Diabetes Type 1 — 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 Diabetes Type 1
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960E-1 (Diabetes Mellitus) — 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 Diabetes Type 1 — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Diabetes Type 1, 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 Diabetes Type 1
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.119, DC 7913 (diabetes mellitus). Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Manageable by restricted diet only.
Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin and restricted diet; or oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet.
Requiring one or more daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities.
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.
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.
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Diabetes Type 1 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 Diabetes Type 1 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.
Diabetes in America, 3rd edition (NIDDK/NIH), 2018 · PMID 33651561
Finding: This NIDDK Diabetes in America chapter reports that during 1990-2005, among U.S. military personnel aged 18-44 years, the overall age-adjusted incidence of insulin-requiring diabetes was 17.5 per 100,000 person-years in men and 13.6 per 100,000 person-years in women. It documents that type 1 diabetes can occur at any age and results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells.
Why it helps: Provides authoritative federal data that type 1 (insulin-requiring) diabetes is diagnosed in active-duty service members during their years of service, supporting that new-onset disease during the service period is documented in the military population.
- Diabetic neuropathySecondary
Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 2019 · nexus to Type 1 diabetes · PMID 31197153
Finding: This authoritative review reports that over time at least 50% of individuals with diabetes develop diabetic neuropathy, most commonly distal symmetric polyneuropathy with sensory loss and pain. Glucose control effectively halts progression of diabetic neuropathy in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Why it helps: Supports an association between type 1 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy, a condition commonly claimed as secondary to service-connected diabetes.
Acta Ophthalmologica, 2010 · nexus to Type 1 diabetes · PMID 20500731
Finding: In a population-based cohort of 727 type 1 diabetic patients followed up to 33 years, 97.0% had diabetic retinopathy and 42.9% of those without proliferative disease at baseline developed proliferative diabetic retinopathy over follow-up. Overall mortality was 22.3 per 1,000 person-years, a relative mortality of 3.4 versus the general population.
Why it helps: Supports a strong association between long-standing type 1 diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (near-universal over time), a microvascular complication commonly claimed as secondary to service-connected diabetes.
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2016 · nexus to Type 1 diabetes · PMID 27179232
Finding: Pooling 14 studies, the meta-analysis found a pooled prevalence of depressive symptoms of 30.04% (95% CI 16.33-43.74) and anxiety symptoms reported in up to 32% of patients with type 1 diabetes, with a negative impact on glycemic control.
Why it helps: Supports an association between type 1 diabetes and depression/anxiety, mental-health conditions commonly claimed as secondary to a service-connected chronic illness.
BMC Women's Health, 2020 · nexus to Type 1 diabetes · PMID 32299459
Finding: Among 33 women with type 1 diabetes versus 39 healthy controls, the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction was significantly higher in the diabetes group (36.4% vs 5.2%; p = 0.010), attributed to diabetic neuropathy/angiopathy.
Why it helps: Supports an association between type 1 diabetes and sexual dysfunction, a complication commonly claimed as secondary to service-connected diabetes (erectile dysfunction in men, FSD in women).
Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, 2024 · nexus to Type 1 diabetes · PMID 38302058
Finding: In 50 adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes, over a quarter exhibited clinically relevant levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms related to diabetes events; higher frequency of diabetes-related emergency room visits raised risk. The authors conclude diabetes itself can serve as a traumatic stressor.
Why it helps: Supports an association between type 1 diabetes and posttraumatic stress symptoms, relevant to a mental-health condition claimed as secondary to a service-connected chronic disease.
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 Diabetes Type 1
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Diabetes Type 1. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Nexus strength: strong· Commonly granted
Kidney Disease
Nexus strength: strong· Commonly granted
Retinal Conditions
Nexus strength: strong· Commonly granted
Erectile Dysfunction
Nexus strength: strong· Commonly granted
Peripheral Artery Disease
Nexus strength: moderate
Cataracts
Nexus strength: moderate· Commonly granted
Hypertension
Nexus strength: moderate
Major Depressive Disorder
Nexus strength: moderate
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Related Guides
Filing a Diabetes Type 1claim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Diabetes Type 1 should also be looking at:
Quick calculator
Estimate your combined rating →
The VA doesn't add ratings — they use a specific formula. See your combined rating in 30 seconds.
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 →
State property tax exemptions for SC vets vary 10x. Some states fully exempt 100%-rated vets, others give nothing.
Home buying
VA home loan + funding fee waiver →
ANY service-connected rating waives the funding fee. On a $400K loan that's ~$8,600 saved.
Draft your Diabetes Type 1 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 Diabetes Type 1 VA Claim
Use our free Claims Builder to organize your Diabetes Type 1 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 Diabetes Type 1.
Diabetes Type 1 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.