Body system: Mental DisordersRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.130DBQ: DBQ PSYCH Eating Disorders
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder where you binge eat and then try to prevent weight gain through vomiting, laxatives, or other methods. The VA rates bulimia from 0% to 100% based on how much weight you've lost, how often you have episodes that keep you from functioning normally, and whether you need hospitalization. Higher ratings go to veterans who've lost significant weight and have frequent periods where they can't work or function in daily life.
Rating levels
- 100% — You qualify for 100% when self-induced weight loss has taken you below 80% of your expected minimum weight, with incapacitating episodes totaling at least six weeks in a year, and you have needed hospitalization more than twice in a year for feeding by vein or tube. An incapacitating episode is a period of acute symptoms severe enough to require bed rest and treatment by a physician.
- 60% — You qualify for 60% when self-induced weight loss has taken you below 85% of your expected minimum weight, with incapacitating episodes totaling six weeks or more in a year. An incapacitating episode is a period of acute symptoms severe enough to require bed rest and treatment by a physician.
- 30% — You qualify for 30% when self-induced weight loss has taken you below 85% of your expected minimum weight, with incapacitating episodes totaling more than two but less than six weeks in a year. An incapacitating episode is a period of acute symptoms severe enough to require bed rest and treatment by a physician.
- 10% — You qualify for 10% when you binge eat and then vomit or take other measures to prevent weight gain, or resist gaining weight even when you are below your expected minimum weight, with a diagnosed eating disorder and incapacitating episodes totaling up to two weeks in a year. An incapacitating episode is a period of acute symptoms severe enough to require bed rest and treatment by a physician.
- 0% — You qualify for 0% when you binge eat and then vomit or take other measures to prevent weight gain, or resist gaining weight even when you are below your expected minimum weight, with a diagnosed eating disorder but no incapacitating episodes. The condition is service connected; it is the absence of incapacitating episodes that keeps the rating at 0%.