Education · 38 CFR § 4.104 · Heart, arteries, and veins (cardiovascular system) · not your rating · we do not file
Bradycardia (Bradyarrhythmia), symptomatic, requiring permanent pacemaker implantation VA rating (DC 7009)
VA rates bradycardia (Bradyarrhythmia), symptomatic, requiring permanent pacemaker implantation under diagnostic code 7009 in 38 CFR § 4.104. The rule book lists 10%, 30%, 60%, and 100%. Below: each level in plain English, then the exact words.
Rule-book name: Bradycardia (Bradyarrhythmia), symptomatic, requiring permanent pacemaker implantation. Last checked against eCFR on 2026-10-10 (eCFR issue 2026-08-27). Official text: 38 CFR § 4.104 on eCFR.
Each rating level in plain English
- 100%: The published words look at: surgery, an implant, or a joint replacement, with dates.
- 100%: The published words look at: heart test results, such as a stress test, echo, or ECG; and shortness of breath, tiredness, chest pain, dizziness, or fainting with activity.
- 60%: The published words look at: heart test results, such as a stress test, echo, or ECG; and shortness of breath, tiredness, chest pain, dizziness, or fainting with activity.
- 30%: The published words look at: heart test results, such as a stress test, echo, or ECG; shortness of breath, tiredness, chest pain, dizziness, or fainting with activity; and a procedure to stretch the esophagus, or a stent.
- 10%: The published words look at: heart test results, such as a stress test, echo, or ECG; shortness of breath, tiredness, chest pain, dizziness, or fainting with activity; and medicine you take for it.
Plain words come from our reading aid for the published words. They never add a symptom. The quotes below are the rule.
Exact words in 38 CFR § 4.104
100% · “For one month following hospital discharge for implantation or re-implantation”
GENERAL RATING FORMULA FOR DISEASES OF THE HEART
100% · “Workload of 3.0 METs or less results in heart failure symptoms”
60% · “Workload of 3.1-5.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms”
30% · “Workload of 5.1-7.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation confirmed by echocardiogram or equivalent (e.g., multigated acquisition scan or magnetic resonance imaging)”
10% · “Workload of 7.1-10.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or continuous medication required for control”
Notes printed with this code
“Thereafter, use the General Rating Formula.”
“Note (1): Bradycardia (bradyarrhythmia) refers to conduction abnormalities that produce a heart rate less than 60 beats/min. There are five general classes of bradyarrhythmia: Sinus bradycardia, including sinoatrial block; atrioventricular (AV) junctional (nodal) escape rhythm; AV heart block (second or third degree) or AV dissociation; atrial fibrillation or flutter with a slow ventricular response; and, idioventricular escape rhythm.”
“Note (2): Asymptomatic bradycardia (bradyarrhythmia) is a medical finding only. It is not a disability subject to compensation.”
“Note (1): Evaluate cor pulmonale, which is a form of secondary heart disease, as part of the pulmonary condition that causes it.”
“Note (2): One MET (metabolic equivalent) is the energy cost of standing quietly at rest and represents an oxygen uptake of 3.5 milliliters per kilogram of body weight per minute. When the level of METs at which breathlessness, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope develops is required for evaluation, and a laboratory determination of METs by exercise testing cannot be done for medical reasons, a medical examiner may estimate the level of activity (expressed in METs and supported by specific examples, such as slow stair climbing or shoveling snow) that results in those symptoms.”
“Note (3): For this general formula, heart failure symptoms include, but are not limited to, breathlessness, fatigue, angina, dizziness, arrhythmia, palpitations, or syncope.”
What records usually show this
VA reads these things from your records: service treatment records, VA and private treatment records, and the VA claim exam (C&P exam). The published words on this page talk about:
- Surgery, an implant, or a joint replacement, with dates: usually found in a test or exam result in your records. The rule book reads this number from the test, not from a statement.
- Heart test results, such as a stress test, echo, or ECG: usually found in a test or exam result in your records. The rule book reads this number from the test, not from a statement.
- Shortness of breath, tiredness, chest pain, dizziness, or fainting with activity: usually found in treatment notes or the VA claim exam (C&P exam) report that describe it, when those exist.
- A procedure to stretch the esophagus, or a stent: usually found in treatment notes, prescriptions, or a log you kept that show how often, when those records exist.
- Medicine you take for it: usually found in treatment notes or the VA claim exam (C&P exam) report that describe it, when those exist.
Education only. This does not say you have any of these, and a record that mentions them does not decide a rating. Only write what is true for you. Evidence needed for your disability claim · VA claim exam (C&P exam)
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Common questions
What percentages does the VA rating schedule list for Bradycardia (Bradyarrhythmia), symptomatic, requiring permanent pacemaker implantation (DC 7009)?
38 CFR § 4.104 lists 10%, 30%, 60%, and 100% for diagnostic code 7009. VA decides which line fits from the evidence. This page is not your rating.
Where do these words come from?
They are quoted from the public eCFR copy of 38 CFR § 4.104, last checked 2026-10-10. The official page is linked on this page so you can check every word.
Does this page tell me what my rating will be?
No. It shows what the published rule book says. It does not predict a rating, a decision, or a dollar amount, and it does not say you have this condition.
Who can file a VA claim for me for free?
Accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) can prepare and file a claim with you at no cost. VA lists accredited representatives on VA.gov. We do not file.
This page quotes the public VA rule book. It is not your rating and not your pay. We do not say you have this condition. We do not file. You, or a free accredited representative, file with VA.
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