VA Disability Rating for Fibromyalgia
Fixed ratings: 10/20/40%. Gulf War Illness presumptive for SW Asia vets.
Fibromyalgia (DC 5025) has fixed ratings — no range-of-motion calculation. It is on the Gulf War Illness presumptive list under 38 CFR § 3.317 for veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater (1990-present).
Presumptive framework applies
Gulf War Illness presumptive (38 CFR § 3.317) for veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater (1990-present), Afghanistan (2001-present for qualifying locations).
Check my presumptive eligibility →Rating tiers + 2026 monthly compensation
| Rating | Monthly (2026, single vet) | Criteria (summary) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | Symptoms requiring continuous medication for control. |
| 20% | $356.66 | Symptoms episodic, with exacerbations occurring more than one third of the time. |
| 40% | $795.84 | Symptoms constant, or nearly so, and refractory to therapy. |
Dollar amounts reflect the 2.5% COLA effective 2025-12-01 for single veterans with no dependents. Add spouse + children for 30%+ ratings via the estimator.
What this means in dollars
- →At 10%: $180.42/mo · $2,165/year, tax-free
- →At 20%: $356.66/mo · $4,280/year, tax-free
- →At 40%: $795.84/mo · $9,550/year, tax-free
How to get rated for fibromyalgia
- Diagnosis from rheumatologist (preferred) or PCP.
- Gulf War vets: file under presumptive framework — no nexus letter required.
- Document tender points and widespread pain pattern.
Common secondary conditions
- +Depression
- +Sleep disturbance
- +IBS
- +Migraine
File these separately. VA rates each service-connected condition independently and combines them via § 4.25.
Nexus tips
- Gulf War presumptive — no mechanism-of-injury required. Just cite qualifying service.
Frequently asked
Is fibromyalgia presumptive for all vets?
No — only for Gulf War-era vets (SW Asia theater 1990-present). Other vets need direct service connection.
Ready to act on this?
Get a full rating estimate across your conditions, or draft the nexus letter your doctor needs to sign.
Related conditions
This page summarizes public rating criteria from 38 CFR Part 4. It is not legal or medical advice. Actual VA ratings depend on C&P exam findings, records review, and rater discretion.