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If you are a veteran diagnosed with cysts, you may be pleased to learn that you may qualify for VA disability for cysts. There are many types of cysts, each with different symptoms and possible complications, including infection, loss of function, and surgery.
This post breaks down the VA rating schedule for non-cancerous cysts and how to get service connected. We’ll also describe related secondary conditions and special monthly compensation linked with cysts.
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Points
- The VA rates cysts without complications at 0%, 10%, and 30%, depending on whether you require treatment or continuous intervention.
- You may be eligible for a higher VA disability rating if you suffer from cyst complications.
- To be eligible for a VA disability for cysts, you must show a link between your condition and military service (i.e., a “nexus”).
- You may qualify for VA disability for secondary conditions, such as ovarian torsion from ovarian cyst complications.
- You may qualify for a “special monthly compensation” (SMC) If complications from a cyst result in the loss of organs or body parts (e.g., ovaries or testicle)
What Are Cysts?
A cyst is a general term for a fluid or semi-fluid-filled (i.e., “keratin-containing”) sac that can appear anywhere on the body. Cysts may also be filled with blood, tissue, hair, bones, or organs. Cysts may be small and require no treatment, or they can be large enough to cause severe complications, such as chronic (i.e., long-term) pelvic pain and bleeding caused by ovarian cysts. There are hundreds of types of cysts, and most are non-cancerous.
Types of Cysts and Associated Symptoms
Symptoms of cysts vary greatly depending on the type of cyst and the area of the body involved, but often, the symptoms include swelling, pain, redness, lumps, and discharge.
There are hundreds of different types of cysts. According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the most common types include:
- Ovarian cysts: Most ovarian cysts are harmless and do not cause symptoms; they usually disappear on their own without treatment. Occasionally, they can rupture (i.e., burst) or twist, causing pain, nausea and vomiting, or menstrual irregularities.
- Ganglion cyst: A lump filled with jelly-like fluid with a round or oval shape that often occurs on the foot or ankle: when ganglion cysts press on the nerve, it can cause pain.
- Breast cyst: A cyst of any size, but usually between 1 to 2 inches in diameter, felt as a lump,
;sometimes breast cysts are considered “micro cysts,” meaning they are too small to feel, so they must be diagnosed via imaging tests.
- Pancreatic cyst: Most pancreatic cysts do not cause symptoms, but when they do, they often involve nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and weight loss.
- Pilonidal cyst: Abnormal pockets or bumps in the buttocks, usually near the tailbone at the top of the buttocks. A pilonidal cyst may not cause symptoms, but if it gets infected, it can result in swelling, pain, pus, or bleeding.
- Kidney cyst: A kidney cyst can become infected, burst, or affect normal urine flow. Common symptoms include fever, pain, blood in the urine, and kidney swelling.
VA Disability for Cysts
The VA disability rating for cysts is listed under 38 CFR § 4.116 – Schedule of ratings—gynecological conditions and disorders of the breast Diagnostic Code (DC) diagnostic code (DC) 7615, which pertains to “disease, injury, or adhesions of the ovary” (including cysts).
VA Ratings for Cysts
VA ratings for cysts vary, depending on factors such as the symptom severity and whether you need treatment. The VA rates cysts at 0%, 10%, and 30%; the breakdown is as follows:
0% Rating – Symptoms that do not require continuous treatment.
10% Rating – Symptoms that require continuous treatment
30% rating – Symptoms not controlled by continuous treatment
Note: An ovarian disease or injury that causes ovarian problems (e.g., dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea)—that impact the menstrual cycle—is rated under DC 7615.
VA Disability for Testicular Cysts
There are several types of testicular cysts, including:
- An epididymal cyst VA rating – a painless, fluid-filled cyst in the long, tightly coiled tube that stores sperm, located above and behind each testicle.
- Spermatocele VA rating – a fluid-filled cyst located in the epididymis
- Sebaceous cyst VA rating – a cyst on the scrotum (i.e., testicle sac) that contains a yellowish, oily liquid.’
- Testicular cyst may be rated under 38 CFR § 4.115b. If it causes testicular atrophy (i.e., shrinkage), it may be rated under DC 7523. If the cyst leads to chronic epididymal-orchitis (a type of inflammation of the testes and epididymis), it may be rated under DC 7525, which is evaluated as a urinary tract infection.
- As atrophy of the testicle – when the cyst causes significant shrinkage or damage to the affected testicle
- As an inflammatory condition called epididymo-orchitis – (for cysts that cause pain, swelling, or other complications in the testis or epididymis).
- As a urinary tract infection – for cysts that cause long-term infections or require frequent treatment
- As a special monthly compensation (SMC-K) – for loss of use of a creative organ if an orchiectomy (i.e., removal of one or both testicles) is required. See the VA rating table for SMC-K here.
Note: the epididymis is a coiled tube located above each testicle that stores and transports sperm. Orchitis is inflammation of the testicle.
