Allergic rhinitis DC 6522
Listed in the rating schedule as “Allergic or vasomotor rhinitis”. VA rates it under diagnostic code 6522 in 38 CFR 4.97. Body system: Breathing & sleep.
Also searched as: hay fever, rhinitis, nasal allergies, vasomotor rhinitis.
How VA rates it
The schedule allows 2 rating levels for this code: 10%, and 30%. VA picks the level whose criteria best match your symptoms and records.
Source: 38 CFR 4.97 on eCFR. Read the full criteria there before you file.
Rating levels and criteria
| Rating | What the schedule says |
|---|---|
| 30% | With polyps |
| 10% | Without polyps, but with greater than 50-percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side |
Criteria text from 38 CFR 4.97, eCFR as of November 10, 2026. The eCFR is the official source if anything here differs.
Conditions it can lead to
If this condition is service connected, these conditions are often claimed as secondary to it (38 CFR 3.310). Each one still needs its own diagnosis.
Asthma DC 6602 Possible link
Rhinitis and asthma are linked as one airway disease, and rhinitis raises the risk of asthma.
What to gather: An asthma diagnosis with breathing tests and a medical opinion linking it to your rhinitis.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines, 2016 revision (J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2017)
Chronic sinusitis DC 6510, 6511, 6512, 6513, 6514 Possible link
Allergic rhinitis swells the nasal passages and can block sinus drainage, raising the risk of chronic sinusitis.
What to gather: A chronic sinusitis diagnosis, ideally with imaging, and a medical opinion linking it to your rhinitis.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310 (secondary service connection); MedlinePlus: Sinusitis
Sleep apnea DC 6847 Possible link Aggravation
A blocked nose from rhinitis is linked with obstructive sleep apnea and can make it worse.
What to gather: A sleep study showing sleep apnea and a medical opinion that your rhinitis caused or worsened it.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310(b) (aggravation); Association between allergic and nonallergic rhinitis and obstructive sleep apnea (Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol, 2018)
Presumptive rules that include it
If your service matches one of these, VA presumes the link to service and you do not need a medical opinion connecting it.
Burn pits and airborne hazards (PACT Act)
Covered: Chronic rhinitis.
Who qualifies: Active duty on or after August 2, 1990 in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, the United Arab Emirates, the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, or the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia; or on or after September 11, 2001 in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Uzbekistan, or Yemen. The airspace above these places counts. Conditions can start any time after service.
38 CFR 3.320 and 38 U.S.C. 1119-1120. Sources: 38 CFR 3.320; VA.gov: Exposure to burn pits and other specific environmental hazards; VA.gov: Presumptive cancers related to burn pit exposure; VA.gov: The PACT Act and your VA benefits
Related medications
Medications prescribed for it
A prescription shows the condition was diagnosed. It still needs its own link to service.
Show 14 medications
- Azelastine (Astepro). FDA labels: Azelastine (DailyMed)
- Azelastine and fluticasone (Dymista). FDA labels: Azelastine and fluticasone (DailyMed)
- Beclomethasone (Qvar, Beconase). FDA labels: Beclomethasone (DailyMed)
- Cetirizine (Zyrtec). FDA labels: Cetirizine (DailyMed)
- Ciclesonide (Alvesco, Omnaris). FDA labels: Ciclesonide (DailyMed)
- Cyproheptadine. FDA labels: Cyproheptadine (DailyMed)
- Desloratadine (Clarinex). FDA labels: Desloratadine (DailyMed)
- Fexofenadine (Allegra). FDA labels: Fexofenadine (DailyMed)
- Flunisolide. FDA labels: Flunisolide (DailyMed)
- Levocetirizine (Xyzal). FDA labels: Levocetirizine (DailyMed)
- Loratadine (Claritin). FDA labels: Loratadine (DailyMed)
- Montelukast (Singulair). FDA labels: Montelukast (DailyMed)
- Olopatadine (Pataday, Patanase). FDA labels: Olopatadine (DailyMed)
- Triamcinolone (Nasacort, Kenalog). FDA labels: Triamcinolone (DailyMed)
Check your claim
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Rating schedule data as of November 10, 2026. Secondary and presumptive links checked November 13, 2026.
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