Type 2 diabetes qualifies through multiple secondary and presumptive pathways. Brightview writes the letter that finally uses the right one.
VA Rating Criteria
Diagnostic Code 7913 — evaluated by treatment requirements and complications.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Manageable by restricted diet only. |
| 20% | Requires insulin and restricted diet, or oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet. |
| 40% | Requires insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities. |
| 60% | Requires insulin, restricted diet, and regulation of activities with episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring one or two hospitalizations per year, or twice-a-month visits to a diabetic care provider, plus complications that would not be compensable if separately rated. |
| 100% | Requires more than one daily injection of insulin, restricted diet, regulation of activities, plus episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring at least three hospitalizations per year or weekly visits to a diabetic care provider, plus progressive loss of weight and strength or complications that would be compensable if separately rated. |
Source: 38 CFR § 4.119, DC 7913. Individual results depend on the medical evidence in your record.
Secondary Pathways
Direct service connection isn't the only path. If you already have a service-connected condition below, Dr. Allen can evaluate whether it caused or aggravated your diabetes.
Repeated oxygen fluctuations, fragmented sleep, and impaired insulin sensitivity from obstructive sleep apnea can materially contribute to Type 2 diabetes.
Learn more →Chronic stress-system activation, disrupted sleep, and reduced activity from psychiatric conditions can drive weight gain and insulin resistance.
Learn more →Certain psychotropic medications contribute to weight gain, insulin resistance, and elevated blood glucose. This pathway is frequently overlooked at the C&P level.
Learn more →VA recognizes obesity as an intermediate step. A service-connected condition that reduces activity or increases appetite can lead to weight gain, and weight gain can lead to diabetes.
One clinic. One psychiatrist. One standard.
Most type 2 diabetes claims aren't denied because the veteran doesn't deserve service connection — they're denied because the letter behind the claim wasn't written to the VA's evidentiary standard. Dr. Jessica Allen writes every Brightview letter personally, using the exact clinical and legal language raters are trained to look for.
Why other type 2 diabetes letters get denied
How Brightview wins them
Don't count yourself out
Half the veterans we help were told they had no case. They did. They just didn't have the right medical opinion in the file yet.
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