Body system: Cardiovascular SystemRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.104DBQ: DBQ CARDIO Artery & Veins
DC 7113 covers an arteriovenous fistula, an abnormal connection between an artery and a vein, when it is traumatic. The VA rates it at 100% with high-output heart failure, 60% without heart failure but with enlarged heart, tachycardia and edema, and otherwise at 50%, 40%, 30% or 20% by whether the fistula is in a leg or an arm and by edema, stasis dermatitis or ulceration (38 CFR 4.104).
Rating levels
- 100% — You qualify for this rating if your traumatic arteriovenous fistula (abnormal connection between an artery and vein caused by injury) has caused high-output heart failure, meaning your heart is working too hard trying to pump the extra blood flowing through the abnormal connection. This condition puts severe strain on your heart because it has to pump much more blood than normal, leading to symptoms like severe shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, swelling in your legs and feet, and inability to do normal daily activities.
- 60% — Your heart is working harder than normal and has grown larger in size, but it hasn't failed yet. You have a wide difference between your upper and lower blood pressure readings (wide pulse pressure), and your heart beats faster than normal most of the time (tachycardia). The enlarged heart occurs because the abnormal connection between your artery and vein forces your heart to pump extra blood to compensate.
- 50% — The fistula does not involve your heart, but in your leg it causes chronic swelling (edema), stasis dermatitis (skin inflammation and discoloration from poor blood flow), and either skin ulcers (open sores) or cellulitis (a skin infection). This level is for a fistula in a lower extremity (leg).
- 40% — The fistula does not involve your heart, but in your arm it causes chronic swelling (edema), stasis dermatitis (skin inflammation and discoloration from poor blood flow), and either skin ulcers (open sores) or cellulitis (a skin infection). This level is for a fistula in an upper extremity (arm).
- 30% — The fistula does not involve your heart, but in your leg it causes chronic swelling (edema) or stasis dermatitis (skin inflammation and discoloration from poor blood flow). This level is for a fistula in a lower extremity (leg).
- 20% — The fistula does not involve your heart, but in your arm it causes chronic swelling (edema) or stasis dermatitis (skin inflammation and discoloration from poor blood flow). This level is for a fistula in an upper extremity (arm).