Cognitive Disorder / Dementia
DC 9300-9326 §4.130 Mental Health ICD-10: F03.90 Direct
Includes major neurocognitive disorder (dementia), often secondary to TBI or substance use.
VA rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Total occupational and social impairment. Persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living; disorientation; memory loss. |
| 70% | Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. Suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals; near-continuous panic or depression; impaired impulse control; spatial disorientation; neglect of personal hygiene; difficulty adapting; inability to establish/maintain effective relationships. |
| 50% | Reduced reliability and productivity. Flattened affect; circumstantial speech; panic attacks more than weekly; difficulty with complex commands; impairment of memory; impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; mood disturbances; difficulty in workplace and social relationships. |
| 30% | Occasional decrease in work efficiency, intermittent inability to perform tasks. Depressed mood; anxiety; suspiciousness; panic attacks weekly or less; chronic sleep impairment; mild memory loss. |
| 10% | Mild or transient symptoms decreasing efficiency only during stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication. |
| 0% | Diagnosed but not severe enough to interfere with functioning. |
Often claimed secondary to
If you're already service-connected for any of these, Cognitive Disorder / Dementia is often a viable secondary claim.
Filing this claim
This is typically filed as a direct service connection claim. You need a current diagnosis, evidence of in-service event or exposure, and a nexus letter linking them. Use the letter generators to draft your nexus letter and Statement in Support of Claim.
Step by step
- File an Intent to File (Form 21-0966) to lock your effective date.
- Confirm you have a current medical diagnosis in a medical record.
- Get a nexus letter — magic phrase: "at least as likely as not."
- Write a Statement in Support of Claim (21-4138).
- If applicable, gather buddy statements (21-10210).
- File the formal 21-526EZ.
Source: 38 CFR §4.130. For exact regulatory language, consult eCFR Title 38. This is general education — for your specific case, consult a VA-accredited representative.