Cold-Weather Injury Residuals

What Cold injury is

• Frostbite — superficial through full-thickness tissue freezing.
• Trench foot / immersion foot — prolonged wet-cold exposure.
• Chilblains (pernio) — recurrent inflammatory response to cold exposure.
• Residuals: peripheral neuropathy, cold hypersensitivity, Raynaud's-like phenomena, arthritis, nail dystrophy, hyperhidrosis.

Who was exposed

• Korean War combat veterans (Chosin Reservoir, winter campaigns).
• WWII veterans in the European theater (Bastogne, Hürtgen Forest).
• Aleutian campaign veterans (WWII).
• Modern cold-weather operators: Alaska, Norway, Korea winter rotations, mountain warfare.

Recognized conditions & VA framework

• Cold-injury residuals are rated under 38 CFR § 4.104 DC 7122 — separate rating for each affected extremity.
• Secondary peripheral neuropathy (rated separately under the neurological codes).
• Secondary arthritis in cold-injured joints.
• Service connection is generally awarded when service records document the cold-injury event or the veteran provides credible lay evidence of cold exposure with current residuals.

Evidence to gather

• Service records or unit operations records documenting cold exposure (e.g., Korea winter 1950 – 1951).
• Treating-provider notes describing cold sensitivity, neuropathy, or chronic pain in affected extremities.
• Buddy statements describing the original cold exposure event.
• Photos of skin or nail changes, if relevant.
• Vascular and neurological testing to support secondary claims.

Claim path

1. File under direct service connection citing the original cold-injury event.
2. Rate each affected extremity separately under DC 7122.
3. Add secondary conditions (peripheral neuropathy, arthritis) under their own diagnostic codes.

Authoritative reference

VA Public Health publishes its own overview of this exposure. Use it as a citation in your claim narrative: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/cold-injuries/index.asp

Where these claims break down

• ×Filing one bilateral 'cold injury' claim instead of one per affected extremity.
• ×Forgetting secondary peripheral neuropathy and arthritis ratings.
• ×Not documenting the original cold-exposure event with a buddy statement if service records are silent.

Frequently Asked Questions