Diagnostic Code 7002 · 38 CFR §§4.104
Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium — the thin sac surrounding the heart. It causes sharp chest pain that worsens with breathing and lying down, along with fever and fatigue. In veterans, pericarditis may develop from viral infections, autoimmune conditions, chest trauma, or after heart surgery. While many cases resolve with treatment, some become chronic or recurrent, and severe cases can cause fluid accumulation (pericardial effusion) or scarring that restricts the heart's ability to fill and pump (constrictive pericarditis).
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | |
| 60% | |
| 30% | |
| 10% |
Cardiology records documenting pericarditis episodes, Echocardiogram showing pericardial effusion or constrictive changes, Cardiac MRI if constrictive pericarditis is suspected, Treatment records including anti-inflammatory medications, Exercise stress test or METs estimation