Asthma VA Rating 2026: DC 6602 Criteria

What is asthma and how does it affect veterans?

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition in which the airways become inflamed, narrow, and produce excess mucus, making it difficult to breathe. During an asthma attack, the muscles surrounding the airways tighten (bronchospasm), the airway lining swells, and mucus clogs the smaller passages. This causes wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing that can range from mild to life-threatening.

Veterans develop and experience asthma at higher rates than the general population due to extensive exposure to respiratory irritants during service. Burn pits, desert dust, vehicle exhaust, chemical agents, smoke from weapons fire, and industrial solvents all damage the airways and can trigger chronic asthma. Many veterans who had no respiratory issues before deployment return with persistent breathing problems that are eventually diagnosed as asthma or reactive airway disease.

Asthma affects daily life significantly. It limits physical activity, disrupts sleep when nighttime symptoms flare, and creates anxiety around breathing. Veterans with asthma often need to avoid certain environments, carry rescue inhalers at all times, and manage the condition with daily maintenance medications. Severe cases can result in emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and an inability to maintain employment that requires physical exertion.

VA diagnostic code for asthma

Asthma is rated under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6602 per 38 CFR § 4.97, Schedule of Ratings — Respiratory System.

DC 6602 covers bronchial asthma. The rating criteria are based on pulmonary function test (PFT) results — specifically FEV-1 (forced expiratory volume in one second) and FEV-1/FVC (the ratio of FEV-1 to forced vital capacity) — as well as the frequency and type of treatment required. The VA uses whichever criterion is most favorable to the veteran.

Rating criteria for asthma

The VA assigns asthma ratings at five possible levels:

0% rating

Criteria: The condition is diagnosed and service-connected but symptoms are mild and do not meet the criteria for a 10% rating.

Monthly payment: $0 (but establishes service connection, which matters for future increases and secondary claims)

10% rating — $180.42/month

Criteria: FEV-1 of 71-80% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 71-80%, or intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy.

What this looks like: Your lung function is mildly reduced on pulmonary function testing. You use a rescue inhaler occasionally — perhaps a few times per week — but do not yet require daily maintenance medication. Your asthma is present and documented but does not require constant treatment or cause frequent exacerbations.

30% rating — $552.47/month

Criteria: FEV-1 of 56-70% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 56-70%, or daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy, or inhalational anti-inflammatory medication.

What this looks like: Your asthma requires daily treatment. You use a maintenance inhaler (such as an inhaled corticosteroid) every day, or you use a bronchodilator (rescue inhaler) on a daily basis. Your PFT results show moderate airflow obstruction. Despite treatment, you experience regular symptoms that affect your daily activities and exercise tolerance.

60% rating — $1,435.02/month

Criteria: FEV-1 of 40-55% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 40-55%, or at least monthly visits to a physician for required care of exacerbations, or intermittent (at least three per year) courses of systemic (oral or parenteral) corticosteroids.

What this looks like: Your asthma is moderate to severe. You visit your doctor at least monthly for asthma management. You need courses of oral steroids like prednisone several times per year to control flare-ups. Your lung function is significantly reduced, and exacerbations interfere with your ability to work and perform daily tasks. You may have been to the emergency room or been hospitalized for asthma attacks.

100% rating — $3,938.58/month

Criteria: FEV-1 of less than 40% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of less than 40%, or more than one attack per week with episodes of respiratory failure, or requires daily use of systemic (oral or parenteral) high-dose corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications.

What this looks like: Your asthma is severe and poorly controlled despite maximum treatment. Your lung function is severely impaired. You experience asthma attacks more than once per week, some of which may involve respiratory failure requiring emergency intervention. You are on daily high-dose oral corticosteroids or immunosuppressive medications such as methotrexate. Your condition severely limits all physical activity and may prevent you from maintaining employment.

What evidence do you need?

Service records

• Service treatment records showing respiratory complaints, inhaler prescriptions, or asthma diagnosis during service
• Deployment records documenting exposure to burn pits, dust, chemicals, or other respiratory irritants
• Post-deployment health assessments noting breathing problems
• Records of any in-service pulmonary function testing
• If claiming secondary: complete records for the primary service-connected condition

Medical evidence

• Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) — These are critical. The VA rates asthma primarily on PFT results, specifically FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC. Bring all PFT results, including both pre- and post-bronchodilator values.
• Current asthma diagnosis from a pulmonologist or primary care physician
• Treatment records showing ongoing symptoms, medication management, and exacerbation frequency
• Prescription records for inhalers (rescue and maintenance), oral steroids, and any other asthma medications
• Emergency room or hospital records for asthma attacks
• Documentation of any allergy testing or methacholine challenge tests

Nexus letter

A medical opinion connecting your asthma to service. The nexus letter should explain the specific in-service exposure (burn pits, dust, chemicals) and how it caused or aggravated your asthma. If claiming as secondary to GERD, the letter should explain how chronic acid aspiration triggers bronchospasm and airway inflammation. Cite relevant medical literature and your specific exposure history.

