Gout is rated by the VA under Diagnostic Code 5017, which points back to the criteria for rheumatoid arthritis in Diagnostic Code 5002. Depending on how often you have flare-ups and how much they affect your health, the VA assigns a rating of 20%, 40%, 60%, or 100%. In 2026, those ratings pay between $356.66 and $3,938.58 per month for a veteran with no dependents. Below is how the VA decides which percentage you get, what evidence moves a claim forward, and how to file.
How the VA Rates Gout
Gout does not have its own separate rating schedule. Diagnostic Code 5017 directs the VA to evaluate it exactly like rheumatoid arthritis under DC 5002, using one of two approaches:
- As an active process (flare-up frequency and severity), or
- By limitation of motion of whichever joint or joints gout has damaged, if the active flare-ups have mostly resolved into chronic joint damage.
The VA uses whichever method results in a higher rating for a given case, but the two cannot be combined for the same joint. If you have permanent joint damage from repeated gout attacks (for example, a big toe joint that no longer moves normally), the VA may instead rate that joint under the diagnostic code for the specific body part, such as DC 5284 for the foot.
Gout Rating Chart (Active Process, DC 5002/5017)
| Rating | Criteria | 2026 Monthly Payment (Veteran Alone) |
|---|
| 20% | One or two exacerbations (flare-ups) per year in a well-established diagnosis | $356.66 |
| 40% | Three or more incapacitating exacerbations per year, or symptom combinations that cause definite impairment of health confirmed by exam findings | $795.84 |
| 60% | Four or more severely incapacitating exacerbations per year (or fewer occurring over a prolonged period), with documented weight loss and anemia | $1,435.02 |
| 100% | Constitutional manifestations tied to active joint involvement that are totally incapacitating | $3,938.58 |
An "exacerbation" or "incapacitating episode" generally means a flare-up severe enough that a doctor prescribed bed rest or treatment, not just any painful day. Keeping a symptom log with dates, duration, and whether you saw a provider is one of the most useful things you can do before a claim or exam.
If your gout is inactive but has left permanent joint damage, the VA can instead rate the affected joint based on limitation of motion. For example, if gout has fused or severely restricted your big toe, ankle, or knee, that joint could be separately rated using the diagnostic code specific to that body part, which sometimes results in a higher combined rating than the active-process schedule alone.
Getting Service Connection for Gout
To be rated at all, gout first has to be service connected. There are three common paths:
Direct service connection. You had a diagnosed gout attack while on active duty, and medical records show the flare-up occurred during service. This is the most straightforward path but the least common, since gout often develops later in life.
Presumptive or in-service onset with continuity. Your first documented attack happened during service (or shortly after separation) and you can show ongoing treatment since then, even if the condition worsened gradually.
Secondary service connection. This is the most frequent route for veterans filing gout claims today. Gout is strongly linked to several already-common service-connected conditions:
- Chronic kidney disease reduces the kidneys' ability to clear uric acid, which builds up and triggers gout attacks
- Hypertension, and some blood pressure medications (particularly diuretics), raise uric acid levels
- Type 2 diabetes and obesity are both associated with elevated uric acid and gout risk
- PTSD and other mental health conditions have been connected to gout in some claims through medication side effects and metabolic changes
If you already have a service-connected condition from this list, a secondary claim for gout may be worth filing, supported by a nexus letter from a treating physician or independent medical examiner explaining the medical link.
Evidence That Strengthens a Gout Claim
- Diagnosis records confirming gout, ideally with uric acid lab results (serum urate levels) from the time of a flare-up
- A detailed flare-up log noting dates, duration, whether you could bear weight or work, and what treatment was needed
- Treatment history, including medications like allopurinol, colchicine, or NSAIDs prescribed specifically for gout
- A nexus letter connecting gout to service (direct claims) or to an existing service-connected condition (secondary claims)
- Lay statements from you, family, or coworkers describing how flare-ups limit mobility, work attendance, or daily activities
What Happens at the C&P Exam
If the VA schedules a Compensation & Pension exam, there is no dedicated DBQ form just for gout. Examiners typically use the DBQ for whichever joint is affected, such as the foot, knee, or ankle conditions questionnaire. Because gout comes and goes, you may be examined during a period when your joints look and feel normal. That does not mean your rating has to reflect a "good day."
