Body system: Infectious Diseases, Immune Disorders, and Nutritional DeficienciesRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.88b
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 phase of Lyme disease has resolved, DC itself rates at 0%. Any lasting damage (residuals) is NOT rated under this DC, instead it is rated under whichever body-system code best captures the damage, including 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. Per 38 CFR § 4.88b General Rating Formula for Infectious Diseases.
- -1% — Once the active phase of Lyme disease has resolved, DC itself rates at 0% and any lasting damage is rated under whichever body-system code best captures 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). Multiple residual ratings are combined under 38 CFR § 4.25.