You’re tired all the time, no matter how much rest you get. Then, you start to feel weak and have aches that won’t go away no matter what you do. Some days, it’s all you can do to walk around the house without feeling worn out or so weak you fear you may fall. Now, your doctor has diagnosed you with a vitamin D deficiency. This post explains the vitamin D deficiency VA rating and VA ratings for other vitamin-related issues.
Key Takeaways
- The VA rating for vitamin deficiency depends on the underlying condition causing the deficiency, such as avitaminosis or beriberi.
- There is no specific vitamin D deficiency VA rating, but there are VA ratings for conditions it can cause or worsen.
- POWs held captive for 30 days or more can receive presumptive VA benefits for avitaminosis, beriberi, malnutrition, pellagra, or any other nutritional deficiency.
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In this article about the vitamin D deficiency VA rating:
Vitamin deficiency in veterans
A vitamin deficiency is when your body doesn’t get enough of a specific vitamin to function properly. These deficiencies can happen for multiple reasons, including digestive conditions that block vitamin absorption, other medical issues that interfere with the body’s vitamin use, and lifestyle factors, like limited sun exposure, poor diet, or alcohol consumption.
How your body responds to a vitamin deficiency depends on how severe the deficiency is and which vitamin you’re lacking.
Vitamin deficiencies can cause a variety of symptoms. Even mild deficiencies can cause fatigue, lowered immunity, mood changes, or slow recovery from illness. Severe or long-term deficiencies can result in chronic diseases, permanent nerve damage, and sometimes life-threatening complications.
Is there a vitamin D deficiency VA rating?
When you don’t have enough vitamin D in your body, it can result in health problems like brittle bones and muscle weakness.
Causes of vitamin D deficiency include:
- Not enough exposure to sunlight
- Darker skin pigment
- Malnutrition
- Kidney or liver failure
- Certain medications
- Certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma
Other conditions associated with vitamin D deficiency include IBS and PTSD.
When vitamin D levels are low and the body isn’t able to properly absorb calcium and phosphorus, you may experience bone pain or fractures, muscle pain, or muscle weakness. Because of this, it can even increase your risk of falling.
There is no specific VA rating for vitamin D deficiency. However, there are VA ratings for conditions that it can cause or worsen. One of the most common conditions that may develop as a result of vitamin D deficiency is osteomalacia, a disease that causes your bones to soften and weaken. It may cause bone pain and muscle weakness and stiffness.
Osteomalacia is rated on the basis of limitation of motion, using the corresponding diagnostic codes for the specific joint or joints involved. These diagnostic codes can be found in the Schedule of Ratings for the musculoskeletal system.
Service connecting a vitamin D deficiency
To service connect a vitamin D deficiency, you’ll need to show you have a medical condition caused by vitamin D deficiency, not just that you’re deficient in the vitamin. You’ll then need to provide evidence tying your diagnosis to your service.
Examples of evidence include a medical nexus from a health care professional demonstrating the link between your condition and your time in the military, and records from service or your current doctor. It can also help to provide lay statements from friends, family, or former coworkers with additional context.
VA rating for vitamin deficiency
The VA doesn’t provide a specific VA rating for vitamin deficiency. However, vitamin deficiencies may lead to conditions that qualify for VA ratings. Below are some of the ratings that may be applicable.
Avitaminosis VA rating
Avitaminosis is a general term referring to the deficiency of one or more essential vitamins in the body. Symptoms depend on which vitamin or combination of vitamins is deficient and may include fatigue, weakness, mood changes, lowered immunity, digestive issues, nerve damage, or chronic disease.
The VA rates avitaminosis under diagnostic code 6313 in the Schedule of Ratings. Depending on the severity of symptoms, the VA may assign a rating from 10% to 100% for the condition.
Beriberi VA rating
Beriberi, or thiamine deficiency, is when your body doesn’t get enough vitamin B1 (thiamine). Thiamine helps with cell functioning and converting food to energy, among other things.
