Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

DC 6354Musculoskeletal38 CFR 4.88b, DC 6354

A condition causing extreme tiredness that does not improve with rest and gets worse with physical or mental activity. The VA rates CFS based on how much your symptoms limit daily activities.

Rating Levels

Your chronic fatigue symptoms are nearly constant and so severe that they restrict you to bed rest and being essentially housebound nearly all the time.

What the VA looks for

Nearly constant debilitating symptoms
Essentially housebound or bed-bound
Routine daily activities almost completely restricted
Unable to perform self-care without assistance
Extensive medical documentation of severity

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not keeping a detailed symptom diary showing frequency and severity of episodes.
⚠Not documenting that symptoms are "nearly constant" to qualify for higher ratings.
⚠Missing secondary conditions like depression, cognitive problems, or fibromyalgia.
⚠CFS is a Gulf War presumptive — if you served in Southwest Asia, document your service dates.

Related DBQ Forms

DBQ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

View evidence checklist →See secondary conditions →

Condition Rating Guides

Understand what the VA looks for at each rating level — loading conditions…