What rates 30% for Mastectomy Residuals under 38 CFR § 4.116, DC 7626?

Under 38 CFR § 4.116, DC 7626 (DC 7626), a 30% rating for Mastectomy Residuals requires: Simple mastectomy or wide local excision with significant alteration of size or form, ONE breast.

What rates 40% for Mastectomy Residuals under 38 CFR § 4.116, DC 7626?

Under 38 CFR § 4.116, DC 7626 (DC 7626), a 40% rating for Mastectomy Residuals requires: Modified radical mastectomy, ONE breast.

What rates 60% for Mastectomy Residuals under 38 CFR § 4.116, DC 7626?

Under 38 CFR § 4.116, DC 7626 (DC 7626), a 60% rating for Mastectomy Residuals requires: Modified radical mastectomy, BOTH breasts.

What rates 80% for Mastectomy Residuals under 38 CFR § 4.116, DC 7626?

Under 38 CFR § 4.116, DC 7626 (DC 7626), a 80% rating for Mastectomy Residuals requires: Radical mastectomy, BOTH breasts.

What happens during a C&P exam for Mastectomy Residuals?

Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation. Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.

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Mastectomy Residuals

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Mastectomy Residuals?

Mastectomy Residuals (DC 7626) is rated at 0%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80% under 38 CFR § 4.116, DC 7626. Wide local excision without significant alteration of size or form (lumpectomy without major cosmetic deformity) — bilateral or unilateral.

Q: What rates 0% for Mastectomy Residuals under 38 CFR § 4.116, DC 7626?

Under 38 CFR § 4.116, DC 7626 (DC 7626), a 0% rating for Mastectomy Residuals requires: Wide local excision without significant alteration of size or form (lumpectomy without major cosmetic deformity) — bilateral or unilateral.

Q: What rates 50% for Mastectomy Residuals under 38 CFR § 4.116, DC 7626?

Under 38 CFR § 4.116, DC 7626 (DC 7626), a 50% rating for Mastectomy Residuals requires: Radical mastectomy, ONE breast — OR — Simple mastectomy or wide local excision with significant alteration of size or form, BOTH breasts.

Q: What evidence do I need for a Mastectomy Residuals VA claim?

Key evidence for a Mastectomy Residuals claim includes: 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. All evidence should document both the condition and its impact on daily functioning.

DC 7626 | 38 CFR § 4.116, DC 7626 | 

✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.116 (Gynecological conditions and disorders of the breast) · reviewed 2026-05-15 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team

Mastectomy Residuals is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 7626 of 38 CFR § 4.116, DC 7626 across 6 severity tiers (0% / 30% / 40% / 50% / 60%…). 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

Residual effects from surgical removal of breast tissue including scarring, chest wall pain, lymphedema, restricted range of motion, and psychological impact. Rating depends on extent of tissue loss and whether reconstruction was performed.

RATING CRITERIA (6 LEVELS)

Wide local excision without significant alteration of size or form (lumpectomy without major cosmetic deformity) — bilateral or unilateral.

30%

Simple mastectomy or wide local excision with significant alteration of size or form, ONE breast.

40%

Modified radical mastectomy, ONE breast.

50%

Radical mastectomy, ONE breast — OR — Simple mastectomy or wide local excision with significant alteration of size or form, BOTH breasts.

60%

Modified radical mastectomy, BOTH breasts.

80%

Radical mastectomy, BOTH breasts.

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.

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SOURCES & EDITORIAL

Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.116 (Gynecological conditions and disorders of the breast). 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.

→ View § 4.116 on eCFR → Cornell Law mirror → Editorial Standards → Suggest a correction

EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026

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