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All rating criteria

How the VA Rates Asthma

The plain-English version of the 38 CFR Part 4, DC 6602 criteria a VA rater evaluates Asthma against, with the 2026 monthly rate at each level. A reference to what the regulation describes — never a prediction of any rating.

Diagnostic code 6602

The rating levels

Criteria paraphrased from 38 CFR Part 4, DC 6602 for readability. Monthly amounts are the 2026 rate (effective December 1, 2025) for a veteran with no dependents if this were the only rated condition — dependents add more, and multiple conditions combine under the VA’s own math.

10%

$180.42/month

Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV-1) of 71–80% of predicted value; or FEV-1/FVC of 71–80 percent; or daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy; or inhalational anti-inflammatory medication.

Examples from this level’s criteria

  • Uses daily inhaled bronchodilator (albuterol, LABA)
  • Uses daily inhaled corticosteroid
  • Mild reduction in lung function on spirometry
  • Occasional wheeze or shortness of breath with exertion

30%

$552.47/month

FEV-1 of 56–70% predicted; or FEV-1/FVC 56–70 percent; or daily use of inhalational or oral bronchodilator plus intermittent use of systemic corticosteroids.

Examples from this level’s criteria

  • Moderate reduction in lung function (FEV-1 56–70%)
  • Requires oral steroids (prednisone) intermittently
  • Multiple controller medications
  • Exacerbations with weather or allergen changes

60%

$1,435.02/month

FEV-1 of 40–55% predicted; or FEV-1/FVC 40–55 percent; or more than one attack per week with episodes of respiratory failure; or requires daily use of systemic (oral or parenteral) corticosteroids.

Examples from this level’s criteria

  • Severe lung function reduction (FEV-1 40–55%)
  • Daily oral steroid use
  • More than one attack per week
  • Episodes of respiratory failure
  • Multiple ER visits or hospitalizations

100%

$3,938.58/month

FEV-1 less than 40% predicted; or FEV-1/FVC less than 40 percent; or more than one attack per week with episodes of respiratory failure.

Examples from this level’s criteria

  • Severe airflow obstruction (FEV-1 < 40%)
  • Frequent near-fatal attacks
  • Requires supplemental oxygen
  • Multiple hospitalizations per year for respiratory failure
  • On maximum pharmacological therapy with inadequate control

The listed symptoms are examples that appear in each level’s criteria — not a checklist that earns a percentage. Raters apply the criteria as a whole.

The evidence that matters most

Pulmonary function test numbers (FEV-1, FEV-1/FVC) and the medication list — a daily inhaled steroid alone reaches 30%

C&P exam tips for Asthma

  • Get pulmonary function tests (PFTs/spirometry) before the exam — FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC are the primary rating drivers.
  • Asthma is a PACT Act presumptive for veterans with burn pit exposure — if you deployed to Southwest Asia after August 1990, claim it as presumptive.
  • Document all inhalers and oral steroids — medication burden directly maps to rating levels.
  • Bring records of ER visits and hospitalizations for asthmatic attacks.
  • Describe triggers: exercise, smoke, chemical exposure, dust, cold air — these help establish service connection.

Common mistakes on Asthma claims

  • Not getting spirometry before the exam — without objective FEV-1 data, the rating defaults to the lowest tier.
  • Not claiming asthma as a PACT Act / burn pit presumptive when eligible.
  • Not documenting oral steroid use — daily systemic steroids alone support a 60% rating.
  • Failing to claim secondary conditions: sinusitis, GERD from asthma medications, sleep disruption.

Frequently asked questions

What diagnostic code does the VA use for Asthma?

Asthma is rated under 38 CFR Part 4, DC 6602 — diagnostic code 6602.

What is the highest schedular VA rating for Asthma?

100% is the highest level in the rating schedule for Asthma. The criteria at that level describe: FEV-1 less than 40% predicted; or FEV-1/FVC less than 40 percent; or more than one attack per week with episodes of respiratory failure.

How much does a 100% VA rating for Asthma pay in 2026?

$3,938.58 per month, tax-free, for a veteran with no dependents (rates effective December 1, 2025) — more with a spouse, children, or dependent parents. If you have other rated conditions, the VA combines ratings using its own math rather than adding them.

Can Asthma be claimed as a secondary condition?

Yes — veterans commonly file Asthma secondary to GERD / Acid Reflux, Chronic Sinusitis / Rhinitis under 38 C.F.R. § 3.310. What carries a secondary claim is a medical nexus opinion connecting it to the service-connected condition.

Related tools & guides

Build your Asthma claim documentation

Your first claim builds free, on screen — a personal statement mapped to these criteria and a cited draft medical opinion. No card to sign up.

Start your claim — free

Educational information about the rating schedule — not legal or medical advice, never a prediction or promise of any rating, and not affiliated with the VA.