What this DBQ covers
This questionnaire covers respiratory conditions other than tuberculosis and sleep apnea, which have separate forms. It records diagnoses, treatment, relevant testing, and functional effects. Different respiratory conditions can require different sections and findings. Shortness of breath alone does not identify the diagnosis or explain every limitation, so the clinician should interpret symptoms alongside the medical history and relevant lung or other testing.
The important sections, explained
Treatment type matters to the history
The medical-history section separates inhaled medication, oral or injected corticosteroids, bronchodilators, antibiotics and oxygen therapy. Bring the medication names, route, schedule and treatment periods. An inhaler and a course of oral medication are different facts. Explain which treatment is ongoing and which addressed a temporary episode. The clinician determines how the regimen fits the questionnaire rather than inferring all treatment details from a general statement that you take medicine for breathing.
Read the official form: page 3
Pulmonary testing and condition-specific episodes
The testing section records relevant studies, including pulmonary function information. The earlier condition-specific sections ask about findings and treatment episodes for particular diseases. Bring complete reports with dates, not just a single remembered value. Describe the activity that causes difficulty and any recovery or usual support. The examiner interprets which findings relate to the diagnosed lung condition, particularly when heart disease, joint pain or another issue also limits the same activity.
How to prepare useful information
Bring pulmonary records, existing pulmonary function test reports, imaging, and a current treatment list. Include the actual medication type and schedule, oxygen use if prescribed, and records of significant treatment episodes. Describe how breathing affects specific activities and whether that changes over time. Follow testing instructions from your clinician; do not alter medication or exert yourself unusually to try to produce a particular result.
Fictional example
A veteran brings a pulmonary test report, their current inhaler list and a record of a separate prescribed treatment course. They describe breathlessness during an ordinary walk and identify another condition that also limits distance. The examiner can assess testing, treatment and functional effects separately. The veteran does not count every inhaler use as a distinct exacerbation or assume one test number settles the whole claim.
Records to gather
Start with records you already have. Bring the relevant information to your clinician and explain any gaps or uncertain dates.
- Pulmonary evaluations and existing lung function test reports
- Medication, oxygen, and other treatment records
- Records of significant episodes and examples of activity limitations
A detail that is easy to miss
A medication list without route or timing may hide an important distinction between ongoing inhaled treatment and a short course of another drug. Include the actual prescriptions and visit reasons where available. Keep oxygen use and any medical instructions accurately described. Do not alter treatment or perform strenuous activity to produce a particular test or examination result.
Find your way around the official form
These section headings come from the linked VA PDF. Each link opens the page where the section begins. Read the form's own instructions for the full questions and any required attachments.
Who completes the clinical sections?
The healthcare provider completes the clinical assessment, identifies the records reviewed, and signs the questionnaire. You can gather records and describe symptoms and daily limitations. Measurements, diagnoses, and clinical conclusions belong to the examiner.
Check the official form's instructions with your provider before the appointment, including any examination or testing requirements. VA does not pay or reimburse the costs of having a private DBQ completed or submitted.
A completed DBQ can help document the medical condition. Whether it also answers a particular service-connection question depends on its content and the other evidence. VA may verify the form or request another examination.
Common questions
Does this questionnaire cover sleep apnea too?
No. VA publishes a separate Sleep Apnea DBQ, and tuberculosis also has its own questionnaire. If more than one respiratory or sleep condition is being evaluated, the clinician should identify the appropriate forms and distinguish their findings rather than combine every symptom under one diagnosis.
Why list inhaled and oral medicines separately?
The form asks separate treatment questions, including the route and type of medication. Bring the actual prescriptions and treatment periods so the clinician can distinguish ongoing inhaled care from an oral course or another therapy. A general statement about steroids may not identify the regimen accurately.
Should I bring the entire pulmonary function report?
Yes, the full dated report preserves the measurements, testing conditions and interpretation. A single number may omit information the examiner needs. The clinician decides which results apply and whether additional testing is required under the form's instructions.
Official source and editorial approach
This is Claim Raven's plain-language guide, separate from the official questionnaire. The explanation and checklist were prepared from the linked form. They help you understand and organize information; they are not an assessment of your individual claim.
Respiratory Conditions (other than tuberculosis and sleep apnea): official VA PDF
Printed revision: 2024-08-27 ~v24_2
Source checked: September 9, 2026
Source verification details
SHA-256 of the PDF checked for this guide:c821d5364b98431f98f81615858caedadc2255731ee7815815a7fc014458ae84