VA Disability Rating for Lyme disease (DC 6319)

Body system: Infectious Diseases, Immune Disorders, and Nutritional DeficienciesRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.88bDBQ: DBQ INFECT Infectious Disease (Other than HIV-related illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Tuberculosis)

Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (and related species), known for an early bullseye rash, later joint, neurological, and cardiac involvement if untreated. The VA rates this condition under the General Rating Formula for Infectious Diseases (38 CFR § 4.88b): 100% during the active phase of disease (acute infection requiring treatment), then 0% under this DC once the active disease has resolved. Any lasting damage from the infection (residuals) is rated SEPARATELY under whichever body-system code best matches the deficit (neurological sequelae under the cranial-nerve or peripheral-nerve codes in § 4.124a (e.g., facial palsy, radiculopathy), cardiac involvement (AV block, carditis) under DC 7000, and joint inflammation under DC 5002 or another appropriate musculoskeletal code), then combined under § 4.25.

Rating levels

  • 100% — You qualify for 100% during active Lyme disease. The 100% rating recognizes that an active systemic infection of this severity is incapacitating, regardless of which specific organ systems are affected at the time. Once the active phase resolves, the DC itself drops to 0% and any lasting damage is rated under the appropriate body-system codes.
  • 0% — After the active Lyme disease has resolved, this code itself rates 0%. Any lasting damage is rated under the body system it affects, not under this code; the regulation names arthritis, Bell's palsy (facial weakness), radiculopathy (nerve-root pain), eye involvement and cognitive problems as examples. Multiple residual ratings are combined under 38 CFR 4.25.
  • Note — Once the active Lyme disease has resolved, any lasting damage is rated under the body system it affects. The regulation names arthritis, Bell's palsy (facial weakness), radiculopathy (nerve-root pain), eye involvement and cognitive problems as examples; other residuals are rated under their own codes and the ratings are combined under 38 CFR 4.25.

Disclaimer: This tool is for informational purposes only and is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with your VSO representative or a qualified veterans benefits attorney for guidance on your specific claim.

Vibriosis (Cholera, Non-cholera) (DC 6300)
The plain-English rating criteria and Board decision data for DC 6300.
Visceral leishmaniasis (DC 6301)
The plain-English rating criteria and Board decision data for DC 6301.
Leprosy (Hansen's disease) (DC 6302)
The plain-English rating criteria and Board decision data for DC 6302.
Malaria (DC 6304)
The plain-English rating criteria and Board decision data for DC 6304.
Lymphatic filariasis, to include elephantiasis (DC 6305)
The plain-English rating criteria and Board decision data for DC 6305.