Logistics & Assets

If you are navigating the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims process, you will frequently hear about 38 CFR Part 4.

But what exactly is it? Simply put, 38 CFR Part 4 is the official federal regulation that the VA uses to evaluate and assign disability ratings to veterans. Whether you are filing a new claim, appealing a decision, or trying to understand why you received a specific percentage, this document is your ultimate roadmap.

Here is a breakdown of what 38 CFR Part 4 contains and a step-by-step guide on how to use it to maximize your claim’s success.

Part 1: What is 38 CFR Part 4?

"38 CFR" stands for Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which governs Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief.

Part 4 is specifically titled the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. (Click here to access)

The VA does not just guess what rating a veteran deserves. Instead, VA rating authorities use Part 4 to look up a veteran’s diagnosed medical conditions and match their symptoms to a specific disability percentage (ranging from 0% to 100%, in increments of 10%).

The Core Philosophy: Average Impairment in Earning Capacity

According to 38 CFR § 4.1, the ratings are based on the average impairment in earning capacity that a disease or injury causes in civilian occupations. You do not have to prove you actually lost your job; the rating represents how much that condition generally affects a person's ability to work and function in daily life.

Part 2: The Structure of 38 CFR Part 4

38 CFR Part 4 is divided into two main categories: Subpart A (General Policy) and Subpart B (The Rating Schedules by Body System).

Subpart A: General Policy Notes (§ 4.1 to § 4.31)

Before looking up a specific disease, you must understand the rules of the game. Subpart A outlines critical legal principles that protect veterans, including:

• § 4.3 Resolution of Reasonable Doubt: If the medical evidence is equally balanced for and against a higher rating, the VA must resolve the doubt in favor of the veteran.

• § 4.7 Higher of Two Evaluations: If a veteran's symptoms fall between two rating levels, the VA must assign the higher rating if the disability closer matches that description.

• § 4.13 Effect of Change of Diagnosis: Dictates how the VA handles situations where a veteran's diagnosis changes over time.

• § 4.14 Avoidance of Pyramiding: You cannot be rated twice for the exact same symptom under different diagnostic codes.

Subpart B: Disability Ratings by Body System (§ 4.71a to § 4.150)

This is the meat of the document. Subpart B breaks down disabilities into 15 different medical/body systems. Each system has its own section containing Diagnostic Codes (DC) and specific criteria for ratings.

The sections include:

• The Musculoskeletal System (§ 4.71a): Bones, joints, spine, arthritis, and range of motion.

• The Organs of Special Sense (§ 4.75 - § 4.84a): Vision and hearing.

• Systemic Diseases (§ 4.88a - § 4.89): Immune disorders, Lyme disease, etc.

• Respiratory System (§ 4.96 - § 4.97): Asthma, sleep apnea, COPD.

• Cardiovascular System (§ 4.104): Heart disease, hypertension.

• Digestive System (§ 4.110 - § 4.114): GERD, IBS, ulcers.

• Genitourinary System (§ 4.115 - § 4.115b): Kidney disease, bladder issues.

• Gynecological Conditions and Disorders of the Breast (§ 4.116): * The Hemic and Lymphatic Systems (§ 4.117): Blood disorders, leukemia.

• The Skin (§ 4.118): Eczema, psoriasis, scars.

• The Endocrine System (§ 4.119): Diabetes, thyroid conditions.

• Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders (§ 4.120 - § 4.124a): Nerve damage, sciatica, paralysis, TBI.

• Mental Disorders (§ 4.125 - § 4.130): PTSD, depression, anxiety.

• Dental and Oral Conditions (§ 4.149 - § 4.150): ---

Part 3: Anatomy of a Rating Schedule (How to Read It)

When you open a section in Subpart B, you will see lists of conditions. Each entry generally looks like this:

Diagnostic Code (DC) 6516: Laryngitis, chronic.

• 30% – Hoarseness, continuous, with thickening or nodules of cords...

• 10% – Hoarseness, periodic, with inflammation of cords...

To read it properly:

1. Diagnostic Code (DC): The 4-digit number the VA assigns to your specific condition.

2. Percentage: The disability rating you will receive if you meet the criteria.

3. Rating Criteria: The specific symptoms, laboratory findings, or limitations you must prove you have to get that percentage.

Part 4: Step-by-Step Guide: How to Use 38 CFR Part 4 for Your Claim

If you want to use Part 4 to build a bulletproof VA claim or appeal, follow these four steps:

Step 1: Identify Your Diagnosed Medical Condition

You cannot use Part 4 effectively without a formal diagnosis. Look at your medical records to find the exact name of your condition (e.g., Degenerative Disc Disease or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Step 2: Find the Corresponding Diagnostic Code (DC)

Go to Subpart B of 38 CFR Part 4 and locate the body system that matches your diagnosis. Scroll through until you find your specific condition and its 4-digit diagnostic code.

• Tip: If your exact condition isn't listed, the VA will rate it "by analogy" under § 4.20, using a code for a condition that causes similar symptoms.

