Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is rated 0 percent under DC 7522 - but a 0 percent grant still matters, because service-connected ED entitles you to Special Monthly Compensation (SMC-K) for loss of use of a creative organ, a monthly payment on top of your other compensation.
How the VA rates it
Under DC 7522 (as revised in 2021), erectile dysfunction with or without penile deformity is assigned a single 0 percent (noncompensable) schedular rating. The value of the claim is not the percentage: once ED is service connected, 38 CFR 3.350(a) entitles the veteran to SMC-K for loss of use of a creative organ - an added monthly payment (roughly $135-140 per month as of 2026, adjusted annually with COLA) paid in addition to regular compensation at any combined rating. Disease or traumatic injury of the penis resulting in scarring or deformity is also rated under this code.
Rating criteria by percentage
Rated up to 0%Erectile dysfunction, with or without penile deformity. The 0 percent rating establishes service connection and triggers review for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC-K) under 38 CFR 3.350.
What those terms mean
- SMC
- — Special Monthly Compensation — extra tax-free pay on top of your rating for specific losses (e.g., SMC-K for loss of use of a creative organ).
Secondary condition strategy
This is often secondary to
If you already have one of these service-connected, it may support connecting this condition.
- Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 — ED secondary to diabetes (vascular and nerve damage) is one of the most commonly granted diabetes secondaries.
- PTSD — ED is commonly claimed secondary to PTSD and its medications - SSRIs and other psychiatric drugs list sexual dysfunction as a frequent side effect.
- Hypertension — Both hypertension itself and common blood pressure medications (beta blockers, thiazide diuretics) are recognized causes of ED.
- Prostate conditions and treatment — Prostate cancer treatment (surgery, radiation) and other prostate conditions frequently cause ED.
Evidence that strengthens this claim
- Almost all ED grants are secondary claims - identify the service-connected condition or medication causing it and get a medical opinion naming the mechanism.
- Pharmacy records showing SSRIs, beta blockers, or diuretics prescribed for service-connected conditions, with start dates that precede the ED, make the medication pathway concrete.
- Check your decision letter: when VA grants ED it should award SMC-K automatically. If the SMC-K award is missing, file for it - it is not optional extra credit, it is an entitlement.
- A statement about onset and progression, plus notes from your provider (or a prescription for ED medication), is usually sufficient medical evidence of the condition itself.
Filing notes
The DBQ for male reproductive organ conditions covers ED. Confirm the rating decision includes the SMC-K award under 38 CFR 3.350(a); this payment continues regardless of your combined percentage.
Related diagnostic codes
More genitourinary conditions
Kidney Stones (Nephrolithiasis)
Recurrent kidney stones are rated under DC 7508. Frequent stone formation requiring procedures more than twice a year rates 30 percent; otherwise stones are rated like hydronephrosis (10-30 percent) based on how often colic attacks occur and whether infection or drainage is involved.
Rated up to 30%
Urinary Frequency / Voiding Dysfunction
Urinary frequency and other voiding problems are rated under the voiding dysfunction criteria in 38 CFR 4.115a, which apply across many genitourinary codes (this entry uses DC 7542, neurogenic bladder, as the anchor). Ratings run 10-40 percent for frequency, up to 60 percent for urine leakage requiring pads, and up to 30 percent for obstructed voiding.
Rated up to 60%
Disclaimer: Valor Rating is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Always review your documents carefully before submitting to the VA. For official guidance, consult an accredited VSO, claims agent, or attorney.