagnostic code

7715

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38 CFR § 4.117 lists Diagnostic Code 7715 as “Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.” The only percentage line is 100 percent: “When there is active disease, during treatment phase, or with indolent and non-contiguous phase of low grade NHL.” The note continues that evaluation beyond the end of treatment and sets a mandatory VA examination two years after treatment is discontinued. It does not say six months.

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 § 4.117 source note prints 60 FR 49227, Sept. 22, 1995, as amended at 77 FR 6467, Feb. 8, 2012; 79 FR 2100, Jan. 13, 2014; 83 FR 54254, Oct. 29, 2018; 83 FR 54881, Nov. 1, 2018; 87 FR 61248, Oct. 11, 2022.

The rating criteria at each level

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma — DC 7715

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). When there is active disease, during treatment phase, or with indolent and non-contiguous phase of low grade NHL

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	When there is active disease, during treatment phase, or with indolent and non-contiguous phase of low grade NHL

Note: A 100 percent evaluation shall continue beyond the cessation of any surgical therapy, radiation therapy, antineoplastic chemotherapy, or other therapeutic procedures. Two years after discontinuance of such treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Any reduction in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of § 3.105(e) of this chapter. If there has been no recurrence, rate on residuals under the appropriate diagnostic code(s)

DC 7715 does not print a 0 percent line. 38 CFR § 4.31 says: “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.

The note says “If there has been no recurrence,” not “if there has been no local recurrence or metastasis.” That second phrase is the note under DC 7709.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.117, Diagnostic Code 7715, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Active disease, treatment, or indolent low grade NHL

Those are the three phrases on the only percentage line, joined by “or.” The schedule does not print a separate percentage for each phrase.

Two years after discontinuance

The note continues the 100 percent beyond the cessation of surgical therapy, radiation therapy, antineoplastic chemotherapy, or other therapeutic procedures. Two years after discontinuance of such treatment, a mandatory VA examination determines the rating. A reduction is subject to § 3.105(e). The note does not say six months. DC 7709 is the code whose note says six months.

Residuals if there has been no recurrence

The note says: if there has been no recurrence, rate on residuals under the appropriate diagnostic code or codes. It does not list those codes under DC 7715.

The radiation list uses different words

38 CFR § 3.309(d)(2)(x) says “Lymphomas (except Hodgkin's disease).” It does not use the schedule title “Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,” and it excludes Hodgkin's disease. This page does not assign DC 7715 to that paragraph.

Evidence that speaks to each level

100 — the only percentage line

What the rater needs to see. A diagnosis the schedule titles “Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,” and active disease, a treatment phase, or indolent and non-contiguous phase of low grade NHL.

Where that usually lives. The pathology or oncology record that uses the diagnosis, and the treatment dates.

Two years after treatment stops

What the rater needs to see. The date treatment was discontinued, the mandatory examination two years later, and whether there has been a recurrence. If there has been no recurrence, the residuals and the code that rates them.

Where that usually lives. The treatment summary and the later examination. A proposed reduction follows § 3.105(e).

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
100 — the only percentage line	A diagnosis the schedule titles “Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,” and active disease, a treatment phase, or indolent and non-contiguous phase of low grade NHL.	The pathology or oncology record that uses the diagnosis, and the treatment dates.
Two years after treatment stops	The date treatment was discontinued, the mandatory examination two years later, and whether there has been a recurrence. If there has been no recurrence, the residuals and the code that rates them.	The treatment summary and the later examination. A proposed reduction follows § 3.105(e).

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Hematologic and Lymphatic Conditions, Including Leukemia.” The file is Hematologic and Lymphatic Conditions, Including Leukemia.

The exam form

The rating text is the 100 percent line and the two-year note. This page does not say the public form replaces that text.

Related codes and how they interact

Hodgkin's lymphoma is a different code

DC 7709 is “Hodgkin's lymphoma.” Its 100 percent line is “With active disease or during a treatment phase.” Its note uses six months after discontinuance, and if there has been no local recurrence or metastasis, rate on residuals. Section 3.309(e) lists “Hodgkin's disease” and “Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma” as separate entries.

