Arrhythmia — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
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The DBQ for Arrhythmia
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960A-1 (Heart Conditions (Including Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Heart Disease, Arrhythmias, Valvular Disease and Cardiac Surgery)) — the form that decides your rating. You can have your own doctor complete the same DBQ and submit it as evidence.
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about Arrhythmia — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Arrhythmia, based on your overall combined VA disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly (Alone) | Monthly (w/ Spouse) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | — | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | — | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
Common Symptoms
Document these symptoms in your claim. The more thoroughly you describe how they affect your daily life, the stronger your claim.
Functional Limitations
VA rates disabilities based on how they limit your ability to function. Describe these limitations in your personal statement.
Rating Criteria for Arrhythmia
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.104, DC 7010 (supraventricular) and DC 7011 (sustained ventricular arrhythmias). Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Supraventricular (DC 7010): confirmed by ECG, with one to four treatment interventions per year; or continuous oral medication or vagal maneuvers to control.
Supraventricular (DC 7010): confirmed by ECG, with five or more treatment interventions per year.
Sustained ventricular arrhythmia (DC 7011): for an indefinite period from the date of inpatient admission for initial medical therapy for a sustained ventricular arrhythmia; or from admission for ventricular aneurysmectomy; or with an automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) in place. Post-surgical residuals are rated under the General Rating Formula.
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Arrhythmia raise your rating?
Enter your current combined rating and the level this condition would rate at. We'll do the VA math.
New combined
10%
New monthly
$180
Change
+$180
Rates shown are the 2026 veteran-alone amounts (no dependents). VA combines ratings with "whole-person" math and rounds to the nearest 10, so adding a condition does not simply add its percentage. Full combined-rating calculator with dependents →
Peer-Reviewed Medical Evidence
Real, verified studies from PubMed/NIH that support a Arrhythmia claim. Bring these citations to your accredited VSO or C&P exam — they help show your condition is recognized in the medical literature and, where noted, linked to other service-connected conditions.
Journal of the American Heart Association, 2019 · nexus to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) · PMID 31564191
Finding: In a prospective cohort of 988,090 young and middle-aged veterans followed over 13 years, PTSD was associated with higher and earlier incident atrial fibrillation; after adjusting for demographics, lifestyle, cardiovascular risk factors, and depression, the hazard ratio was 1.13 (95% CI 1.02-1.24).
Why it helps: Directly veteran-based evidence that supports an association between service-connected PTSD and developing atrial fibrillation, useful for a secondary-to-PTSD nexus argument.
Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 2018 · nexus to obstructive sleep apnea · PMID 30091301
Finding: Meta-analysis of 7 observational studies (4,572 patients) found obstructive sleep apnea was associated with recurrent atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation (pooled OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.40-2.06), and CPAP treatment was associated with lower recurrence (pooled OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.19-0.40).
Why it helps: Supports an association between obstructive sleep apnea (a very commonly service-connected condition) and atrial fibrillation, helpful for a secondary-to-sleep-apnea nexus.
Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, 2018 · nexus to diabetes mellitus · PMID 29653902
Finding: Pooling 32 cohort studies (464,229 cases among >10 million participants), diabetes was associated with a 28-30% higher risk of atrial fibrillation versus no diabetes (summary RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.03-1.66; RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.22-1.35 after excluding an outlying study).
Why it helps: Supports an association between diabetes (a frequent service-connected/presumptive condition) and atrial fibrillation, useful for a secondary-to-diabetes nexus.
Stroke, 1991 · nexus to stroke (as a condition secondary to atrial fibrillation) · PMID 1866765
Finding: In 5,070 Framingham participants followed for 34 years, atrial fibrillation carried a near fivefold excess risk of stroke (p<0.001), an effect that, unlike other cardiac conditions, did not weaken with advancing age.
Why it helps: Supports an association establishing stroke as a downstream condition that can be claimed secondary to atrial fibrillation.
Circulation Research, 2017 · nexus to sleep apnea, diabetes, hypertension, obesity · PMID 28450367
Finding: Comprehensive review identifying modifiable risk factors that remodel the atria and predispose to atrial fibrillation, including obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, elevated blood pressure, and obesity, with heart failure and myocardial infarction increasing risk bidirectionally.
Why it helps: Provides authoritative background supporting associations between several commonly service-connected conditions and atrial fibrillation, useful context for multiple secondary nexus arguments.
Every citation is real and verified against PubMed. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — your accredited VSO or representative can advise on your specific claim.
Evidence Checklist
Gather these types of evidence before filing your claim. The strongest claims include multiple evidence types.
Common Treatments
Documenting ongoing treatment strengthens your claim and supports higher ratings.
Secondary Conditions Linked to Arrhythmia
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Arrhythmia. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
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Arrhythmia as a Secondary Condition
Arrhythmia is commonly claimed secondary to these primary conditions:
Filing a Arrhythmiaclaim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Arrhythmia should also be looking at:
Quick calculator
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Health care
Estimate your VA Priority Group →
Priority Group 1-8 determines what care you get and what it costs. Service-connected = lower copays, full access.
Where you live
Compare 50 state veteran benefits →
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Home buying
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Draft your Arrhythmia personal statement
7-step wizard that builds your VA claim personal statement using your own words. Detects presumptive eligibility, cites 38 CFR + DBQ, includes federal-crime disclosure. You review and edit before filing.
Start draftingNot legal or medical advice. Always have a VSO or accredited rep review before filing.
Start Your Arrhythmia VA Claim
Use our free Claims Builder to organize your Arrhythmia evidence, track your claim status, and prepare for your C&P exam. No coaching fees — just tools.
Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to Arrhythmia.
Arrhythmia Claim Guide by State
Find state-specific VA facilities, veteran benefits, and filing resources.
More free tools
Educational content, not professional advice
This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.
MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.