The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assigns a 100 percent lymphoma VA rating for both Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma while the cancer is active or while you undergo active treatment. At Rank and Pay, we track disability rating schedules and compensation rules so veterans understand when temporary benefits end and what medical evidence protects their monthly income.
Both conditions qualify for temporary total disability evaluations under 38 CFR 4.117, the rating schedule for the hematologic and lymphatic systems. Similar to the framework outlined in our guide on the VA cancer rating 100 percent rule, these ratings do not terminate the day treatment stops. The primary distinction between the two types of lymphoma is the post-treatment evaluation schedule: Hodgkin lymphoma requires a mandatory examination six months after treatment ends, whereas non-Hodgkin lymphoma provides two full years before that mandatory evaluation occurs.
Hodgkin Lymphoma VA Rating Under Diagnostic Code 7709
Under 38 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 4.117, Diagnostic Code (DC) 7709 assigns a 100 percent rating to Hodgkin lymphoma (historically termed Hodgkin's disease) during active disease or throughout a treatment phase. This evaluation applies while you undergo surgery, radiation therapy, antineoplastic chemotherapy, or other therapeutic procedures directed against the malignancy.
Your 100 percent rating continues beyond the cessation of your surgical procedures, chemotherapy infusions, or radiation protocols. Six months after you discontinue active treatment, VA schedules a mandatory Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination to determine the current severity of your condition.
If the mandatory C&P examination demonstrates active disease or a recurrence, VA maintains the 100 percent evaluation. If the examination confirms complete remission with no recurrence, VA stops the temporary total evaluation and rates your lasting physical residual conditions under the appropriate diagnostic codes for each affected body system.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma VA Disability Under Diagnostic Code 7715
Under 38 CFR 4.117, DC 7715 assigns a 100 percent evaluation to non-Hodgkin lymphoma when there is active disease, during an active treatment phase, or during an indolent and non-contiguous phase of low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The total evaluation under DC 7715 extends past the completion of therapeutic procedures like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation. Unlike Hodgkin lymphoma, the mandatory post-treatment VA examination for non-Hodgkin lymphoma occurs two years after you discontinue treatment rather than six months.
If that two-year examination shows complete remission, VA rates your functional limitations and ongoing symptoms under the diagnostic codes that correspond to your specific residuals. As a neighboring code, DC 7703 rates leukemia (except chronic myelogenous) at 100 percent during active disease or treatment with a mandatory exam six months after treatment ends, though chronic lymphocytic leukemia is distinct from lymphoma on this schedule.
Comparing Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Exam Timelines
The post-treatment re-evaluation schedule establishes a clear procedural divide between Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma claims. Although both diagnostic codes provide an initial 100 percent disability rating, non-Hodgkin lymphoma provides an evaluation window four times longer before VA can initiate a rating reduction.
| Condition | Diagnostic Code | Active Treatment Rating | Mandatory Exam Timeline | Outcome Without Recurrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodgkin Lymphoma | DC 7709 | 100% | 6 months after discontinuing treatment | Rated on residual conditions under applicable codes |
| Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma | DC 7715 | 100% (includes indolent low-grade phase) | 2 years after discontinuing treatment | Rated on residual conditions under applicable codes |
Obtaining clear medical records from your oncologist showing your exact final treatment date prevents regional offices from initiating the mandatory re-evaluation prematurely.
Presumptive Service Connection for Lymphoma
Presumptive service connection removes the burden of proving that an in-service incident directly caused your lymphoma. When you qualify under a presumptive category, VA presumes your military service caused the malignancy, provided your official military personnel files confirm qualifying dates and duty locations.
Both Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are recognized presumptive conditions under 38 CFR 3.309(e) for veterans who experienced herbicide exposure. If you served in locations with tactical herbicide usage, review the VA Agent Orange exposure page and our overview of Agent Orange exposure. Recent legal updates added eligible service territories, which you can confirm in our report on Agent Orange presumption additions.
For veterans who deployed during the Gulf War or post-9/11 operations, the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act established presumptive coverage for burn pit exposure. The PACT Act classifies lymphomatic cancer of any type as a presumptive illness for veterans with qualifying service. You can review eligible operational locations and deployment periods on the VA PACT Act benefits page.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is also included on the Camp Lejeune presumptive list for veterans who served at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune for at least 30 cumulative days between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987. Check VA guidelines for the exact personnel records required to substantiate Camp Lejeune service.
Ionizing radiation provides an additional presumptive pathway for non-Hodgkin lymphoma under 38 CFR 3.309(d). Veterans who participated in radiation-risk activities during military service, such as atmospheric nuclear weapons testing or service in Hiroshima or Nagasaki, can claim presumptive connection. VA maintains detailed criteria defining who qualifies as a radiation-exposed veteran.
