EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Bulimia Nervosa
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.130 (Mental disorders) · reviewed 2026-05-15 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Bulimia Nervosa is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 9521 of 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9521 across 6 severity tiers (0% / 10% / 30% / 50% / 70%…). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, fasting, or excessive exercise, along with self-evaluation unduly influenced by body shape and weight.
RATING CRITERIA (6 LEVELS)
0%
A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication.
10%
Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency only during periods of significant stress; or, symptoms controlled by continuous medication.
30%
Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment.
50%
Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty maintaining effective work and social relationships.
70%
Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation, near-continuous depression, neglect of hygiene, inability to maintain effective relationships.
100%
Total occupational and social impairment due to gross impairment in thought processes, persistent danger of hurting self, inability to perform activities of daily living.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.130 (Mental disorders). Source verified 2026-05-15 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team during a regulation-text comparison against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026