Step 3: Analyze the Rating Criteria

Look at the symptoms required for each percentage tier.

• What symptoms do you need to qualify for a 30% rating? A 50% rating?

• Be honest about your symptoms, but identify the exact medical keywords the VA looks for (e.g., "productive cough," "severe flexion," or "gross impairment").

Step 4: Gather Evidence that Matches the Language in Part 4

This is the secret to winning your claim. Once you know what the VA requires for a certain percentage, look through your medical records, Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam notes, or personal statements (Nexus letters/Buddy letters). Ensure your evidence explicitly highlights the symptoms listed in that specific tier of Part 4.

If Part 4 says a 50% rating requires a specific range of motion, make sure your doctor measures your range of motion with a goniometer and documents it clearly.

Final Thoughts: Knowledge is Power

38 CFR Part 4 removes the mystery from the VA disability process. It tells you exactly what the VA is grading you on before you even submit your paperwork. By studying the Rating Schedule ahead of time, you can speak the VA’s language, align your medical evidence with their exact legal requirements, and ensure you receive the compensation you earned.

A Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is a standardized medical form created by the VA. Think of it as the exact grading rubric the VA rater uses to evaluate a claim.

Instead of a doctor writing long, confusing medical notes, a DBQ uses a highly structured, "check-the-box" format. This ensures every symptom, flare-up, and objective measurement matches up perfectly with the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) to determine a disability percentage.

1. What Are DBQs Used For?

DBQs are the primary ammunition used to establish the severity of a service-connected condition. Their main purposes include:

• Standardizing Medical Evidence: There are more than 70 distinct DBQs, each built for a specific body system or condition (e.g., Thoracolumbar Spine, Mental Disorders, Migraines).

• Enabling Private Medical Evidence: The VA publishes Public DBQs. This allows veterans to bypass the standard system by having their own trusted, private physicians complete the forms.

• Crushing the Backlog: Because DBQs speak the exact language VA raters need to see, complete forms speed up the decision process.

• Bypassing the C&P Exam: If a private doctor completes a public DBQ thoroughly and supports it with solid medical records, the VA can often rate the claim directly from that paperwork—allowing the veteran to skip a third-party Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam entirely.

2. Who Can Complete a DBQ?

A DBQ is worthless unless signed by a licensed healthcare professional with credentials matching the condition being evaluated.

• VA Contract Examiners: If the VA schedules a C&P exam, a third-party examiner (such as OptumServe, QTC, or VES) will fill out a digital DBQ during the appointment.

• Private Providers: A personal primary care doctor or a private specialist can fill out a public DBQ. They must complete all provider information blocks, sign, and date the form.

⚠️ Critical Exception: Initial PTSD claims almost always require a formal VA or contract examiner to complete the DBQ. Private DBQs are rarely accepted for an initial PTSD rating, though they can be used for increased rating claims.

3. How to Find and Download Public DBQs

The VA hosts public-facing versions of almost every DBQ. To locate them securely:

Step 1: The Direct Public DBQ Directory

Go directly to the official VA Benefits Public DBQ Hub (Click here to access)

Step 2: Download Strategy

• Browse the forms, which are grouped cleanly by medical category (e.g., Musculoskeletal, Cardiovascular, Psychological).

• Do not just click the link to open it in a browser. The VA's fillable PDF format frequently glitches in standard browsers.

• Right-click the link, select "Save Link As," and download the PDF directly to a desktop or device to open it in a dedicated PDF reader.

Step 3: Backup Route

If a specific form is hard to find or the main database is down, the master VA Form Finder allows for direct keyword searches.

4. Tactical Checklist for Using Private DBQs

If a veteran is taking a public DBQ to a private doctor, execution must be flawless. A single missing checkbox can trigger a defensive reaction from the VA and force an unnecessary C&P exam.

1.Review the Criteria First: Pre-Appointment.

Read through the DBQ before the doctor's visit. Know exactly what the rating schedule looks for (e.g., specific range of motion degrees, frequency of prostrating attacks) so you can ensure your symptoms are accurately discussed.

2.Verify Every Block: At the Clinic.

Before leaving the office, double-check that the clinician answered every mandatory block and checked the appropriate symptom boxes. Missing signatures or incomplete provider credentials will cause the VA to reject the form.

3.Flatten the File: Document Prep.

Once the doctor completes and signs the form digitally, print or save the document as a flattened PDF. This locks the check-boxes and text fields so they don't glitch, disappear, or become unreadable when uploaded to the VA portal.

4.Submit via VA.gov: Final Upload.

Upload the completed, flattened DBQ directly to the claim file on VA.gov as part of a Fully Developed Claim (FDC), alongside all supporting treatment records, logs, and nexus letters.

Filing for VA disability compensation can feel like an administrative mission, but knowing exactly which paperwork to use is half the battle. The VA relies on specific forms for different stages of the claims process—from planting your flag and locking in your effective date, to submitting your official claim, or fighting a denial.

