EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Pheochromocytoma
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.119 (Endocrine system) · reviewed 2026-05-15 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Pheochromocytoma is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 7918 of 38 CFR § 4.119, DC 7911 across 2 severity tiers (100% / 0%). 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
Rare tumor of the adrenal gland that produces excess adrenaline and noradrenaline, causing severe episodes of high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, headaches, and sweating.
RATING CRITERIA (2 LEVELS)
100%
When the underlying tumor is malignant (~10% of pheochromocytomas), DC 7914 verbatim — 100% during/after surgical, X-ray, antineoplastic chemotherapy or other therapeutic procedure; mandatory VA examination at six months; any rating change subject to § 3.105(e); if no recurrence or metastasis, rate-as residuals of endocrine dysfunction (paroxysmal/sustained hypertension under DC 7101, cardiac sequelae from catecholamine excess, headaches under DC 8100, anxiety/panic under § 4.130).
0%
Evaluate as a malignant (DC 7914) or benign (DC 7915) endocrine neoplasm, as appropriate. Most pheochromocytomas (~90%) are benign and rated under DC 7915, with the disability rated on the basis of the resulting dysfunction (paroxysmal and sustained hypertension under § 4.104, DC 7101; cardiac sequelae from catecholamine excess; headaches under § 4.124a, DC 8100; anxiety/panic-like symptoms under § 4.130). Malignant pheochromocytoma follows DC 7914 (100% during/after active treatment; mandatory VA exam at 6 months; rating change subject to § 3.105(e)).
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. § 4.119 (Endocrine system). 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