Do you have breast cancer as a result of your military service? If so, you’ll want to understand the breast cancer VA disability rating.
You served your country, and now you’re heading into another battle. You have breast cancer. If the cancer is tied to your military service, for example, because you were exposed to burn pits or toxins during service, you can receive a VA disability rating for breast cancer. You also can receive VA disability for the residual effects of cancer treatment, including a mastectomy. Read this post to learn more.
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In this article about the breast cancer VA disability rating:
Understanding breast cancer
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that grows in the cells of the breast. It can affect both men and women, but it is more common in women.
Symptoms of breast cancer include:
- A lump or lumps in the breast (Lumps in the breast must be tested by a medical professional to determine if they’re benign or malignant. Benign breast lumps are relatively common, so having a lump in your breast doesn’t automatically mean you have cancer.)
- Discharge from the nipple or nipples
- Changes in the shape of one or both breasts
- Itching, swelling, or changes in the way the breast(s) looks
- Fever in the breast(s)
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women, following skin cancer. However, it’s unclear whether veterans are more prone to developing breast cancer than the general population. What is clear is that veterans exposed to certain toxins during their military service, like those from burn pits or radiation, may develop breast cancer as a result.
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Breast cancer VA disability rating
The VA rates breast cancer with diagnostic code 7630 for malignant neoplasms of the breasts in the Schedule of Ratings.
Like all other types of cancer, under this code, a veteran receives a 100% rating while the cancer is active. The rating continues for six months after the last treatment, like radiation or chemotherapy. Then, the veteran is rated on the residuals of the illness.
VA Attorney Lori Underwood explained, “Cancers are treated with a 100% temporary rating while they’re active and in treatment up to six months after the treatment has concluded. After that conclusion and the post six months [period], cancers are usually rated on the residuals of the veteran experiences because of either the cancer itself or the treatment that they endured to treat the cancer,” said Underwood. “For example, chemotherapy is known to cause a number of permanent secondary side effects that could be ratable in and of themselves, including hearing loss, nerve damage, and heart conditions. And that’s just a few examples.”
Other residuals from breast cancer that may receive VA ratings can include:
- Reappearance of cancer
- Development of osteoporosis
- Scarring and skin disfigurement
- Mental health conditions resulting from appearance changes or trauma of going through the treatment process
VA rating for a mastectomy
If a veteran’s breast cancer results in a full (radical) or simple mastectomy of one or both breasts, that is rated under diagnostic code 7626 for surgery of the breast in the Schedule of Ratings. The rating depends on the extent of the surgery required and whether one or both breasts were involved.
Ratings for one affected breast:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Following radical mastectomy of one breast | 50% | $1,075.16 |
| Following modified radical mastectomy of one breast | 40% | $755.28 |
| Following a simple mastectomy or wide local excision with significant alteration of size or form of one breast | 30% | $524.31 |
| Following wide local excision without significant alteration of size or form of one breast | 0% | None |
Ratings for two affected breasts:
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| Following radical mastectomy of both breasts | 80% | $1,995.01 |
| Following modified radical mastectomy of both breasts | 60% | $1,3161.88 |
| Following a simple mastectomy or wide local excision with significant alteration of size or form of both breasts | 50% | $1,075.16 |
| Following wide local excision without significant alteration of size or form of both breasts | 0% | None |
VA rating for a mastectomy and SMC
In addition to 100% disability for three months after surgery, the VA may provide special monthly compensation (SMC) for a mastectomy.
SMC increases the compensation veterans receive for certain severe disabilities.
The VA provides SMC for various reasons, often related to the loss of function of extremities and other senses.
Women veterans are eligible for SMC for the loss of “25% or more of tissue from a single breast or both breasts in combination (including loss by mastectomy or partial mastectomy), or following receipt of radiation treatment of breast tissue.”
Residual conditions related to mastectomies
It’s possible that you could have further residual effects from breast cancer because of a mastectomy. This could result in a secondary rating.
Some complications a person might experience as a result of a mastectomy include:
- Seroma, a collection of fluid where the breast used to be
- Hematoma, a pocket of blood where the breast used to be
- Infection
- Necrosis, or a breakdown of the breast tissue that happens because of a lack of blood supply
- Lymphedema, which is when lymphatic fluid collects and swells after lymph nodes are removed or radiated
If you experience any of these conditions or others resulting from breast cancer treatment, you may be asked to complete additional compensation and pension (C&P) exams to determine the severity of the issue.
Is breast cancer a presumptive condition?
Breast cancer is presumptive in some veterans who were exposed to specific environmental toxins during their service.
A presumptive service connection means that when a qualifying veteran applies for VA disability, they are not required to submit proof that their condition is medically linked to their service. Instead, the condition is automatically presumed service-connected. They only need to show the condition exists, and that the period, location, or other factors of their service qualify them for the presumption.
Gulf War burn pit exposure and breast cancer
The PACT Act assumes many cancers are presumptive conditions for veterans exposed to burn pit toxins. The PACT Act added many presumptive conditions for burn pits, including breast cancer.
Additionally, in 2024, the VA added male breast cancer as a presumptive condition for eligible Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans who deployed to the Southwest Asia theater of operations.
Radiation exposure and breast cancer
Atomic veterans who were exposed to ionizing radiation while in the military also have a presumptive service connection for breast cancer. Research found that this risk is especially great for women and young service members who were exposed to radiation.
Agent Orange and breast cancer
The widespread use of Agent Orange as a defoliant in the 60s and 70s resulted in various severe health conditions in veterans. Multiple types of cancer are on the presumptive list to receive VA benefits for Agent Orange exposure. However, breast cancer is not included on that list. Therefore, at this time, it is not a presumptive condition related to Agent Orange exposure.
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Unemployability and breast cancer
In some cases, a veteran may be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for breast cancer’s residual effects. TDIU is also known as individual unemployability or simply IU. Veterans are eligible for these benefits if they can’t hold down “substantially gainful” employment due to their service-connected conditions.
Veterans who receive TDIU benefits are compensated at the same level as those with a 100% disability rating, even though their combined rating is below 100%.
Veterans will typically be eligible for TDIU if they have:
- At least one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling OR
- Two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more
How Woods and Woods can help
Our VA-accredited attorneys have helped thousands of veterans nationwide who can no longer work because of their service-connected conditions. Call us today for your free, confidential TDIU case evaluation. You won’t pay us unless we win your claim.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The VA rates active breast cancer at 100%. This rating continues for six months after treatment ends. At that point, the veteran is reexamined. Then, the veteran is rated on the residuals of the illness, if there are any. For breast cancer, there may be additional complications if a mastectomy is required.
Yes, breast cancer is a presumptive condition for veterans exposed to burn pits.
Neil Woods
VA disability attorney
Woods & Woods
Neil Woods is the firm’s owner and president. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
