Diagnostic Code 7907 · 38 CFR §4.119
Cushing syndrome results from prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol. It causes weight gain (especially in the face and trunk), thin skin that bruises easily, muscle weakness, high blood pressure, diabetes, bone loss, and mood changes. In veterans, it can be caused by long-term steroid medication prescribed during service, pituitary or adrenal tumors, or in rare cases by ectopic tumors. The syndrome has profound effects on nearly every body system.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Active, progressive disease including areas of osteoporosis, hypertension, and proximal upper and lower extremity muscle wasting that results in inability to rise from a squatting position, climb stairs, rise from a deep chair without assistance, or raise arms. This rating continues for six months following initial diagnosis, after which residuals are rated under appropriate codes. |
| 60% | Proximal upper or lower extremity muscle wasting that results in inability to rise from a squatting position, climb stairs, rise from a deep chair without assistance, or raise arms. This rating continues for six months following initial diagnosis, after which residuals are rated under appropriate codes. |
| 30% | Cushing syndrome with striae, obesity, moon face, glucose intolerance, and vascular fragility. This rating continues for six months following initial diagnosis, after which residuals are rated under appropriate codes. |
Lab tests showing elevated cortisol levels (24-hour urine cortisol, midnight salivary cortisol, dexamethasone suppression test) confirm the diagnosis. Imaging to identify the source (pituitary MRI, adrenal CT) guides treatment and documents the cause. Documentation of specific physical findings — striae, moon face, proximal muscle weakness — directly determines the rating level. Functional testing showing inability to rise from squatting, climb stairs, or raise arms supports the higher ratings. If caused by steroid medications prescribed during service, those prescription records are essential.
Yes. Long-term use of corticosteroid medications (prednisone, dexamethasone, etc.) is actually the most common cause of Cushing syndrome. If you were prescribed steroids during service for a service-connected condition and developed Cushing features, the syndrome and all its complications are secondary to that original condition.
After six months following initial diagnosis, the VA rates residuals under the appropriate diagnostic codes for each affected body system. Diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, depression, and other complications are each rated separately. The damage caused during the period of excess cortisol may be permanent and remains ratable even after cortisol levels normalize.