What happens during a C&P exam for Anorexia Nervosa?

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.

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Anorexia Nervosa

Q: What are the VA rating percentages for Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia Nervosa (DC 9520) is rated at 0%, 10%, 30%, 60%, 100% under 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9520. Binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting or other measures to prevent weight gain, or resistance to weight gain even when below expected minimum weight, with diagnosis of an eating disorder but without incapacitating episodes.

Q: What rates 0% for Anorexia Nervosa under 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9520?

Under 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9520 (DC 9520), a 0% rating for Anorexia Nervosa requires: Binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting or other measures to prevent weight gain, or resistance to weight gain even when below expected minimum weight, with diagnosis of an eating disorder but without incapacitating episodes.

Q: What rates 10% for Anorexia Nervosa under 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9520?

Under 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9520 (DC 9520), a 10% rating for Anorexia Nervosa requires: Binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting or other measures to prevent weight gain, or resistance to weight gain even when below expected minimum weight, with diagnosis of an eating disorder and incapacitating episodes of up to two weeks total duration per year.

Q: What rates 30% for Anorexia Nervosa under 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9520?

Under 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9520 (DC 9520), a 30% rating for Anorexia Nervosa requires: Self-induced weight loss to less than 85 percent of expected minimum weight with incapacitating episodes of more than two but less than six weeks total duration per year.

Q: What rates 60% for Anorexia Nervosa under 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9520?

Under 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9520 (DC 9520), a 60% rating for Anorexia Nervosa requires: Self-induced weight loss to less than 85 percent of expected minimum weight with incapacitating episodes of six or more weeks total duration per year.

Q: What rates 100% for Anorexia Nervosa under 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9520?

Under 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9520 (DC 9520), a 100% rating for Anorexia Nervosa requires: Self-induced weight loss to less than 80 percent of expected minimum weight, with incapacitating episodes of at least six weeks total duration per year, and requiring hospitalization more than twice a year for parenteral nutrition or tube feeding.

Q: What evidence do I need for a Anorexia Nervosa VA claim?

Key evidence for a Anorexia Nervosa 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 952038 C.F.R. § 4.130

Diagnostic Code

DC 9520

38 C.F.R. § 4.130

Rating Range

0–100%

5 severity tiers

Source

Verified

38 C.F.R. § 4.130

Anorexia Nervosa is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 9520 of 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9520 across 5 severity tiers (0% / 10% / 30% / 60% / 100%). 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.

Educational tool only. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.

Overview

Anorexia nervosa is a DSM-5 eating disorder marked by restriction of energy intake that drives a significantly low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight or persistent behavior that interferes with weight gain, and a distorted perception of body weight or shape. DSM-5 recognizes a restricting type and a binge-eating/purging type, and severity is graded by current BMI. Medically it can produce serious complications including amenorrhea, bradycardia, electrolyte derangement, and bone-density loss, which is why the VA rates it on physical impact rather than the mental-impairment scale.

Rating Criteria

Binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting or other measures to prevent weight gain, or resistance to weight gain even when below expected minimum weight, with diagnosis of an eating disorder but without incapacitating episodes.

10%

30%

Self-induced weight loss to less than 85 percent of expected minimum weight with incapacitating episodes of more than two but less than six weeks total duration per year.

60%

Self-induced weight loss to less than 85 percent of expected minimum weight with incapacitating episodes of six or more weeks total duration per year.

100%

Self-induced weight loss to less than 80 percent of expected minimum weight, with incapacitating episodes of at least six weeks total duration per year, and requiring hospitalization more than twice a year for parenteral nutrition or tube feeding.

03Key Evidence

—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

04C&P Exam Tips

1Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.

2Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.

3Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.

4Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).

5If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.

6Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.

Tools

Rating Calculator →Secondaries Explorer →C&P Exam Prep →PACT Act Scanner →2026 Rates →

Sources & Editorial

Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.130 (Mental disorders). Source verified 2026-06-03 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.

View § 4.130 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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