Body system: Infectious Diseases, Immune Disorders, and Nutritional DeficienciesRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.88b
Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) is a zoonotic bacterial infection contracted from livestock (cattle, sheep, goats), with both an acute febrile illness and a chronic form featuring endocarditis or vascular complications. 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 (chronic fatigue, hepatitis under the digestive codes, endocarditis under DC 7000, and vascular involvement under the cardiovascular codes), then combined under § 4.25.
Rating levels
- 100% — You qualify for 100% during active Coxiella burnetii infection (Q fever). 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 Coxiella burnetii infection (Q fever) 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 chronic fatigue, hepatitis under the digestive codes, endocarditis under DC 7000, and vascular involvement under the cardiovascular codes. Per 38 CFR § 4.88b General Rating Formula for Infectious Diseases.
- -1% — Once the active phase of Coxiella burnetii infection (Q fever) has resolved, DC itself rates at 0% and any lasting damage is rated under whichever body-system code best captures the deficit (chronic fatigue, hepatitis under the digestive codes, endocarditis under DC 7000, and vascular involvement under the cardiovascular codes). Multiple residual ratings are combined under 38 CFR § 4.25.