EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.88b (Infectious diseases, immune disorders, and nutritional deficiencies) · reviewed 2026-05-27 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 6350 of 38 CFR § 4.88b, DC 6350 across 3 severity tiers (100% / 60% / 10%). 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
Chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the body's own tissues. Affects joints, skin, kidneys, brain, heart, and lungs. Characterized by flares and remissions. More common in women and may be triggered by environmental exposures during military service.
RATING CRITERIA (3 LEVELS)
100%
Acute, with frequent exacerbations, producing severe impairment of health.
60%
Exacerbations lasting a week or more, 2 or 3 times per year.
10%
Exacerbations once or twice a year or symptomatic during the past 2 years.
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. § 4.88b (Infectious diseases, immune disorders, and nutritional deficiencies). Source verified 2026-05-27 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