Gout — 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 Gout
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960M-3 (Non-Degenerative Arthritis) — 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 Gout — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Gout, 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 Gout
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.71a, DC 5017 (gout), evaluated as degenerative arthritis under DC 5003 per the Note to DCs 5013-5024 (rev. Feb 7, 2021). Where an affected joint has compensable limitation of motion, rate under that joint code (e.g., DC 5260/5261 for the knee), which can be higher.. Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Noncompensable limitation of motion of an affected joint, confirmed by objective findings: 10 percent for each major joint or group of minor joints affected; or, absent limitation of motion, X-ray evidence of involvement of 2 or more major joints or 2 or more minor joint groups.
Absent compensable limitation of motion, X-ray evidence of involvement of 2 or more major joints or 2 or more minor joint groups with occasional incapacitating exacerbations. Compensable limitation of motion of the affected joint is instead rated higher under that joint specific diagnostic code.
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Gout 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 Gout 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.
Arthritis Research & Therapy, 2018 · nexus to obesity, hypertension, diuretic use (medication side effect) · PMID 29976236
Finding: Pooled cohort meta-analysis (14 studies) found each factor more than doubled gout risk: obesity (BMI >=30) adjusted RR 2.24 (95% CI 1.76-2.86), hypertension RR up to 2.11 (1.64-2.72), and diuretic use RR 2.39 (1.57-3.65).
Why it helps: Supports an association between common service-connected conditions (obesity, hypertension) and the diuretic medications used to treat them and the later development of gout, useful for a secondary-service-connection theory.
Arthritis & Rheumatism, 2013 · nexus to chronic kidney disease · PMID 23982888
Finding: In 12,866 men followed 7 years, chronic kidney disease was independently associated with incident gout (adjusted HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.60-1.61); each standard-deviation decline in eGFR carried an HR of 1.43 (1.35-1.51), and proteinuria/hematuria also raised risk.
Why it helps: Supports an association between reduced kidney function (which itself is frequently secondary to service-connected diabetes or hypertension) and developing gout, helping build a chained secondary-nexus argument.
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2018 · nexus to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA claimed as secondary to gout) · PMID 30176977
Finding: In a 1.74 million-person Medicare cohort, gout was independently associated with a new OSA diagnosis (adjusted HR 2.07, 95% CI 2.00-2.15); crude OSA incidence was 14.3 vs 3.9 per 1,000 person-years in those with versus without gout.
Why it helps: Supports an association running from gout to later obstructive sleep apnea, relevant when OSA is claimed as secondary to a service-connected gout condition.
Advances in Rheumatology, 2019 · nexus to metabolic syndrome · PMID 31234907
Finding: Systematic review of 33 cohort studies found metabolic syndrome associated with incident gout in men (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.20-1.58); most established risk factors raised gout risk similarly across genders.
Why it helps: Supports an association between metabolic syndrome (clustering of obesity, hypertension, and glucose/lipid disturbance often tied to service-connected conditions) and the onset of gout.
The Lancet Rheumatology, 2020 · PMID 33215163
Finding: Using VA healthcare databases (2002-2016), 264,614 veterans met criteria for diagnosed gout treated with allopurinol; mean age 67.8 years and mean BMI 33.0 kg/m2, documenting gout as a high-volume condition in the veteran population.
Why it helps: Establishes that gout is a common, formally managed diagnosis across the US veteran population, useful background context for a veteran-facing claim page (does not by itself establish a service link).
Healthcare (Basel), 2020 · PMID 32610637
Finding: Analysis of 437,467 BRFSS respondents found US veterans had significantly higher obesity and higher odds of associated comorbidities than non-veterans, including the arthritis/rheumatoid arthritis/gout/lupus group (OR 1.52).
Why it helps: Supports an association between the elevated obesity burden seen in the veteran population and a higher rate of gout-cluster morbidity relative to non-veterans, useful population-level context.
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 Gout
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Gout. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
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Related Guides
Gout as a Secondary Condition
Gout is commonly claimed secondary to these primary conditions:
Filing a Goutclaim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Gout should also be looking at:
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Draft your Gout 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 Gout VA Claim
Use our free Claims Builder to organize your Gout 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 Gout.
Gout 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.