Endometriosis
Rated at 10%, 30%, or 50% based on severity — one of the most under-rated conditions women veterans file.
Endometriosis is one of the most common — and most commonly under-rated — conditions women veterans file. Tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowel, bladder, and sometimes further. It causes chronic pelvic pain, heavy or irregular bleeding, adhesions, and can severely affect fertility.
The VA rates endometriosis under Diagnostic Code 7629 at three levels: 10%, 30%, or 50%. The rating turns on whether your symptoms are controlled by treatment, not controlled by treatment, or accompanied by confirmed lesions involving the bowel or bladder. Most women land at 10% because the examiner documents "controlled with medication" without asking what your worst days look like. That gap is where claims are won or lost.
If your endometriosis began in service, was aggravated by service, or is secondary to another service-connected condition, the law says it can be service-connected — and if service-connected, compensated. Below we lay out exactly how the VA rates it, what the examiner should be looking for, and the step-by-step process to file.
Diagnostic Code 7629
Rated at 10%, 30%, or 50% based on severity — one of the most under-rated conditions women veterans file.
Use the eligibility criteria and claim steps on this page to pursue this claim without leaving the guide.
Understanding Endometriosis
How endometriosis develops
Endometrial-like tissue implants outside the uterus and responds to the menstrual cycle, causing inflammation, scarring, and adhesions. Active-duty conditions — stress, limited access to care, continuous hormonal birth control, and delayed diagnosis — often let it progress unchecked for years.
Symptoms the VA should be rating
Chronic pelvic pain that worsens before and during menstruation, heavy or irregular periods, pain during intercourse, painful bowel movements or urination during menstruation, bloating, fatigue, and infertility. The severity and frequency of these symptoms, documented on your worst days, drive the rating.
The diagnostic standard
A laparoscopy with biopsy is the gold standard for confirming endometriosis. Without it, the VA can still rate based on clinical findings and imaging, but a laparoscopy-confirmed diagnosis carries the strongest weight — especially for reaching the 30% or 50% level.
Why women veterans are under-rated
The rating schedule measures whether symptoms are "controlled by treatment" — but it does not ask what side effects that treatment carries or what your quality of life actually is. If you take three medications and still have bad days, that is not "controlled." Make sure the examiner documents the full picture.
Do you qualify for a Endometriosis claim?
You have a current diagnosis of endometriosis — ideally confirmed by laparoscopy, but clinical diagnosis and imaging also count.
You can show the condition began during or was aggravated by military service — through service treatment records, sick-call visits, or a buddy statement about symptoms.
A medical nexus opinion links your current endometriosis to service — stating it is "at least as likely as not" connected.
Alternatively, your endometriosis is secondary to another service-connected condition (such as a pelvic injury or MST-related damage) under 38 CFR §3.310.
If symptoms are worsened by a service-connected disability (aggravation), that incremental worsening is itself ratable.
Not sure whether you qualify? Eligibility can be complex. An accredited representative can confirm exactly where you stand before you invest time in applications.
What a Endometriosis claim actually gives you
10% rating
Pelvic pain or heavy/irregular bleeding that requires continuous treatment for control. This is the most common starting point — and often too low.
30% rating
Pelvic pain or heavy/irregular bleeding NOT controlled by treatment. If you still have breakthrough symptoms despite medication, this is where you should be.
50% rating
Lesions involving the bowel or bladder confirmed by laparoscopy, with pelvic pain or heavy/irregular bleeding not controlled by treatment, plus bowel or bladder symptoms.
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC-K)
If endometriosis led to the removal of an ovary or the uterus, SMC-K adds approximately $130/month on top of your rating for loss of a creative organ under 38 U.S.C. §1114(k).
Secondary conditions
Depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, or infertility caused by endometriosis can each be rated separately under 38 CFR §3.310 — adding to your combined rating.
VA healthcare coverage
All endometriosis treatment is covered for enrolled veterans: medication, surgery, pain management, fertility evaluations, and specialty referrals.
What this means for you
Endometriosis is overwhelmingly a condition that affects women, and it is one of the most common gynecological claims filed by women veterans. The challenge is not eligibility — it is documentation. Active duty suppresses symptoms with continuous birth control, delays diagnosis, and creates gaps in the record that make it harder to prove. If you had pelvic symptoms in service — even if you were told it was "just cramps" — those visits matter, and a provider can connect the dots years later.