VA Disability Rating for Urinary Tract Infections (38 CFR § 4.115a)
The table for cysts that are rated under the VA’s rating table for urinary tract infections is featured below.
| VA Rating | Qualifying Criteria |
| 30% | Recurrent symptomatic infection requiring drainage by stent or nephrostomy tube; or requiring greater than 2 hospitalizations per year, or requiring continuous intensive management |
| 10% | Recurrent symptomatic infection requiring 1-2 hospitalizations per year or suppressive drug therapy lasting six months or longer |
| 0% | Recurrent symptomatic infection not requiring hospitalization, but requiring suppressive drug therapy for less than 6 months |
Special Considerations for Ovarian Cyst VA Rating
Ovarian cysts are often confused with premenstrual syndrome. If an ovarian cyst was mistakenly diagnosed as premenstrual syndrome during your military service, you can file for disability benefits even if your cysts were diagnosed after you completed your military service. But this doesn’t mean you will automatically be approved.
Service Connection for Cysts
To get rated and collect disability for cysts, you must be able to establish a service connection; this means you will need to prove that the cyst developed during your military service.
(VIDEO) The SECRET to Proving Your VA Service-Connected Disability!
For cyst claims, there are three primary requirements, including:
- A current diagnosis of cysts in your medical record (note: if you were misdiagnosed, such as in the case of ovarian cysts mentioned above, you would need to show the ‘premenstrual syndrome’ diagnosis in your VA medical chart).
- A description of how your military service contributed to or caused the cyst.
- A medical ‘nexus,’ also known as a Nexus Letter, is a medical opinion written by a licensed healthcare provider stating that it is ‘at least as likely as not’ that your current cyst diagnosis is related to an in-service event or injury.
VA Claims for Conditions Secondary to Cysts
If you develop another VA-ratable condition due to a cyst, you could qualify for a “secondary service connection.”
If you receive VA disability benefits for your cyst, you may be entitled to a secondary VA rating when the primary condition (i.e., the cyst) causes it. For example, a ruptured cyst could cause internal bleeding or sepsis (a severe infection that involves the entire body). In this scenario, “sepsis” could be considered a secondary service-connected disorder.
The secondary condition depends on the type of cyst you have but may include:
- Abscess formations (i.e., infection) – infection could be considered a secondary service-connected condition
- Scarring (when a cyst becomes inflamed or ruptures) – it could result in a “functional secondary condition” claim
- Pain or disfigurement – it could result in a “functional secondary condition” claim
Sometimes, complications related to the underlying cause of your cyst— such as twisting of the ovary from ovarian cysts (i.e., ovarian torsion)— can cause other gynecological problems, which may also be rated for disability benefits. In this scenario, the gynecological problem could be surgical removal of an ovary.
Gynecological complications could include surgery, painful, heavy menstrual bleeding, ovarian twisting, infertility, or other conditions.
Special Monthly Compensation for Organ Loss
If your ovary must be removed due to ovarian cyst complications, you may be eligible to receive a “special monthly compensation (SMC)” which is for veterans who have lost an organ or body part.
To receive compensation for the secondary condition you need to;
- Provide a current diagnosis for your primary condition (i.e., cysts) and a separate diagnosis for your secondary condition
- Already have an established service connection for cysts
- Provide a nexus (i.e., medical evidence showing the link between the cyst and your secondary condition)
Compensation & Pension (C&P) Exam for Cysts
The next step after submitting your disability claim is to undergo a C&P exam, a physical examination performed by a licensed provider.
During the C&P exam, you can explain how the symptoms caused by your cyst adversely affect your life. See the video below for the number one tip during the C&P exam.
(VIDEO) The #1 VA C&P Exam Tip!
How To File Your VA Disability Claim
Steps for filing a claim for a VA rating for cysts include:
- Gather all of your documents – including a current cyst diagnosis and any other medical diagnoses, medical records with diagnostic tests, and a Nexus Letter linking your condition with a military service-related event.
- Complete the VA Form 21-526EZ – include details about how your symptoms impact your daily life and whether you receive treatment now or have required treatment in the past.
- Submit your claim – submit the completed claim form and supporting documents online or in person to the VA regional office handling your claim.
Conclusion
Although there are many different types of cysts, veterans can get VA disability for cysts, provided there’s evidence of a link between an in-service injury or event that caused or contributed to the condition. Typically, a VA disability for cysts is rated at 0%, 10%, or 30% based on whether they require or respond to treatment or cause complications.
(FAQs) Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get VA disability for cysts?
Yes, you get rated for a VA disability for cysts. In most cases, a cyst would receive a 10% rating if it required treatment at one point but did not require continuous treatment. A 30% rating is assigned to veterans who have cyst symptoms that cannot be controlled by treatment.
Are testicular cysts eligible for VA disability compensation?
Yes, testicular cysts may be eligible for VA disability compensation when they cause chronic (i.e., long-term) pain that requires treatment and can be linked to a military service-related injury or event that caused or worsened the condition. If you don’t have pain or other symptoms from the cyst, you will not qualify for disability benefits.
When is a ganglion cyst considered a VA disability?
Veterans with ganglion cysts are considered disabled when they limit their range of motion (the ability to move a limb or joint freely). The most common VA rating is 10%.
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About the Author
Sherry Christiansen
Sherry Christiansen is a professional Medical Writer with a clinical mental health background. Over the last decade, she has written health and wellness articles for organizations like Medical News Today, Verywell Health, and Healthline. In 2013, she also helped launch an educational website for the first Alzheimer’s prevention clinic in the country at Weill Cornell Medical Center – NewYork-Presbyterian. As a spouse of a career military service member, Sherry is deeply passionate about supporting veterans. It is an honor for her to assist veterans in receiving the benefits they deserve after becoming ill or injured while serving our country.
