How the VA Rates Varicose Veins
The VA rates varicose veins under Diagnostic Code 7120 (38 CFR §4.104, Schedule of Ratings: Cardiovascular System), on a scale that runs from a noncompensable 0% up to 100%. Each affected leg is rated separately, and the criteria track how far the underlying venous insufficiency has progressed, from simple aching after standing, to persistent swelling, to skin changes, to open ulcers that will not heal.
Diagnostic Code 7120 Rating Criteria
- 100%: persistent edema and stasis pigmentation or eczema, plus persistent ulceration.
- 60%: persistent edema and stasis pigmentation or eczema, with recurring ulceration.
- 40%: persistent edema and stasis pigmentation or eczema, with or without intermittent ulceration.
- 30%: persistent edema that elevating the leg does not fully relieve, with beginning stasis pigmentation or eczema.
- 20%: persistent edema that elevating the leg does not fully relieve, with or without visible varicosities.
- 10%: intermittent edema, or aching and fatigue in the leg after prolonged standing or walking, relieved by elevation or compression stockings.
- 0%: palpable or visible varicose veins with no other symptoms.
The VA rates each leg on its own record. A veteran with a 30% rating on the left leg and a 10% rating on the right leg does not receive 40%. The two ratings combine under VA math instead, and a bilateral factor may apply because both lower extremities are involved.
Venous Insufficiency vs. Varicose Veins
Chronic venous insufficiency is the mechanism behind most compensable varicose vein claims. The leg veins' one-way valves weaken, blood pools instead of returning to the heart, and pressure builds in the lower leg. Cosmetic, symptom-free varicose veins sit at the bottom of the rating scale, at 0%, while the same veins accompanied by chronic swelling and skin changes move into the 20% to 40% range.
Because DC 7120 rates the downstream effects rather than the visible veins themselves, imaging alone rarely proves a case. A venous duplex ultrasound documenting reflux is useful evidence of the underlying insufficiency, but the rating still turns on the clinical picture: how long edema persists during a normal day, whether elevation or compression relieves it, and whether skin changes or ulcers are present.
Evidence for a Varicose Veins Claim
- Photographs of any skin pigmentation, eczema, or ulceration, dated and taken over several weeks to show whether the condition is persistent rather than occasional.
- A log of how long edema lasts on a typical day, and whether elevating the leg or wearing compression stockings relieves it, since "persistent" and "relieved by elevation" are the exact terms DC 7120 uses.
- Records of any vein procedures, such as sclerotherapy, ablation, or vein stripping, and whether symptoms returned afterward.
- A venous duplex ultrasound report, if one exists, documenting venous reflux or insufficiency.
A common mistake in varicose vein claims is treating "swelling" as a single yes-or-no symptom instead of describing how long it lasts and whether it fully resolves. The rating criteria hinge on words like "persistent" and "intermittent," and a medical record that only notes "edema present" on one visit does not show a rater whether that edema clears up overnight or stays through the next day. A written symptom log covering several weeks, showing the edema pattern day to day, fills that gap better than a single clinical snapshot.
Nexus: Connecting Varicose Veins to Service
- In-service onset: service treatment records noting leg swelling, vein complaints, or a diagnosis during service, especially after prolonged standing duty.
- Occupational aggravation: military occupational specialties involving long periods of standing or heavy lifting show up often in varicose vein claims, since prolonged standing is a recognized risk factor for venous insufficiency.
- Secondary service connection: varicose veins that developed or worsened because of a service-connected condition affecting mobility or circulation, such as a service-connected knee or hip condition that changed how you stand or walk.
- Continuity of symptoms: a personal statement describing when leg swelling or vein symptoms began and how they progressed since service.
Varicose Veins Secondary to Other Conditions
Varicose veins sometimes develop or worsen because of another service-connected condition rather than starting on their own. A service-connected knee or hip condition that limits normal walking mechanics can shift how weight and pressure move through the legs, and years of altered gait or reduced mobility can contribute to venous insufficiency. Obesity that developed secondary to a service-connected condition limiting exercise is another documented pathway, since added body weight increases venous pressure in the legs.
A secondary claim for varicose veins needs a medical opinion connecting the two conditions specifically. A shared timeline alone is not enough. A treating physician's statement explaining the mechanical or physiological link between the service-connected condition and the venous insufficiency carries far more weight than a personal statement alone.
How the Bilateral Factor Works
When varicose veins affect both legs, the VA applies a bilateral factor after combining the two individual leg ratings under VA math. The bilateral factor adds an extra 10% of the combined value of the two ratings before that combined figure is rounded into your overall disability rating. Bilateral varicose veins pay noticeably more than the same severity in one leg alone, which is why documenting both legs separately and completely, rather than describing "my legs" as one general symptom, matters for the final number.
What to Expect at Your C&P Exam
The C&P exam for varicose veins is a physical examination of each leg, checking for visible varicosities, edema, skin discoloration, and any active or healed ulceration.
- Wear or bring documentation of any compression stockings you use, since prescribed compression therapy supports the "relieved by elevation of extremity or compression hosiery" language in the 10% criteria.
- Describe how long you can stand before symptoms start, and how long swelling lasts after you sit or lie down.
- Report each leg's symptoms separately. The examiner rates them independently.
2026 Monthly Compensation by Rating
At the 2026 rates for a single veteran with no dependents, a 10% varicose veins rating pays $180.42 a month, 20% pays $356.66, 30% pays $552.47, 40% pays $795.84, 60% pays $1,435.02, and 100% pays $3,938.58. Because each leg is rated separately, bilateral varicose veins can combine to a higher overall rating than either leg alone. See the full 2026 VA compensation rate chart and use the VA disability rating calculator to combine bilateral ratings correctly.
Browse every rated condition at VA disability, or read how VA math combines multiple ratings in the VA disability rating explained guide.