If your thiamine levels are consistently low, it can negatively impact your heart, immune system, and nervous system. Symptoms like fatigue and nerve damage can start in as little as weeks.
The VA rates beriberi under diagnostic code 6314 in the Schedule of Ratings. Depending on the severity of symptoms, the VA may assign a 30%, 60%, or 100% rating for the condition.
When beriberi is no longer active, it’s rated based on any residual conditions it may cause.
Pellagra VA rating
Pellagra is a deficiency of niacin, also known as vitamin B3. Your body uses B3 to process food. This condition is a form of malnutrition that can cause lasting damage to your nervous system or even be fatal if it goes untreated.
The VA rates pellagra under diagnostic code 6315 in the Schedule of Ratings. Depending on the condition’s severity, the VA may assign it a rating between 10% to 100%.
Folic acid deficiency VA rating
Folate, or folic acid deficiency is when your blood doesn’t have enough vitamin B9 (folate) to make DNA, produce red blood cells, and support cell growth. Without sufficient folate, your red blood cells can malfunction. Continued folate deficiency can result in infertility, certain types of cancer, dementia, and depression, among other conditions.
The VA rates folic acid deficiency under diagnostic code 7721 in the Schedule of Ratings. Depending on how you respond to treatment, it may be assigned a rating of 0% or 10%.
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Iron deficiency VA rating
Iron deficiency happens when your body doesn’t have enough iron, which is needed to make hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. If the issue persists, you can develop iron deficiency anemia. This can leave you tired, weak, and short of breath. If left untreated, it can result in heart conditions.
The VA rates iron deficiency anemia under diagnostic code 7720 in the Schedule of Ratings. Depending on how you respond to treatment, the VA may assign a rating of 0%, 10%, or 30% for the condition.
Pernicious anemia VA ratings
Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disorder that keeps your body from absorbing vitamin B12. The condition occurs when you have fewer red blood cells carrying oxygen throughout your body. It can lead to weakness, fatigue, heart conditions, and issues with your digestive and nervous systems.
The VA rates pernicious anemia under diagnostic code 7722 in the Schedule of Ratings. Severe cases of pernicious anemia may warrant a 100% rating. Less serious cases requiring continuous treatment may be assigned a 10% VA rating.
The 100% evaluation is assigned on the date of an initial diagnosis that requires transfusion. It is followed by a mandatory VA examination six months after your hospital discharge. At that time, the rating is reduced to 10% or reassigned to another diagnostic code, based on any residuals.
Presumptive service connection for vitamin deficiency
Some vitamin deficiencies are assumed presumptive in veterans. A presumptive service connection means that when a qualifying veteran applies for VA disability, they are not required to prove a medical nexus, or proof their condition is medically linked to their service. Instead, the condition is automatically presumed service connected.
Prisoners of war (POW) are eligible for various presumptive VA benefits. POWs held captive for 30 days or more can receive presumptive VA benefits for avitaminosis, beriberi, malnutrition, pellagra, or any other nutritional deficiency.
The VA also considers some conditions presumptive if they occur within a year after discharge. Anemia and osteomalacia are two such conditions.
TDIU for vitamin deficiency
In some cases, a veteran may be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU). 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 & Woods can help
Woods & Woods has been fighting for people with injuries and disabilities since 1985. Our team of accredited VA disability lawyers, case managers, legal analysts, and intake specialists know the ins and outs of the VA so you don’t have to do all the hard work. Call us today for your free and confidential case evaluation.
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Frequently asked questions
No, you can’t get a vitamin D deficiency VA rating specifically. However, you can receive a VA rating for avitaminosis, a general term referring to the deficiency of one or more essential vitamins in the body. You can also get a VA rating for osteomalacia, a bone condition that can develop as a result of a vitamin D deficiency.
There are various VA ratings for conditions caused by certain vitamin deficiencies. The rating depends on which vitamins you are deficient in and the severity of your symptoms.
Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
