This tool provides estimates for educational purposes only. We are not accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs and do not file claims, provide legal advice, or represent veterans before the VA (38 U.S.C. § 5904). For official assistance, contact a VSO, CVSO, or VA-accredited attorney.
Fibromyalgia
- Fibromyalgia has a maximum schedular rating of 40%.
- Diagnosed clinically, there are no imaging studies or blood tests that confirm fibromyalgia.
- Often secondary to PTSD or TBI, with shared mechanisms involving central sensitization and chronic stress.
- Gulf War veterans have higher rates of fibromyalgia, and it may qualify as a Gulf War presumptive condition.
- The rating is based on symptom persistence and response to therapy, not objective test results.
Based on VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities (38 CFR Part 4) and related service-connection regulations. This page is a free community resource. We are not VA-accredited and do not file claims or provide legal advice (per 38 U.S.C. § 5904).
Last reviewed: April 2026 · Next review: October 2026
Maintained by: Veterans Benefits Navigator editorial team. Every citation links to a primary federal or state source. See editorial standards and our privacy posture.
Primary sources: 38 CFR Part 4 (Schedule for Rating Disabilities), VA.gov disability compensation, 38 CFR § 3.310 (secondary service connection)
Overview
Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive disturbances. It is rated under Diagnostic Code 5025, which provides a unique rating framework based on the persistence of symptoms and their response to therapy, rather than range of motion or imaging findings.
The VA rates fibromyalgia at three compensable levels: 10% when continuous medication is required for control, 20% when symptoms are episodic but present for about one-third of the time, and 40% (the maximum) when symptoms are constant or nearly constant and refractory to therapy. Unlike many musculoskeletal conditions, fibromyalgia ratings do not rely on objective imaging or measurable physical findings, the condition is diagnosed clinically based on the pattern of widespread pain and associated symptoms.
Fibromyalgia is increasingly recognized in the veteran population, particularly among those with PTSD, TBI, or Gulf War illness. Research shows that chronic stress, trauma, and central sensitization, common in combat veterans, are associated with higher rates of fibromyalgia. The condition may be claimed as a direct service-connected condition or as secondary to PTSD or TBI.
Rating Criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points, with or without associated fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, and paresthesias, that require continuous medication for control. |
| 20% | Symptoms that are episodic, with exacerbations often precipitated by environmental or emotional stress or by overexertion, but that are present more than one-third of the time. |
| 40% | Symptoms that are constant, or nearly so, and refractory to therapy. This is the maximum schedular rating for fibromyalgia. |
- 10%
Widespread musculoskeletal pain and tender points, with or without associated fatigue, sleep disturbance, stiffness, and paresthesias, that require continuous medication for control.
- 20%
Symptoms that are episodic, with exacerbations often precipitated by environmental or emotional stress or by overexertion, but that are present more than one-third of the time.
- 40%
Symptoms that are constant, or nearly so, and refractory to therapy. This is the maximum schedular rating for fibromyalgia.
These criteria describe how a VA Compensation & Pension examiner evaluates the condition during a rating exam. They are not a self-test. For mental health conditions under 38 CFR 4.130, a diagnosis must be made by a qualified clinician under DSM-5. Actual ratings depend on the totality of evidence reviewed by the VA.
Evidence Checklist
Required
Rheumatology evaluation
Evaluation by a rheumatologist documenting widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body and the axial skeleton, present for at least three months.
Trigger point examination
Clinical examination documenting tender points and their distribution, consistent with the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia.
Recommended
Medication history
Records of medications prescribed for fibromyalgia (pregabalin, duloxetine, milnacipran, muscle relaxants) and their effectiveness.
Symptom diary
A log documenting the frequency, duration, and severity of pain episodes, fatigue, cognitive fog, and sleep disturbance over several months.
Helpful
Nexus to service or primary condition
Medical opinion or nexus letter connecting fibromyalgia to military service, combat stress, or a primary service-connected condition such as PTSD or TBI.
Functional impact documentation
Evidence of how fibromyalgia symptoms affect employment, daily activities, and social functioning.
Secondary Conditions
These conditions may be claimed as secondary to Fibromyalgia. A nexus is the medical link between a service-connected condition and a related condition. Nexus strength indicates the level of established medical evidence supporting that connection.
Depression
DC 9434, Typical range: 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%
Sleep Disturbance
DC 6847, Typical range: 0%, 30%, 50%
Migraines
DC 8100, Typical range: 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
DC 7319, Typical range: 0%, 10%, 30%
Explore all secondary conditions in the Secondary Condition Mapper tool.
Next Steps
This information is for educational purposes only. We are not accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs and do not file claims, provide legal advice, or represent veterans before the VA (38 U.S.C. § 5904). For official assistance, contact a VSO, CVSO, or VA-accredited attorney.