Filing a Endometriosis claim, step by step
Gather your medical evidence
Service treatment records documenting pelvic symptoms or gyn visits, post-service treatment records, laparoscopy/surgical reports, and imaging. The Gynecological Conditions DBQ helps your provider document severity in the format the VA expects.
File an Intent to File (VA Form 21-0966)
This locks in your effective date and protects any back pay while you build the claim. It costs nothing and gives you one full year to submit the completed application.
Get a nexus opinion
A provider's statement linking your endometriosis to service — "at least as likely as not" — is what turns a denial into an award. If service treatment records show symptoms, a nexus is strong.
Submit VA Form 21-526EZ
List endometriosis specifically, note every related surgery (for SMC-K consideration), and identify any secondary conditions. Describe your worst days, not your average.
Prepare for the C&P exam
The examiner will assess severity. Bring documentation of flare-ups, treatment side effects, and the impact on your daily life and work. Request a female examiner and a trauma-informed approach.
Consider appointing an accredited representative
VA Form 21-22a appoints someone who can review the claim, push back on inadequate exams, and file appeals. There is no upfront cost — fees apply only to past-due benefits recovered.
Women Veterans Call Center
Staffed entirely by women. Call or text for help with claims, healthcare, or connecting to your Women Veterans Program Manager.
1-855-829-6636What trips women veterans up
Accepting a 10% rating when symptoms are NOT actually controlled — if you still have bad days despite medication, challenge the rating.
Not getting a laparoscopy before the claim — the 50% level requires laparoscopy-confirmed bowel or bladder involvement.
Describing your "average" day instead of your worst day to the examiner — the VA rates on the full severity of the condition.
Forgetting to claim secondary conditions — depression, anxiety, infertility, and chronic fatigue from endometriosis are separately ratable.
Not mentioning surgical history — if an ovary or the uterus was removed, SMC-K applies and is frequently missed by raters.
Assuming continuous birth control in service does not matter — it was a treatment decision directed by the military and is part of your record.
Endometriosis: your questions answered
What is the highest VA rating for endometriosis?
The highest schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 7629 is 50%. To reach it, you need laparoscopy-confirmed lesions involving the bowel or bladder, plus pelvic pain or heavy bleeding not controlled by treatment, along with bowel or bladder symptoms. If endometriosis led to surgery removing an ovary or uterus, additional compensation applies through Special Monthly Compensation (SMC-K) and separate surgical codes.
Can I get service connection for endometriosis if it was not diagnosed until after discharge?
Yes. Endometriosis is frequently diagnosed years after service because active duty conditions suppress or mask symptoms. If service treatment records show pelvic pain, irregular periods, or gyn visits — even without a formal diagnosis — a medical nexus opinion can connect the current diagnosis to those in-service events.
Does continuous birth control in service affect my claim?
Yes. Being placed on continuous hormonal birth control in service is a treatment decision in your military medical record. If a provider connects your current endometriosis to that treatment or to the delayed diagnosis it caused, that supports service connection.
Can I claim depression or anxiety secondary to endometriosis?
Yes. Under 38 CFR §3.310, a mental health condition caused or aggravated by a service-connected physical disability is itself service-connected. Chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and the daily burden of endometriosis frequently cause depression and anxiety — and each is rated separately.
What happens if my C&P exam feels rushed or inadequate?
An inadequate C&P exam — one that does not address your reported symptoms, fails to review your records, or reaches conclusions unsupported by the evidence — is grounds to challenge the decision. An accredited representative can request a new exam or file a Supplemental Claim with additional evidence.
Should I request a female examiner?
Yes. You have the right to request a female examiner and a trauma-informed examination. Make the request when the exam is scheduled, and confirm it before the appointment. An examiner who understands women's reproductive health will produce a more accurate report.
See every reproductive health condition rated by the VA, or estimate the rating that could expand your compensation.
Not sure where to start?
Whether you need help understanding your rating, building a nexus, or challenging a decision, a free review of your situation can put you on the right path.