Buddy statements

Statements from fellow service members who can describe the environmental conditions you were exposed to — burn pits burning 24/7, thick dust storms, chemical exposures. Statements from family members who have witnessed your breathing difficulties, inhaler use, nighttime symptoms, and limitations on physical activity since service.

Personal statement

Describe your in-service exposure in detail: what you were exposed to, how often, and for how long. Explain when symptoms began, how they have progressed, and how asthma affects your daily life — what activities you can no longer do, how often you use your inhaler, and how frequently you have exacerbations.

C&P exam tips for asthma

Before your exam, review our guide on what not to say at a C&P exam for general preparation tips that apply to all exams.

What the examiner evaluates

• Confirmation of asthma diagnosis
• Pulmonary function test results (FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC)
• Current treatment regimen and frequency
• Frequency of exacerbations and healthcare visits
• Use of systemic corticosteroids
• Impact on daily functioning and occupational capacity
• If claiming secondary or from toxic exposure: the connection to service

How to prepare

1. Bring all PFT results. Pulmonary function testing is the primary objective measure for asthma ratings. If you have had PFTs done outside the VA, bring those results. The C&P examiner will likely perform PFTs during the exam.
2. Document your medication use. List every asthma medication you take, how often you use it, and whether it controls your symptoms. Bring prescription bottles or pharmacy printouts.
3. Track your exacerbations. Keep a log of asthma attacks, ER visits, urgent care visits, and courses of oral steroids. Frequency of exacerbations directly affects your rating level.
4. Follow your clinician’s medication instructions. Do not stop, skip, or change prescribed treatment to influence the exam. Tell the examiner what you use, how it helps, any side effects, and which symptoms remain. Ask your treating clinician about any exam-specific medication instructions. See VA’s medication-safety guidance. Follow the testing team’s instructions for pulmonary function testing, and use rescue medication as directed when you need it for symptoms; do not delay needed treatment to affect a test result.
5. Describe typical days and flare-ups. Explain your usual symptoms and what happens during an attack, how often attacks occur, and what treatment they need. Use only events that are true for you.

Common mistakes

• Not having recent PFT results available
• Underreporting symptom frequency because you’ve adapted to limitations
• Forgetting to mention courses of oral steroids (prednisone packs)
• Not connecting asthma to specific in-service exposures in your statements
• Not telling the testing team which inhalers you used, their doses, and when you last used them
• Not bringing emergency room or urgent care records from asthma exacerbations

Common secondary conditions linked to asthma

Asthma is often connected to other conditions that can increase your overall combined rating:

• Sleep apnea — Asthma and sleep apnea frequently co-occur. Airway inflammation from asthma can contribute to upper airway obstruction during sleep. Both may be service connected, but they receive the single predominant respiratory evaluation described below.
• Depression — Chronic respiratory illness, activity limitations, and the anxiety of breathing difficulties are strongly associated with depression. Medical literature supports this connection.
• GERD — The relationship is bidirectional. GERD can trigger asthma through acid aspiration, and asthma medications (particularly inhaled corticosteroids) can worsen reflux. Many veterans have both conditions.
• Sinusitis — Upper airway inflammation from chronic sinusitis frequently triggers lower airway symptoms and asthma exacerbations. The “unified airway” model is well-established in medical literature.
• Rhinitis — Allergic and non-allergic rhinitis commonly co-occur with asthma. Post-nasal drip and nasal inflammation can trigger bronchospasm.

Standalone rating amounts for asthma

For reference, here are the 2026 monthly payment amounts for asthma at each rating level (veteran with no dependents):

Dependent additions for an eligible spouse, child, or parent apply only at a combined rating of 30% or higher; 10% and 20% rates do not increase for dependents.

How to calculate your monthly payment

Your combined rating may include distinct disabilities. For example, asthma at 30% and a separately ratable sinusitis disability at 30% combine to 51%, rounded to 50%. Under 38 CFR § 4.96(a), asthma (DC 6602) and sleep apnea (DC 6847) cannot be combined as separate respiratory evaluations. VA assigns one evaluation under the predominant respiratory disability code, with elevation to the next higher evaluation when overall severity warrants it. Both conditions may still be service connected. Distinct sinusitis or rhinitis evaluations fall outside those prohibited code ranges, subject to the rule against overlapping symptoms.

Use our VA disability calculator to:

• Calculate your combined rating with multiple conditions
• Understand how VA math combines ratings
• Estimate your monthly payment including dependents

For the full breakdown of payment amounts at every rating level, see our 2026 VA disability pay rates page.

Correction — October 21, 2026: Replaced advice to skip your bronchodilator before the exam with clinician-directed guidance. Corrected the FAQ, which said VA must use the better of pre- and post-bronchodilator results for asthma; that rule (38 CFR § 4.96(d)(5)) does not list asthma. Clarified that asthma and sleep apnea receive a single respiratory rating. Clarified that dependent additions start at a 30% combined rating.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. For personalized guidance on your VA disability claim, consult a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO), attorney, or claims agent. You can find accredited representatives at VA.gov.