Bronchiectasis
The VA rates Bronchiectasis under Diagnostic Code 6601 across 4 severity levels, from 10% to 100%. The applicable level depends on the full criteria and the evidence for the condition. These percentages are alternatives, not amounts to add together.
Rating schedule — DC 6601 at a glance
- Minimum rating
- 10%
- Maximum rating
- 100%
- Rating tiers
- 4
- CFR section
- § 4.97
- Body system
- Respiratory System
- Secondary conditions
- 0
Lowest schedular rating available
Full schedular disability
10%, 30%, 60%, 100%
Where this code is published
None mapped
What are the VA rating criteria for Bronchiectasis?
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | Intermittent productive cough with acute infection requiring a course of antibiotics at least twice a year |
| 30% | With incapacitating episodes of infection of two to four weeks total duration per year, or; daily productive cough with sputum that is at times purulent or blood-tinged and that requires prolonged (lasting four to six weeks) antibiotic usage more than twice a year |
| 60% | With incapacitating episodes of infection of four to six weeks total duration per year, or; near constant findings of cough with purulent sputum associated with anorexia, weight loss, and frank hemoptysis and requiring antibiotic usage almost continuously |
| 100% | With incapacitating episodes of infection of at least six weeks total duration per year |
“With incapacitating episodes of infection of four to six weeks total duration per year, or; near constant findings of cough with purulent sputum associated with anorexia, weight loss, and frank hemoptysis and requiring antibiotic usage almost continuously”
What other respiratory conditions does the VA rate?
These diagnostic codes sit next to Bronchiectasis in 38 CFR Part 4. The rating schedule is ordered anatomically, so neighbouring codes usually cover the same joint, organ, or system, and a claim often involves more than one of them.
- 6521Pharynx, injuries toRated up to 50%
- 6522Allergic or vasomotor rhinitisRated up to 30%
- 6523Bacterial rhinitisRated up to 50%
- 6524Granulomatous rhinitisRated up to 100%
- 6600Bronchitis, chronicRated up to 100%
- 6602Asthma, bronchialRated up to 100%
- 6603Emphysema, pulmonaryRated up to 100%
- 6604Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseRated up to 100%
- 6701Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, far advanced, activeRated up to 100%
- 6702Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, moderately advanced, activeRated up to 100%
What to do with a Bronchiectasis rating
The tools, regulations and guides that pick up where the criteria above leave off.
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- The VA C&P Exam Explained: Before, During, and AfterA VA C&P exam helps VA decide service connection and your rating. Here is what happens before, during, and after, plus how to request your exam report.
- VA Service Connection Evidence 101: The Three-Legged StoolFor an original claim tied to active-duty service, VA needs a current disability, an in-service event, and a link between them. Here is what each part takes.
- VA Math Explained: How Combined Disability Ratings Really WorkVA ratings do not add. Learn how 38 CFR 4.25 combines disabilities using whole-person efficiency, why 50 and 30 round to 70, and how the bilateral factor works.
- TDIU: 100 Percent VA Pay Without a 100 Percent RatingTDIU pays the 100% VA compensation rate without a 100% rating. See the percentage paths, the extraschedular route under 38 CFR 4.16(b), and how work affects it.
- P&T vs 100% VA Disability: What Is the Difference?Permanent and total (P&T) and a 100 percent VA rating are not the same thing. Here is what total, permanent, and protected each mean, and what P&T unlocks.
Common Questions About Bronchiectasis VA Ratings
What is the VA rating range for Bronchiectasis?
The VA rates Bronchiectasis under Diagnostic Code 6601 at 10%, 30%, 60%, 100%. The minimum 10% rating requires: Intermittent productive cough with acute infection requiring a course of antibiotics at least twice a year. The maximum 100% rating requires: With incapacitating episodes of infection of at least six weeks total duration per year.
Which 38 CFR diagnostic code does the VA use for Bronchiectasis?
The VA rates Bronchiectasis under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6601, published in 38 CFR § 4.97. The diagnostic code establishes the specific rating tiers and severity criteria the VA examiner applies.
What is the difference between a 10% and a 100% rating for Bronchiectasis?
A 10% rating requires: Intermittent productive cough with acute infection requiring a course of antibiotics at least twice a year. A 100% rating requires: With incapacitating episodes of infection of at least six weeks total duration per year. The difference typically reflects the frequency, severity, or functional impact of the condition as documented in medical records and C&P examination findings.
Can Bronchiectasis qualify for TDIU?
Yes — a 100% rating for Bronchiectasis alone meets the single-disability threshold for TDIU (38 CFR § 4.16). If the condition prevents substantially gainful employment, the veteran is compensated at the 100% rate without a schedular 100% rating.
What evidence supports a higher rating for Bronchiectasis?
The key evidence for Bronchiectasis is documentation of how the condition affects daily functioning. Treatment records showing worsening symptoms, functional limitations documented by your provider, and buddy statements describing observable impact on daily life all strengthen the claim. A nexus letter from a qualified medical professional linking the current severity to service is essential for contested claims.
What happens at the C&P exam for Bronchiectasis?
The C&P examiner uses a Respiratory System DBQ and evaluates your condition against the DC 6601 rating criteria. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) drive the rating. The examiner measures FEV-1, FVC, and DLCO. Test during symptomatic periods when possible — stable periods produce higher numbers that may underrate your condition.
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