★ Rating percentages & 2026 pay
VA Rating for Gout
38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5017 (rated as rheumatoid arthritis under DC 5002)
Every percentage, and what it pays in 2026
| Rating | 2026 monthly | What that level generally requires |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $357/mo | One or two exacerbations a year in a well-established diagnosis (active process). |
| 40% | $796/mo | Symptom combinations productive of definite impairment of health objectively supported, or incapacitating exacerbations occurring 3 or more times per year. |
| 60% | $1,435/mo | Symptom combinations less than the criteria for 100% but with weight loss and anemia productive of severe impairment of health, or severely incapacitating exacerbations 4 or more times per year, or a lesser number over prolonged periods. |
| 100% | $3,939/mo | Constitutional manifestations associated with active joint involvement, totally incapacitating. |
| Residuals | — | When the active process is no longer present, rate on limitation of motion of the affected joints under the appropriate musculoskeletal codes. Use whichever method (active process vs residuals) gives the higher rating, but not both. |
Criteria paraphrased from 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5017 (rated as rheumatoid arthritis under DC 5002). Rates are the published 2026 schedule (effective December 1, 2025, 2.8% COLA) and are shown for reference only — they are not an estimate of what any individual claim will pay. 10% and 20% pay a flat amount with no dependent increase.
What it adds to your existing rating
Combine it with your current rating
VA does not add ratings together — it combines them on a "whole person" basis under 38 CFR § 4.25, then rounds to the nearest 10.
Illustrative math on the published 2026 rate schedule for a veteran with no dependents. It is not a prediction, an estimate of your claim, or a statement that any rating is achievable.
Why a rating lands lower than the records suggest
- The exam captured a good day. Ratings are built from what the C&P examiner recorded. If flare-ups, fatigue, or repeated-use loss were not documented, they were not rated — 38 CFR § 4.40 and § 4.45 require them to be considered when they are in the record.
- The criteria were read as a checklist. Under 38 CFR § 4.7, when the disability picture more nearly approximates the higher level, the higher level applies. A partially-met tier is not automatically the lower tier.
- Secondary conditions were never claimed. A separately ratable secondary condition adds to the combined rating; it does not raise this diagnostic code's percentage.
- Pyramiding was applied too broadly. 38 CFR § 4.14 bars rating the same symptom twice — it does not bar rating distinct manifestations under different codes.
For the full evidence checklist, C&P exam detail, and secondary pathways, read the complete Gout claim guide.
Common questions
What is the highest VA rating for Gout?
The schedular maximum under 38 CFR § 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5017 (rated as rheumatoid arthritis under DC 5002) is 100%. A higher combined rating is possible when other service-connected conditions, secondary conditions, or an extraschedular or TDIU pathway apply, but those are separate determinations.
How much does a 100% rating pay in 2026?
$3,939 per month for a veteran with no dependents, under the rate schedule effective December 1, 2025 (2.8% COLA). Ratings of 30% and above increase with dependents.
Can Gout be rated at 0%?
Yes. VA can grant service connection and assign a noncompensable (0%) rating when the condition is established but the findings do not meet the criteria for a compensable level. A 0% rating still preserves the effective date and can be increased later if the condition worsens.
What counts as an 'incapacitating exacerbation'?
VA generally interprets this as a flare severe enough to require physician-prescribed bed rest or active treatment by a physician. Self-managed flares may not count even if they kept you home from work.
Can I claim gout secondary to my service-connected hypertension?
Yes — diuretics (especially hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide) are well-documented in medical literature as gout triggers. If you developed gout after starting a diuretic for service-connected hypertension, that supports a secondary or aggravation claim.
Think your Gout rating is too low?
Four fields. A VA-accredited claims agent reviews it and responds within 3–5 business days. No fee unless past-due benefits are awarded on an appeal.
Requesting a consultation does not create representation and is not a guarantee of any outcome. Representation begins only after a written fee agreement and VA Form 21-22a are signed.