Diagnostic code 6502

How the VA Rates Deviated Nasal Septum

The plain-English version of the 38 CFR Part 4, DC 6502 criteria a VA rater evaluates Deviated Nasal Septum against, with the 2026 monthly rate at each level. A reference to what the regulation describes — never a prediction of any rating.

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38 CFR Part 4, DC 6502

Deviated Nasal Septum · 1 levels

10%$180.42a month

2026 VA rates (effective December 1, 2025), veteran alone, as the only rated condition. VA decides the level.

Key facts

Regulation: 38 CFR Part 4, DC 6502
Diagnostic code: 6502
Levels in the schedule: 10%
Top level (10%) pays: $180.42/month2026, veteran alone

The short answer

VA rates a deviated septum under 38 C.F.R. § 4.97, DC 6502, and the most it pays is 10 percent. To get the 10 percent, the deviation has to be traumatic (from an injury, not something you were born with) and cause 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side; anything less is 0 percent. Because the rating is so capped, the conditions that often come with it, like chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, or sleep apnea, are frequently the claims worth more.

The rating levels

Criteria paraphrased from 38 CFR Part 4, DC 6502 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
Traumatic deviation of the nasal septum with 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides, or complete obstruction on one side. 10% is the maximum schedular rating under DC 6502.
Examples from this level’s criteria
- At least 50% blockage of both nostrils, or one nostril fully blocked
- Chronic mouth breathing or nasal congestion
- Documented traumatic (injury) origin of the deviation
- Obstruction confirmed on nasal exam

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.

What has to be documented

Two facts decide a deviated septum claim, and both should be in writing before the exam:

That it was traumatic
DC 6502 covers traumatic deviation. Service treatment records of a nose injury, a broken nose, or a blow to the face during training, sports, or combat are the key evidence. Buddy statements from people who saw the injury can help when records are thin.
How blocked each side is
The examiner should record the percentage of obstruction on each side. An ENT exam or imaging that measures it is stronger than a general note that says "deviated septum."

Nasal obstruction can contribute to other conditions that have their own ratings. Chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are rated separately under § 4.97, and sleep apnea (DC 6847) can reach 50 percent when a CPAP machine is required. If a clinician ties one of these to your service-connected septum, it can be claimed as secondary under 38 C.F.R. § 3.310. Surgery to repair the septum does not by itself end service connection; the rating then reflects what remains.

C&P exam tips for Deviated Nasal Septum

1What wins this rating: an exam (or imaging) documenting the percentage of obstruction on each side — you need ≥50% bilateral or 100% on one side to be compensable.
2Establish that the deviation is traumatic (from an injury) rather than purely congenital.
3Note functional impact: mouth breathing, disrupted sleep, recurrent congestion.

Common mistakes on Deviated Nasal Septum claims

Expecting more than 10% — that is the schedular maximum for a deviated septum.
Not having the percentage of obstruction documented on each side.
Failing to tie the deviation to an in-service injury.

Frequently asked questions

What is the VA rating for a deviated septum?

10% is the maximum, under 38 C.F.R. § 4.97, DC 6502. It requires a traumatic deviation with 50% obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides, or complete obstruction on one side. Less obstruction is rated 0%.

Does a deviated septum from birth count?

DC 6502 rates traumatic deviation. A deviation you were born with is not rated under it unless something in service injured or worsened it, which is why service records of a nose injury matter so much.

Can sleep apnea be secondary to a deviated septum?

It can be claimed that way under 38 C.F.R. § 3.310 when a clinician explains how the nasal blockage causes or worsens your sleep apnea, and a sleep study confirms the diagnosis. VA decides whether the evidence is enough.

What diagnostic code does the VA use for Deviated Nasal Septum?

Deviated Nasal Septum is rated under 38 CFR Part 4, DC 6502 — diagnostic code 6502.

What is the highest schedular VA rating for Deviated Nasal Septum?

10% is the highest level in the rating schedule for Deviated Nasal Septum. The criteria at that level describe: Traumatic deviation of the nasal septum with 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides, or complete obstruction on one side. 10% is the maximum schedular rating under DC 6502.

How much does a 10% VA rating for Deviated Nasal Septum pay in 2026?

$180.42 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.

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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.