38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.119
Hyperaldosteronism (benign or malignant) — VA Diagnostic Code 7917
Endocrine
Diagnostic code
7917
38 CFR § 4.119 lists Diagnostic Code 7917 as “Hyperaldosteronism (benign or malignant):”. The name has no percentage beside it. The note says: “Evaluate as malignant or benign neoplasm, as appropriate.” That note prints a comma before “as appropriate.” Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Hyperaldosteronism.” and drops the parenthetical.
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 § 4.119 source note prints 61 FR 20446, May 7, 1996, as amended at 82 FR 50804, Nov. 2, 2017.
The rating criteria at each level
7917 Hyperaldosteronism (benign or malignant)
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Evaluate as malignant or benign neoplasm, as appropriate.
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| — | Evaluate as malignant or benign neoplasm, as appropriate. |
7914 Neoplasm, malignant, any specified part of the endocrine system — one scale the note can name
Rating %: 100
Criteria (verbatim). Neoplasm, malignant, any specified part of the endocrine system
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Note: A rating of 100 percent shall continue beyond the cessation of any surgical, X-ray, antineoplastic chemotherapy or other therapeutic procedure. Six months after discontinuance of such treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined 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. If there has been no local recurrence or metastasis, rate on residuals.
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 100 | Neoplasm, malignant, any specified part of the endocrine system |
| — | Note: A rating of 100 percent shall continue beyond the cessation of any surgical, X-ray, antineoplastic chemotherapy or other therapeutic procedure. Six months after discontinuance of such treatment, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined 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. If there has been no local recurrence or metastasis, rate on residuals. |
7915 Neoplasm, benign, any specified part of the endocrine system — the other scale
Rating %: —
Criteria (verbatim). Rate as residuals of endocrine dysfunction.
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| — | Rate as residuals of endocrine dysfunction. |
The DC 7917 note contains a comma: “neoplasm, as appropriate.” The DC 7918 note does not print that comma.
DC 7917 does not name DC 7914 or DC 7915 by number. DC 7914’s title does not end with a colon. DC 7915’s title does.
DC 7914’s 100 percent line has no colon after “system.” The note under it continues the 100 percent and then sends residuals, when there has been no local recurrence or metastasis, to rating on residuals.
DC 7914 is the malignant endocrine neoplasm at 100, with the six-month examination note. A change based on that exam follows § 3.105(e). DC 7915 says “Rate as residuals of endocrine dysfunction.” The DC 7917 note says to evaluate as one of those two, “as appropriate.” This page does not decide which one a record meets. 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 7916 is hyperpituitarism. Its note uses the same comma: “Evaluate as malignant or benign neoplasm, as appropriate.” DC 7918 is pheochromocytoma. Its note drops the comma. DC 7919 is C-cell hyperplasia of the thyroid. Its sentence names DC 7914 and DC 7903. The DC 7917 note does not.
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “aldosteron.” Section 3.309(a) lists “Endocrinopathies” and “Tumors, malignant, or of the brain or spinal cord or peripheral nerves.” Neither row has a diagnostic code. This page does not assign DC 7917 to either name.
Source: 38 CFR § 4.119, Diagnostic Code 7917, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.
What the words mean in your records
The comma is in this note
The printed note is “Evaluate as malignant or benign neoplasm, as appropriate.” DC 7916 uses that comma. DC 7918 does not.
Benign or malignant is in the title
The schedule title is “Hyperaldosteronism (benign or malignant).” Appendix B indexes “Hyperaldosteronism.” and does not print the parenthetical.
The two neoplasm codes
Malignant neoplasm of any specified part of the endocrine system is DC 7914, at 100, with the six-month note. Benign neoplasm is DC 7915, rated as residuals of endocrine dysfunction. DC 7917 does not repeat those percentages.
Evidence that speaks to each level
The listed diagnosis
What the rater needs to see. A diagnosis the schedule lists as hyperaldosteronism, benign or malignant.
Where that usually lives. The endocrine examination.
Which neoplasm scale
What the rater needs to see. Whether the note is being applied as the malignant scale (DC 7914) or the benign scale (DC 7915). The DC 7917 note does not print a third percentage.
Where that usually lives. The same examination, and the treatment dates if the DC 7914 six-month note is the line.
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Endocrine (Other than Thyroid, Parathyroid or Diabetes Mellitus)” under Endocrinological. The file is Endocrine (Other than Thyroid, Parathyroid or Diabetes Mellitus).
The exam form
DC 7917 prints no percentage. The note points at the malignant and benign neoplasm scales. This page does not say a form replaces that note.
Related codes and how they interact
The neighboring endocrine notes are not all the same sentence.
DC 7916 keeps the comma. DC 7918 drops it. DC 7919 names DC 7914 and DC 7903. DC 7917 keeps the comma and does not name those codes.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
Section 3.309 does not contain “aldosteron.” Endocrinopathies, and malignant tumors of the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves, are family names without a diagnostic code. This page does not assign DC 7917 to either name.
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 hyperaldosteronism?
Under 38 CFR § 4.119, Diagnostic Code 7917 says to evaluate hyperaldosteronism as a malignant or benign neoplasm, as appropriate. Malignant endocrine neoplasm is DC 7914, at 100 percent, with the six-month note. Benign endocrine neoplasm is DC 7915, rated as residuals of endocrine dysfunction. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Is the Appendix B name the same as the schedule title?
Appendix B indexes “Hyperaldosteronism.” The schedule title adds “(benign or malignant).”
FAQ
What percentage does DC 7917 print?
None. The note says to evaluate as a malignant or benign neoplasm, as appropriate. DC 7914 is 100 percent, with a six-month examination note. DC 7915 rates residuals of endocrine dysfunction and prints no percentage of its own. Education only.
Does the note include a comma before “as appropriate”?
Yes. DC 7917 prints “neoplasm, as appropriate.” DC 7918 prints “neoplasm as appropriate.”
Does the chronic-disease list name hyperaldosteronism?
The 2026-10-01 text of § 3.309 does not contain “aldosteron.” Endocrinopathies, and malignant tumors of the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves, are family names without a diagnostic code.
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 7917 and whether it used DC 7914 or DC 7915.
- 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 endocrine codes are on the endocrine diagnostic-code index. The category page is endocrine 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 Endocrine, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Endocrine codes
- DC 7902Thyroid enlargement, nontoxic
- DC 7903Hypothyroidism
- DC 7904Hyperparathyroidism
- DC 7905Hypoparathyroidism
- DC 7906Thyroiditis
- DC 7907Cushing's syndrome
- DC 7908Acromegaly
- DC 7909Diabetes insipidus
- DC 7911Addison's disease (adrenocortical insufficiency)
- DC 7912Polyglandular syndrome (multiple endocrine neoplasia, autoimmune polyglandular syndrome)
- DC 7913Diabetes mellitus
- DC 7914Malignant neoplasm
- DC 7915Benign neoplasm
- DC 7916Hyperpituitarism
- DC 7918Pheochromocytoma
- DC 7919C-cell hyperplasia, thyroid
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 7917 • 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.