Malignant neoplasms of the breast (DC 7630)

Body system: Gynecological ConditionsRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.116DBQ: DBQ GYN Breast

DC 7630 covers all malignant neoplasms of the breast — invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) when treated as malignancy, Paget's disease of the nipple, male breast cancer, and metastatic disease. The VA assigns a flat 100% rating during active disease and active treatment (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, HER2-targeted therapy, immunotherapy, reconstruction). The 100% continues for six months after all treatment ends, then a mandatory VA examination determines what residuals remain. After that exam, the cancer DC drops away and chronic residuals are rated separately — most commonly mastectomy (DC 7626), lymphedema of the arm (DC 7121), surgical and radiation scars (DCs 7800-7805), limited motion of arm/shoulder/wrist, grip-strength loss, sensory loss in the chest wall or upper extremity, and donor-site residuals from reconstruction (TRAM/DIEP abdominal-wall weakness, latissimus dorsi or gluteal flap loss). Residuals are combined under 38 CFR § 4.25 subject to anti-pyramiding rules of § 4.14. Any reduction in the 100% rating is protected by the due-process requirements of 38 CFR § 3.105(e). Recurrence or metastasis restores 100% from the date of recurrence.

Rating levels

  • 100% — You qualify for 100% as long as you have an active breast malignancy or are receiving treatment for one. This includes surgery (lumpectomy, mastectomy, axillary dissection, sentinel-node biopsy), radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy (tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors), HER2-targeted therapy (trastuzumab, pertuzumab), immunotherapy, and reconstruction. The 100% rating continues without interruption during the entire active-treatment phase. See the CFR Note below for what happens after treatment ends.
  • -1% — The 100% rating continues for six months after all breast-cancer treatment ends. At the six-month mark, VA must schedule a mandatory examination to decide what residuals remain. The new rating is based on those residuals, NOT on the cancer itself. The CFR Note specifically calls out the most common breast-cancer residuals: (1) Mastectomy under DC 7626 (single mastectomy, double mastectomy, or wide local excision with significant alteration of size or form). (2) Surgical and radiation scars under DCs 7800-7805. (3) Lymphedema of the arm from axillary lymph-node dissection or radiation, under DC 7121. (4) Limited motion of arm (DC 5201), shoulder (DCs 5200/5202/5203), and wrist (DC 5215). (5) Loss of grip strength from neuropathy or tissue damage. (6) Sensory loss in the chest wall, axilla, or upper extremity (DC 8513 / 8514 for ulnar / median / radial; DC 8519 for intercostobrachial). (7) Donor-site residuals from reconstruction — TRAM or DIEP flaps (abdominal-wall weakness DC 7339 ventral hernia / DC 5319 muscle group XIX), latissimus dorsi flap (DC 5301 muscle group I shoulder girdle), gluteal free flap. Anti-pyramiding rules of 38 CFR § 4.14 still apply across residuals. If VA proposes to reduce the rating, the protection of 38 CFR § 3.105(e) applies — VA must notify you 60 days before reduction with reasons and your right to a hearing. If the cancer recurs or metastasizes within the rating period, the 100% rating resumes from the date of recurrence and the six-month clock resets after treatment ends again.

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