38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

38 CFR § 3.309(e) lists “Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma” for herbicide exposure when § 3.307(a)(6) is met, subject to § 3.307(d). Paragraph (a)(6)(ii) requires manifestation to a degree of 10 percent or more at any time after service, except for the three diseases that sentence names. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is not one of those three.

38 U.S.C. § 1116(a)(2)(A), read on the Legal Information Institute page on 2026-10-05, names “Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma becoming manifest to a degree of disability of 10 percent or more.”

38 CFR § 3.309(f)(3) lists “Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma” for Camp Lejeune when § 3.307(a)(7) is met. The disease must have become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more at any time after service. The exposure rule requires no less than 30 days at Camp Lejeune, including Marine Corps Air Station New River, from August 1, 1953, through December 31, 1987.

38 U.S.C. § 1120(b)(2)(F) says “Lymphoma cancer of any type.” It does not assign DC 7715 or DC 7709. 38 CFR § 3.320 does not name this condition. 38 CFR § 3.316 does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.320a does not name it. Section 3.320b does not name lymphoma. Section 3.309(a) lists “Hodgkin's disease.” It does not list “Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.”

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 DC 7715?

Under 38 CFR § 4.117, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has one percentage line, 100 percent, for active disease, a treatment phase, or indolent and non-contiguous phase of low grade NHL. The note sets the next examination two years after treatment stops. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Which presumption lists name non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

38 CFR § 3.309(e) and § 3.309(f)(3) name non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. 38 U.S.C. § 1116(a)(2)(A) names it. Section 1120(b)(2)(F) says “Lymphoma cancer of any type” and does not assign this code. Sections 3.320, 3.320a, 3.320b, and 3.316 do not name non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

FAQ

How does VA rate non-Hodgkin's lymphoma under DC 7715?

The only percentage line is 100 percent, when there is active disease, during a treatment phase, or with indolent and non-contiguous phase of low grade NHL. The note continues that evaluation past the end of surgery, radiation, antineoplastic chemotherapy, or other therapeutic procedures. Two years after treatment stops, a mandatory VA examination sets the rating. Education only.

Is the examination six months after treatment?

The DC 7715 note says two years after discontinuance of treatment. The six-month sentence is the note under DC 7709, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and under DC 7703, leukemia. Those notes are not this note.

Is non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on the Camp Lejeune list?

Section 3.309(f)(3) names non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The service rule in § 3.307(a)(7) requires no less than 30 days at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River from August 1, 1953, through December 31, 1987, and manifestation to a degree of 10 percent or more at any time after service.

Does the radiation list use the words non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Section 3.309(d)(2)(x) says “Lymphomas (except Hodgkin's disease).” It does not use the schedule title, and it excludes Hodgkin's disease. This page does not treat that paragraph as an assignment of DC 7715.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 7715 or DC 7709, the treatment stop date, and whether the note in the decision says two years or six months.
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 hemic and lymphatic codes are on the hematologic and lymphatic diagnostic-code index.

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 Hematologic / lymphatic, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Hematologic / lymphatic codes

Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7715 • va.gov

How to give a complete Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma C&P answer

Context matters

Short answers can leave out frequency, duration, treatment, and functional effects. The examples below show what information may still need to be explained. They are not scripts.

Example incomplete answer
“I'm in remission, so I'm fine.”
Context to add, if true
100% applies during active disease and during a treatment phase. After 6 months of no treatment, the schedule transitions to residuals — claim every residual (fatigue, neuropathy, organ damage, secondary cancers).
Example incomplete answer
“Chemo ended a while ago.”
Context to add, if true
The 6-month clock from cessation of treatment matters. Residuals stay ratable — make sure they're in the record before the rating drops.
Example incomplete answer
“The cancer is gone, so I don't need to mention the side effects.”
Context to add, if true
Residuals are often the whole post-treatment rating. Neuropathy, fatigue, immune problems, organ effects, and scars should be listed separately if they remain.

Answer in your own words. Describe what is true, including better periods and flare-ups, without minimizing or exaggerating. No phrase guarantees a rating or claim outcome.

⚠️ 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.