VA rating guide · SMC
Erectile Dysfunction & SMC-K
Erectile dysfunction is rated 0%, which leads many veterans to skip it. That’s a mistake: it qualifies for Special Monthly Compensation (K), an extra $139.87 a month on top of your regular compensation.
- How SMC-K works
- 2026 SMC-K amount
- Common secondary causes
- Applies to women too
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Why a 0% Rating Still Pays
The rating schedule assigns 0% to erectile dysfunction, with or without penile deformity (DC 7522), and flags it for review for special monthly compensation. Loss of use of a creative organ qualifies for SMC-K.
- 2026 SMC-K rate: $139.87 a month (effective December 1, 2025)
- It’s paid in addition to your regular compensation, even if you’re already rated 100%.
- It doesn’t change your combined rating percentage. It’s a separate payment.
That’s about $1,678.44 a year. Add it to your estimate in our VA disability calculator with the SMC-K checkbox.
Common Secondary Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
ED is most often service-connected secondary to another condition or its treatment:
- Medications for PTSD, depression or anxiety, especially SSRIs and SNRIs
- Hypertension and some blood pressure medications
- Diabetes, including Type 2 diabetes presumptive for Agent Orange exposure
- Prostate cancer treatment, also presumptive for Agent Orange exposure
- Spine conditions with nerve involvement
- Traumatic brain injury
A medical opinion that explains the connection, for example naming the medication and its known side effects, is usually the key piece of evidence.
Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD)
The same rule applies to women veterans. Female sexual arousal disorder (DC 7632) is also rated 0% and reviewed for SMC-K, so women veterans with service-connected FSAD, including when it’s secondary to medications or another condition, may qualify for the same $139.87 monthly payment.
Erectile Dysfunction & SMC-K: Common Questions
If ED is rated 0%, why should I claim it?
Because it qualifies for SMC-K, an extra $139.87 a month in 2026. That payment is added on top of your regular compensation and isn’t limited by your combined rating.
Can I get SMC-K if I’m already rated 100%?
Yes. SMC-K is paid in addition to your regular compensation, including at the 100% rate.
Do I need to see a specialist to claim ED?
Not necessarily. A diagnosis from your regular provider can be enough. What matters most is a medical opinion connecting ED to service or to a service-connected condition or its medications.
Is SMC-K paid more than once?
SMC-K is generally paid once for each qualifying loss of use, and there are limits on how many SMC-K awards can be combined with other compensation. The calculator counts it once.
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