Current DBQ forms require the examiner to estimate functional loss during a typical flare-up, even if you are not actively flaring at the time of the exam. Bring a written statement describing your worst attack in detail: how long it lasted, whether you could walk or bear weight, whether a doctor ordered bed rest, and what medication was required. Ask the examiner to include this in the report. If an exam fails to address flare-up-based functional loss, that is grounds to appeal or request a new exam.
How to File a Gout Claim
- Gather medical evidence. Pull service treatment records, current diagnosis and lab results, and any secondary condition records if applicable.
- File the claim. Submit online at VA.gov, by mail using VA Form 21-526EZ, in person at a regional office, or through an accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO).
- Attend the C&P exam if scheduled, and bring your flare-up log and written statement.
- Track the claim through your VA.gov account. Average processing time for standard disability claims runs several months, though it varies by regional office and claim complexity.
- Review the decision letter. If the rating seems too low based on your flare-up frequency, you can file a Supplemental Claim with new evidence, a Higher-Level Review, or an appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
Combining Gout With Other Ratings
Gout is rarely a veteran's only service-connected condition. If you also have hypertension, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, or joint damage in a specific body part from gout, each condition is rated separately and then combined using VA math (not simple addition) to produce your overall combined rating. A veteran with several moderate ratings can end up at 70%, 80%, or 100% combined even if no single condition alone reaches that level. If you are unsure which conditions might qualify or how they stack up, our free benefits screener can help you see what else you may be eligible for beyond VA disability, including healthcare and income-based programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VA diagnostic code for gout?
Gout is rated under Diagnostic Code 5017, which applies the same rating criteria as Diagnostic Code 5002 for rheumatoid arthritis. There is no separate rating schedule written specifically for gout.
What is the highest VA rating for gout?
The highest schedular rating for gout as an active process is 100%, reserved for constitutional manifestations tied to active joint involvement that are totally incapacitating. If gout has caused permanent joint damage in a specific body part, that joint might also be rated separately under a different diagnostic code, which can affect your combined rating.
Can gout be rated at 0%?
Yes. If gout is service connected but diagnostic testing and history do not show ongoing flare-ups meeting the 20% threshold, the VA can assign a 0% (noncompensable) rating. This still establishes service connection, which matters if the condition worsens later or contributes to a secondary claim.
Is gout a presumptive condition for veterans?
Gout itself is not on the VA's list of presumptive conditions tied to specific exposures like Agent Orange or burn pits. Most veterans qualify for service connection either through documented onset during service or as secondary to an already service-connected condition such as kidney disease or hypertension.
Can I get VA disability for gout caused by medication for another condition?
Yes. If a medication prescribed for a service-connected condition, such as a diuretic for hypertension, is documented as contributing to your gout, this can support a secondary service connection claim. A nexus letter from your treating physician explaining the medication link strengthens this type of claim significantly.
How often do gout flare-ups need to happen to get a higher rating?
The VA rating schedule uses these general thresholds: one to two flare-ups per year for 20%, three or more for 40%, and four or more severely incapacitating flare-ups per year (or fewer over a prolonged period) with weight loss and anemia for 60%. Keeping a dated log of every flare-up and its severity is the clearest way to document which tier applies to your case.
Does a higher gout rating come with dependent pay?
Ratings of 30% or higher come with additional monthly compensation for a spouse, children, or dependent parents. Since gout alone often falls at 20% or 40%, whether you receive dependent pay depends on your combined rating across all service-connected conditions, not the gout rating in isolation.
