Asthma DC 6602
Listed in the rating schedule as “Asthma, bronchial”. VA rates it under diagnostic code 6602 in 38 CFR 4.97. Body system: Breathing & sleep.
Also searched as: bronchial asthma.
How VA rates it
The schedule allows 4 rating levels for this code: 10%, 30%, 60%, and 100%. 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 |
|---|---|
| 100% | FEV-1 less than 40-percent predicted, or; FEV-1/FVC less than 40 percent, 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 |
| 60% | FEV-1 of 40- to 55-percent predicted, or; FEV-1/FVC of 40 to 55 percent, 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 |
| 30% | FEV-1 of 56- to 70-percent predicted, or; FEV-1/FVC of 56 to 70 percent, or; daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy, or; inhalational anti-inflammatory medication |
| 10% | FEV-1 of 71- to 80-percent predicted, or; FEV-1/FVC of 71 to 80 percent, or; intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy |
Criteria text from 38 CFR 4.97, eCFR as of November 10, 2026. The eCFR is the official source if anything here differs.
Notes in the schedule (1)
Note: In the absence of clinical findings of asthma at time of examination, a verified history of asthmatic attacks must be of record.
Commonly claimed as secondary to
If one of these is already service connected, you may be able to claim this condition as secondary to it.
Allergic rhinitis DC 6522 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 Aggravation
Chronic sinus disease often travels with asthma and can make it harder to control.
What to gather: An asthma diagnosis, records showing it got worse with your sinus disease, and a medical opinion.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310(b) (aggravation); Asthma, rhinitis, and nasal polyp multimorbidities (Arch Bronconeumol, 2019)
GERD / acid reflux DC 7206 Possible link Aggravation
Reflux is a known trigger that can make asthma worse.
What to gather: An asthma diagnosis, records showing it got worse after GERD began, and a medical opinion. VA needs a baseline of how bad the asthma was before.
Sources: 38 CFR 3.310(b) (aggravation); NIDDK (NIH): Definition and facts for GER and GERD; AGA clinical practice update on extraesophageal GERD (Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2023)
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: Asthma diagnosed after service.
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 18 medications
- Asthma biologic injections (for example omalizumab, mepolizumab, benralizumab, dupilumab). FDA labels: Omalizumab (DailyMed)
- Leukotriene blockers (for example montelukast, zafirlukast). FDA labels: Montelukast (DailyMed)
- Oral and injected steroids (for example prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone). FDA labels: Prednisone (DailyMed)
- Rescue inhalers (for example albuterol, levalbuterol). FDA labels: Albuterol (DailyMed)
- Albuterol and budesonide (Airsupra). FDA labels: Albuterol and budesonide (DailyMed)
- Beclomethasone (Qvar, Beconase). FDA labels: Beclomethasone (DailyMed)
- Budesonide (Pulmicort, Uceris). FDA labels: Budesonide (DailyMed)
- Budesonide and formoterol (Symbicort, Breyna). FDA labels: Budesonide and formoterol (DailyMed)
- Ciclesonide (Alvesco, Omnaris). FDA labels: Ciclesonide (DailyMed)
- Fluticasone (Flovent, Arnuity). FDA labels: Fluticasone (DailyMed)
- Fluticasone and salmeterol (Advair, Wixela). FDA labels: Fluticasone and salmeterol (DailyMed)
- Fluticasone and vilanterol (Breo). FDA labels: Fluticasone and vilanterol (DailyMed)
- Fluticasone, umeclidinium and vilanterol (Trelegy). FDA labels: Fluticasone, umeclidinium and vilanterol (DailyMed)
- Formoterol and mometasone (Dulera). FDA labels: Formoterol and mometasone (DailyMed)
- Mometasone (Asmanex, Nasonex). FDA labels: Mometasone (DailyMed)
- Salmeterol (Serevent). FDA labels: Salmeterol (DailyMed)
- Theophylline (Theo-24, Elixophyllin). FDA labels: Theophylline (DailyMed)
- Tiotropium (Spiriva). FDA labels: Tiotropium (DailyMed)
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Rating schedule data as of November 10, 2026. Secondary and presumptive links checked November 13, 2026.
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