Sarcoidosis
The VA rates Sarcoidosis under Diagnostic Code 6846 across 4 severity levels, from 0% 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 6846 at a glance
- Minimum rating
- 0%
- Maximum rating
- 100%
- Rating tiers
- 4
- CFR section
- § 4.97
- Body system
- Respiratory System
- Secondary conditions
- 0
Lowest schedular rating available
Full schedular disability
0%, 30%, 60%, 100%
Where this code is published
None mapped
What are the VA rating criteria for Sarcoidosis?
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0% | Chronic hilar adenopathy or stable lung infiltrates without symptoms or physiologic impairment |
| 30% | Pulmonary involvement with persistent symptoms requiring chronic low dose (maintenance) or intermittent corticosteroids |
| 60% | Pulmonary involvement requiring systemic high dose (therapeutic) corticosteroids for control |
| 100% | Cor pulmonale, or; cardiac involvement with congestive heart failure, or; progressive pulmonary disease with fever, night sweats, and weight loss despite treatment |
“Pulmonary involvement requiring systemic high dose (therapeutic) corticosteroids for control”
What other respiratory conditions does the VA rate?
These diagnostic codes sit next to Sarcoidosis 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.
- 6837CryptococcosisRated up to 100%
- 6838AspergillosisRated up to 100%
- 6839Mucormycosis.Rated up to 100%
- 6840Diaphragm paralysis or paresisRated up to 100%
- 6841Spinal cord injury with respiratory insufficiencyRated up to 100%
- 6842Kyphoscoliosis, pectus excavatum, pectus carinatumRated up to 100%
- 6843Traumatic chest wall defect, pneumothorax, hernia, etcRated up to 100%
- 6844Post-surgical residual (lobectomy, pneumonectomy, etc.)Rated up to 100%
- 6845Chronic pleural effusion or fibrosis.Rated up to 100%
- 6847Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central, Mixed)Rated up to 100%
What to do with a Sarcoidosis rating
The tools, regulations and guides that pick up where the criteria above leave off.
Calculate
On this site
Read next
- 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.
- VA Presumptive Conditions Explained: When VA Presumes the LinkA presumptive condition means VA presumes your service caused it, so you skip the nexus fight. See the categories, the PACT Act, and what you still prove.
- 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 Sarcoidosis VA Ratings
What is the VA rating range for Sarcoidosis?
The VA rates Sarcoidosis under Diagnostic Code 6846 at 0%, 30%, 60%, 100%. The minimum 0% rating requires: Chronic hilar adenopathy or stable lung infiltrates without symptoms or physiologic impairment. The maximum 100% rating requires: Cor pulmonale, or; cardiac involvement with congestive heart failure, or; progressive pulmonary disease with fever, night sweats, and weight loss despite treatment.
Which 38 CFR diagnostic code does the VA use for Sarcoidosis?
The VA rates Sarcoidosis under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6846, 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 0% and a 100% rating for Sarcoidosis?
A 0% rating requires: Chronic hilar adenopathy or stable lung infiltrates without symptoms or physiologic impairment. A 100% rating requires: Cor pulmonale, or; cardiac involvement with congestive heart failure, or; progressive pulmonary disease with fever, night sweats, and weight loss despite treatment. The difference typically reflects the frequency, severity, or functional impact of the condition as documented in medical records and C&P examination findings.
Can Sarcoidosis qualify for TDIU?
Yes — a 100% rating for Sarcoidosis 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 Sarcoidosis?
The key evidence for Sarcoidosis 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 Sarcoidosis?
The C&P examiner uses a Respiratory System DBQ and evaluates your condition against the DC 6846 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.
Get a Personalized Rating Analysis
VeteranHQ evaluates your symptoms against the exact 38 CFR criteria, identifies secondary conditions, and shows what evidence you need to support a higher rating.
Discover Your Benefits