Getting Veterans (VA) Disability for Diabetes

CCK Law: Our Vital Role in Veterans Law

If you developed diabetes during or after your military service, you might be eligible for VA disability benefits. To obtain veterans (VA) disability for diabetes mellitus type 2, you must establish a nexus between your diabetes and an in-service injury, illness, or event.

Receiving a grant of VA disability benefits can be challenging. Even if you have a legitimate claim, a simple error in your application, or the omission of an important piece of evidence, can result in a denial. The legal team at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD can help you appeal your claim. Call today for a free consultation: 800-544-9144.

What Does Service Connection Mean?

You can only recover VA disability compensation benefits for a service-connected medical condition. Service connection means there is a direct link between your type 2 diabetes and an event, injury, or illness you suffered during your military service.

How Do I Prove Service Connection for My Type 2 Diabetes?

VA presumes service connection for type 2 diabetes if you served in the following times and places: 

• The Republic of Vietnam from January 9, 1962 to May 7, 1975 (including Brown Water and Blue Water Navy veterans);
• Thailand, at any US or Thai base from January 9, 1962 to June 30 1976, without regard to the Veteran’s MOS or where on base they were located;
• Laos from December 1, 1965 to September 30, 1969;
• Cambodia, specifically at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969 to April 30, 1969;
• Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters thereof from January 9, 1962 to July 30, 1980;
• Johnson Atoll or a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972 to September 30, 1977;
• On or near the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) between September 1, 1967 and August 31, 1971; and
• Active duty and reservist personnel who had regular contact with C-123 aircraft between 1969 and 1986.

Veterans who served in these areas during this time period were exposed to Agent Orange, an herbicide commonly used to defoliate land in Vietnam. Since Agent Orange exposure has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, veterans who were exposed to the herbicide in the past may have their diabetes presumptively service connected by VA.

Direct Service Connection for Diabetes

If there is no presumed service connection, we must examine your medical and service records to establish a link between your type 2 diabetes and military service. There are three key pieces of evidence needed to prove direct service connection:

• First, we must show VA that you have a current diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, and that this diagnosis occurred during or after your military service. If your medical records show any evidence of type 2 diabetes or prediabetes before your military service started, it will make the process of getting VA benefits for the condition much more difficult.
• Second, we must demonstrate a service connection to your type 2 diabetes. In other words, we must tie it to a specific event in your military service using convincing evidence.
• Third, we must provide VA with a linking medical opinion. This is a statement in which your treating physician offers a professional opinion that your current condition is due to the event in question.

Secondary Service Connection for Diabetes

Secondary service connection is when a veteran can prove that their diabetes has caused separate, secondary conditions to develop. It is possible to earn service connection and disability ratings for these secondary conditions so long as the veteran provides the following evidence to VA:

• A medical diagnosis of a condition that could have been caused by diabetes; and
• A medical nexus opinion linking the veteran’s diabetes to the secondary condition.

Some examples of conditions secondary to diabetes include:

• Peripheral neuropathy
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Kidney disease
• Cardiovascular complications
• And more

How Does VA Rate Diabetes?

When VA approves your application, it rates your condition on a scale of 0 to 100 percent in increments of 10 percent. The higher your VA disability rating is, the higher your monthly benefit amount.

VA rates Type 2 diabetes on this same scale. It will rate your diabetes as 10 percent disabling if you can manage it with diet alone. You will receive a 100 percent disability rating if your diabetes is particularly severe. You can also receive ratings of 20, 40, or 60 percent.

The possible disability ratings for diabetes are regulated under 38 C.F.R § 4.119, Diagnostic Code 7913. The criteria for these ratings are as follows:

• 100 percent – Requiring more than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities (avoidance of strenuous occupational and recreational activities) with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider, plus either progressive loss of weight and strength or complications that would be compensable if separately evaluated
• 60 percent – Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year or twice a month visits to a diabetic care provider, plus complications that would not be compensable if separately evaluated
• 40 percent – Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities
• 20 percent – Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin and restricted diet, or; oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet
• 10 percent – Manageable by restricted diet only

How Much Can I Recover Monthly for My Type 2 Diabetes?

Monthly disability compensation is determined by your combined rating. The more severe your condition, and the more it limits your ability to work and carry out daily living activities, the higher benefit amount you can receive.

Below are the potential monthly benefit amounts for diabetes.

As of 2026, the VA disability rate benefit amounts are as follows:

• 10 percent disability rating: $180.42 per month
• 20 percent disability rating: $356.66 per month
• 40 percent disability rating: $795.84 per month
• 60 percent disability rating: $1,435.02 per month
• 100 percent disability rating: $3,938.58 per month

Our legal team fights for the highest possible rating based on your medical record. We make sure the evidence we submit is compelling and shows the full extent of your condition.

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The Legal Team at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick Wants to Help You Get the VA Disability Benefits You Deserve for Your Type 2 Diabetes

Proving your diabetes mellitus type 2 was a direct result of your military service can be difficult. The smallest mistake can lead to a denial. We can help you appeal VA’s decision and get you the benefits you need. We will take the burden off your shoulders. As a client of CCK, we can obtain your medical and service records and any other evidence we might need to prove service connection.

The veterans advocates at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD have dedicated over 25 years to helping veterans get the disability benefits they deserve after serving their country. Our experience handling all types of disability claims has given us the knowledge necessary to build a strong appeal for your benefits.

Ready to get started? Call now for a free consultation: 800-544-9144.