Using the wrong form can cause massive delays or even result in your claim being rejected outright. The guide below breaks down the four most critical VA forms you will need to map out your case, along with the standard extraction routes to submit them.

The Core VA Forms

1. VA Form 21-0966: Intent to File a Claim for Compensation and/or Pension

• What This Form Is: VA Form 21-0966 is an official notification to the Department of Veterans Affairs stating that you plan to file a claim for disability compensation. It is not the actual application, but a digital "bookmark" in the VA system.

• Why You Need It: To lock in your effective date for potential monthly back-pay while you gather your medical evidence.

• The Strategic Value: Building a strong claim requires pulling service records, medical files, and private doctor nexus letters—which can take months. Submitting this form gives you a one-year window to finalize your application. If your claim is approved, the VA will back-pay you to the date you submitted the Intent to File, rather than the date you finished the final paperwork.

2. VA Form 21-526EZ: Application for Disability Compensation

• What This Form Is: This is the primary application used to formally apply for VA disability compensation. It is the mandatory starting point for establishing service connection.

• Why You Need It: You will use this form for three specific scenarios:

  1. Initial Claims: Applying for disability compensation for the first time.

  2. Secondary Claims: Claiming a new condition that was caused or worsened by an existing, already rated disability.

  3. Increased Rating Claims: Requesting a higher rating percentage because a service-connected condition has progressively worsened.

3. VA Form 20-0995: Decision Review Request: Supplemental Claim

• What This Form Is: An appeal option under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) used when you disagree with a VA decision and want a re-evaluation based on fresh documentation.

• Why You Need It: Use this form when your initial claim was denied, or you disagree with the rating or effective date, and you have "new and relevant" evidence to add to your file.

  • "New" means the VA has never looked at this evidence before.

  • "Relevant" means it directly answers the reason the VA gave for the initial denial (e.g., a new diagnostic test or an updated medical nexus letter).

• The Strategic Value: You can file a Supplemental Claim at any time, but doing so within one year of your decision letter allows you to preserve your original effective date for retroactive back-pay.

4. VA Form 20-0996: Decision Review Request: Higher-Level Review (HLR)

• What This Form Is: An appeal option that requests a senior, more experienced claims adjudicator to take a completely fresh look at your existing case file.

• Why You Need It: Use this form when you believe the VA rater made a clear mistake, overlooked critical information, or misapplied the law, but you have no new evidence to submit.

• The Crucial Catch: The HLR is strictly a de novo review. The senior adjudicator looks only at the exact evidence available during the original decision. You cannot submit any new evidence. Furthermore, a HLR must be filed within one year of your decision notice date, or you forfeit this lane.

Submission Routing: How to File

You have two primary electronic pathways to submit these forms. Both routes bypass the slow, unreliable method of traditional mail or fax.

Route A: Direct Online Filing (VA.gov)

The fastest path is filling out the interactive, guided versions of these forms directly inside the VA portal.

1. Log In and Verify:Requires ID.me or Login.gov.

Sign in to your official account on VA.gov. Your account must be identity-verified to access secure claims tools.

2. Navigate to the Correct Tool: Select your path.

Go to the Disability section. Select “File for disability compensation” for Form 21-526EZ, or “File a Supplemental Claim” for Form 20-0995.

3. Complete the Guided Questionnaire: Bypasses PDF completion.

The online system will ask you direct questions and auto-populate the data fields, acting as a digital version of the form. (Note: Simply starting a 21-526EZ online automatically establishes a digital Intent to File inside the system).

4. Upload and Submit: Instant confirmation.

Attach your medical evidence directly to the portal screen and hit submit. You will receive an immediate tracking number.

Route B: VA QuickSubmit (AccessVA Portal)

If you prefer to fill out the actual paper/PDF forms manually (or if you are working with an Accredited Representative who prepares the physical documents for you), you should upload them using QuickSubmit. This is the VA's digital mailroom tool that replaced the old "Direct Upload" system.

1. Access the Portal: Navigate to AccessVA.

Go to access.va.gov and select the QuickSubmit application. Log in using your verified ID.me or Login.gov credentials.

2. Register Your Account:First-time users only.

On your very first login, complete the one-time registration layout. Select your appropriate user type: Veteran.

3. Enter Claimant Data: Target your file.

Input your personal details (SSN, file number) so the system accurately pairs the documents with your master electronic file.

4. Select Organization and Claim Type: Route your mail.

Select Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) as the organization, and choose the correct benefit claim type (e.g., Compensation).

5. Upload Your PDFs: Supports up to 200 MB per file.

Upload your completed, signed PDF forms along with any supporting evidence. QuickSubmit applies an immediate date-stamp endorsement upon receipt, legally securing your submission date.

Pro Tip: Never send original paper documents through standard mail. If you must use paper, keep copies of everything and send it via Certified Mail with return receipt requested. Better yet—stick to VA.gov or QuickSubmit to establish a digital paper trail immediately.