Establishing Direct Service Connection Without a Presumption
Veterans who developed lymphoma without qualifying for a statutory presumption must file for direct service connection. Establishing direct service connection requires submitting evidence that fulfills three distinct evidentiary requirements.
First, you must provide a current medical diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma confirmed by clinical notes, pathology slides, or biopsy reports. VA cannot grant compensation for generalized lymphatic symptoms without a verified diagnosis.
Second, your military service records must establish an in-service event, injury, or toxic exposure incident. This documentation can include service records showing the exposure or event.
Third, your claim requires a medical nexus linking your diagnosed lymphoma to the verified in-service incident. This nexus must be written by a competent medical provider who concludes that it is at least as likely as not that your military service caused your cancer. You can study this procedural structure in our guide to service connection requirements.
Preparing for the Post-Treatment VA Compensation and Pension Exam
When your mandatory six-month or two-year re-evaluation period concludes, VA schedules a mandatory C&P examination to assess your current disability status. This exam dictates whether your 100 percent evaluation ends or transitions into residual ratings. Read our collection of C&P exam tips to prepare for this appointment.
Gather these specific medical records before your scheduled re-evaluation:
- An official statement from your oncologist indicating the date when chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or therapeutic medications were completed.
- Recent imaging studies, blood work, and pathology summaries indicating whether your cancer remains in complete remission.
- A comprehensive log of physical, neurological, and cardiovascular symptoms that began during or after your cancer treatment.
- Treatment notes from physical therapists, cardiologists, or neurologists who manage your secondary medical conditions.
During the examination, articulate your functional limitations during regular daily activities. Detail the physical consequences of your treatment rather than minimizing chronic symptoms, because the examiner's clinical findings determine which residual codes VA applies.
Rating Residuals and Secondary Conditions After Treatment
When an examination confirms no active disease, VA ends the temporary total rating but does not reduce your benefits to zero if you have lasting health damage. VA rates your residual conditions under the specific diagnostic codes governing each affected body system.
Systemic chemotherapy and radiation treatments frequently generate lasting secondary conditions that warrant service-connected evaluations. Depending on treatment and a clinician's findings, residuals may include:
- Peripheral neuropathy resulting from neurotoxic chemotherapy agents, rated under nerve paralysis or neuritis codes.
- Cardiovascular conditions, such as cardiomyopathy or ischemic heart disease, resulting from chest radiation or cardiotoxic medications.
- Respiratory complications, pulmonary fibrosis, or impaired lung capacity, which follow principles detailed in our review of respiratory cancer rating criteria.
- Secondary lymphedema, chronic swelling, and impaired circulation caused by surgical lymph node dissection.
- Mental health conditions, including depression or anxiety secondary to cancer treatment and survival.
When VA rates multiple residual conditions, it combines them using the non-additive combined rating formula rather than simple addition. You can calculate your combined rating with our free VA disability rating calculator. VA updates compensation rates every year on December 1, so check current payment amounts directly on the official VA disability compensation rates page.
Mistakes That Hurt a Lymphoma VA Rating Claim
Administrative errors and communication gaps frequently cause veterans to lose benefits during the transition from active cancer treatment to remission. Recognizing common claim pitfalls protects your disability rating and avoids payment interruptions.
The most damaging mistake is failing to attend the mandatory post-treatment C&P examination. If you miss this appointment, VA may propose to reduce your rating, so respond to scheduling letters. Keep your mailing address and phone number current in VA systems to ensure you receive scheduling letters.
Another frequent oversight is neglecting to document ongoing treatment side effects before the temporary 100 percent rating window closes. If your medical records do not mention peripheral neuropathy, chronic fatigue, or joint pain, the C&P examiner will have no clinical evidence to substantiate residual ratings. Obtain regular evaluations for all ongoing symptoms during remission.
Veterans also weaken their claims by submitting insufficient military service records for presumptive claims. Even though presumptive rules eliminate the requirement for an independent nexus letter, you must still establish qualifying service dates and locations through your DD-214 or deployment records.
Who This Guide Is Not For
This guide does not apply to veterans diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which VA rates under separate leukemia codes rather than DC 7709 or DC 7715. It also does not apply to civilian toxic exposure claims filed through non-VA administrative compensation funds or tort litigation.
What Would Change This Guidance
Our explanation of lymphoma disability evaluations would change if VA amends the schedule for rating disabilities under 38 CFR 4.117. Any administrative updates modifying post-treatment examination timelines, changing presumptive criteria, or restructuring residual diagnostic codes would alter this guidance.
Review your military personnel files, obtain an official treatment summary from your oncologist, and submit your initial claim or residual documentation through VA.gov to secure your lymphoma VA rating without avoidable delays.
This page provides general information and is not legal or financial advice. Rank and Pay is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Verify your specific claim requirements with a VA-accredited representative, a Veterans Service Officer, or your local VA regional office before taking action.