Diagnostic Code 6602: Asthma / Bronchial Asthma Rating Criteria
- CFR section
- 38 CFR § 4.97
- Rating range
- 10% to 100%
- Rating levels
- 4
- Body system
- Respiratory system
The VA rates Asthma / Bronchial Asthma under diagnostic code 6602 in 38 CFR § 4.97. The table below is the full set of rating criteria, from the schedule itself, with the evidence factors raters look for at each level.
DC 6602 rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 10% | FEV-1 of 71- to 80-percent predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 71 to 80 percent, or intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy What raters look forFEV-1 71 to 80 percent predicted; intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy |
| 30% | FEV-1 of 56- to 70-percent predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 56 to 70 percent, or daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy, or inhalational anti-inflammatory medication What raters look forFEV-1 56 to 70 percent predicted; daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy; inhalational anti-inflammatory medication |
| 60% | FEV-1 of 40- to 55-percent predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 40 to 55 percent, or at least monthly visits to a physician for required care of exacerbations, or intermittent (at least three per year) courses of systemic (oral or parenteral) corticosteroids What raters look forFEV-1 40 to 55 percent predicted; at least monthly physician visits for exacerbations; at least three courses of systemic corticosteroids per year |
| 100% | FEV-1 less than 40-percent predicted, or FEV-1/FVC less than 40 percent, or more than one attack per week with episodes of respiratory failure, or requires daily use of systemic (oral or parenteral) high dose corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications What raters look forFEV-1 less than 40 percent predicted; more than one attack per week with episodes of respiratory failure; daily systemic high dose corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications |
DC 6602 rating appeals at the Board
The Board of Veterans' Appeals issued 1,124 rulings on higher ratings, reductions and severance under diagnostic code 6602 from 2021 to 2026. It granted 31.9%, denied 57.6% and sent 10.5% back for more work. One appeal can contain more than one ruling.
By the rating the Board's order named
Only orders that state a rating percentage with a date are counted. An order denying a rating "in excess of 50 percent" names the existing rating; a grant may name the rating awarded. These are not all ratings veterans requested.
| Rating the order named | Decided rulings | Granted |
|---|---|---|
| 30 percent | 138 | 44.9% |
Recorded exam issues in remanded DC 6602 rulings
Percentages use all 118 rating rulings under this code the Board remanded, 2021 to 2026. Some rulings have no recorded exam classification, and small categories are not shown, so these rows need not total 100 percent.
- The VA exam or opinion was not adequate68.6%
- The exam was out of date or the condition had worsened17.8%
- No exam problem recorded11.0%
Method: Claim Raven read each ruling in every Board decision stored for 2021 to 2026 and counted it under this code when the decision named DC 6602 for a rating question. These results cover only rulings with an identified diagnostic code and may not represent rulings where no code was stated. Granted includes partial grants; dismissed and withdrawn rulings are left out. These are outcomes within appeals, not first decisions, and not your personal odds.
Condition guide
The rating criteria are only part of the picture for Asthma. The Asthma condition page covers service connection, common evidence problems, secondary conditions, and Board outcome patterns in depth.
What happens to Asthma appeals at the Board
Claim Raven's analysis of 6,137 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on Asthma, 2021 to 2026. The Asthma condition page has the full breakdown, including which evidence types are associated with better outcomes.
Method: each ruling's outcome is read from the order in the Board's published decision and rolled up as granted (including partial grants), denied, or remanded, leaving out dismissals and withdrawals. The data codes the condition the Board ruled on, not the diagnostic code, so these numbers describe Asthma appeals generally rather than DC 6602 specifically. The DC 6602 section above counts this code's own rating appeals. Board outcomes describe appealed claims, not initial decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What is VA diagnostic code 6602?
Diagnostic code 6602 is the VA rating schedule entry for Asthma / Bronchial Asthma, found in 38 CFR § 4.97. The VA assigns this code when it rates the condition and applies the criteria listed on this page.
What ratings are possible under DC 6602?
DC 6602 provides ratings of 10%, 30%, 60%, 100%. The percentage depends on which criteria your medical evidence documents, not on the diagnosis alone.
What does the highest rating under DC 6602 require?
The 100% rating for Asthma / Bronchial Asthma requires: FEV-1 less than 40-percent predicted, or FEV-1/FVC less than 40 percent, or more than one attack per week with episodes of respiratory failure, or requires daily use of systemic (oral or parenteral) high dose corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications.
How often does the Board grant a higher rating under DC 6602?
In 1,091 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals rulings on a higher rating under DC 6602 from 2021 to 2026, 30.4% were granted, 58.8% denied and 10.8% sent back for more work. These are appeal outcomes, not your personal odds.
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