Diagnosis

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the large airways that carry oxygen to the lungs. If you have bronchitis, you may experience difficulty breathing. This is because bronchitis can cause the airways to swell and produce mucus. The mucus can make it difficult for air to flow through the lungs. As a result, you may feel short of breath or experience chest pain. Over time, your lungs deteriorate as they work harder to compensate.

VA disability for bronchitis is based on chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is a long-term illness usually caused by exposure to irritants, such as smoke, pollution, and other toxins. Chronic bronchitis is a cough and mucus for most days that lasts for at least three months in a year.

A bronchitis VA rating ranges from 10% to 100% based on the severity of your condition, including:

• How long it takes you to breath
• How much air you’re inhaling and exhaling
• How well you can exercise

Remember that bronchitis can improve over time, so the VA probably won’t give you a permanent rating. You may have to return to the VA within 5-10 for a re-evaluation. Below is a list of how the VA awards ratings based on your lung functioning with the tests we explained above. For each rating, only one criterion must be met for the VA to award that rating:

<aside> 📌 Respiratory Testing

Your rating is heavily based on breathing tests that measure several different components. The VA will want to monitor your progress over time since bronchitis can improve, so you can expect to take these several times.

<aside> 📌 Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)

FVC is a test that measures how much air you can exhale after taking a full breath.

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<aside> 📌 Diffusion Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Dioxide (DLCO)

This test measures your body’s ability to transfer oxygen into red blood cells.

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Presumptive Service-Connection (Burn Pits)

If you were deployed to one of these areas after August 2, 1990, you’re eligible for bronchitis presumptive service connection. You must have performed active military, naval, air, or space service while assigned to a duty station, including the airspace above:

• Bahrain
• Iraq
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Somalia
• United Arab Emirates

Or if you served on or after September 11, 2001, you’re covered for service in all of the above countries plus:

• Afghanistan
• Djibouti
• Egypt
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• Syria
• Yemen
• Uzbekistan
• Or any other country determined relevant by the Secretary

**Chronic bronchitis claims have been granted effective dates of October 1, 2023. If a veteran is terminally ill, homeless, in severe financial difficulty, aged 85 or older, or can demonstrate other acceptable causes, August 10, 2022, is the effective date for claims.

The VA uses Diagnostic Code 6600 under the Schedule of Ratings to determine the severity of your bronchitis and award you a rating.

• 10% – requires one of the following:
  • FEV-1 or FEV-1/FVC is 71% – 80% predicted
  • DLCO (SB) is 71% – 80% predicted
• 30% – requires one of the following:
  • FEV-1 or FEV-1/FVC is 56% – 70% predicted
  • DLCO (SB) is 56% – 70% predicted
• 60% – requires one of the following:
  • FEV-1 or FEV-1/FVC is 40% – 55% predicted
  • DLCO (SB) is 40% – 55% predicted
  • Maximum oxygen consumption is 15 to 20 ml/kg/min
• 100% – requires one of the following:
  • FEV-1 or FEV-1/FVC is less than 40% predicted
  • DLCO (SB) is less than 40% predicted
  • Maximum oxygen consumption is less than 15 ml/kg/min
  • Right heart failure
  • Right ventricular hypertrophy
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Experienced an episode of acute respiratory failure
  • Requires outpatient oxygen therapy

*If you have more than one respiratory condition, the VA will only award you benefits for one of these disabilities. The VA will grant you a rating based on the disability with the highest percentage rating.