Restless Leg Syndrome — 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 Restless Leg Syndrome
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960C-5 (Central Nervous System and Neuromuscular Diseases) — 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 Restless Leg Syndrome — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Restless Leg Syndrome, 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 Restless Leg Syndrome
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.124a (no dedicated diagnostic code; rated by analogy, commonly to DC 8520 sciatic nerve, per affected extremity). Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Mild incomplete paralysis, rated by analogy, per affected extremity.
Moderate incomplete paralysis, rated by analogy.
Moderately severe incomplete paralysis, rated by analogy.
Severe incomplete paralysis, rated by analogy.
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Restless Leg Syndrome 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 Restless Leg Syndrome 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.
- Sleep Disturbances in Australian Vietnam Veterans With and Without Posttraumatic Stress DisorderSecondary
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2018 · nexus to PTSD · PMID 29734981
Finding: In 214 male Vietnam veterans, those with clinician-confirmed PTSD reported restless legs at nearly double the rate of trauma-exposed veterans without PTSD (45% vs 25%, P < .01), along with markedly higher rates of nightmares, sleep terrors, and diagnosed OSA (42% vs 21%).
Why it helps: A veteran-specific, combat-trauma cohort showing restless legs symptoms occur significantly more often alongside PTSD, supporting an association relevant to a secondary-to-PTSD claim.
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2016 · nexus to PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea · PMID 27070244
Finding: Among 96 veterans in a VA weight-loss clinic, 53% screened at high risk for restless leg syndrome and 66% for obstructive sleep apnea, while 47% endorsed clinically significant PTSD symptoms and 89% rated their sleep quality as poor.
Why it helps: Documents a high co-occurrence of restless legs, sleep apnea, and PTSD within a VA patient population, supporting an association among conditions commonly claimed together by veterans.
European Journal of Neurology, 2021 · nexus to peripheral neuropathy · PMID 33772991
Finding: Pooling across studies, RLS was present in an average 41.8% of peripheral neuropathy patients (95% CI 39.9-43.6%) and neuropathy in 21.5% of RLS patients, both significantly higher than controls, most often with diabetic, uremic, or inflammatory neuropathy.
Why it helps: A meta-analysis showing restless legs is markedly more common in people with peripheral neuropathy, supporting a secondary nexus to a service-connected neuropathy.
- Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations in Restless Legs Syndrome Complicated by Diabetic NeuropathySecondary
Current Diabetes Reports, 2021 · nexus to diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy · PMID 34950962
Finding: This review reports RLS occurs concurrently with type 2 diabetic neuropathy at an estimated prevalence of 17.7% to 45%, and notes RLS symptoms can be obscured by overlapping neuropathy symptoms.
Why it helps: Supports an association between diabetes/diabetic neuropathy and restless legs, useful where diabetes is the service-connected primary condition.
Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2018 · nexus to antidepressant medications · PMID 28822709
Finding: Reviewing 18 prospective studies, the authors found certain antidepressants can induce or worsen RLS and periodic limb movements, with mirtazapine associated with the highest rates and venlafaxine and SSRIs (sertraline, fluoxetine) also implicated.
Why it helps: Supports a medication-induced secondary nexus, relevant when RLS emerges after antidepressants prescribed for service-connected depression, anxiety, or PTSD.
Sleep Medicine, 2024 · nexus to depression, sleep apnea, PTSD, insomnia · PMID 38772220
Finding: In a 17,846-person international survey, RLS symptoms were independently associated with sleep apnea symptoms, insomnia severity, symptoms of depression, and possible post-traumatic stress disorder, with weekly RLS prevalence rising from 5.4% to 9.1% during the pandemic.
Why it helps: Large multinational survey linking restless legs to depression, PTSD, sleep apnea, and insomnia, supporting associations with several conditions common in veterans.
Neurological Sciences, 2018 · nexus to hypertension · PMID 29134444
Finding: Across nine population-based studies totaling 102,408 individuals, people with RLS had significantly higher odds of hypertension than those without (pooled OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.18-1.57).
Why it helps: Supports an association in which hypertension may be claimed as secondary to established restless legs syndrome.
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 Restless Leg Syndrome
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Restless Leg Syndrome. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
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Filing a Restless Leg Syndromeclaim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Restless Leg Syndrome should also be looking at:
Quick calculator
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Health care
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Where you live
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Home buying
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Draft your Restless Leg Syndrome 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 Restless Leg Syndrome VA Claim
Use our free Claims Builder to organize your Restless Leg Syndrome 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 Restless Leg Syndrome.
Restless Leg Syndrome Claim Guide by State
Find state-specific VA facilities, veteran benefits, and filing resources.
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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.