Asthma VA Ratings and Service Connection
By Telemedica
11/6/2025
Many veterans develop breathing problems after deployment (sometimes years after leaving service). Recent studies show that combat veterans face a higher risk of developing asthma due to exposure to burn pits, dust, and other airborne hazards.
If you experience shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, or chest tightness, you may qualify for VA disability benefits for asthma.
Understanding how the VA rates asthma, and how to establish service connection, can help you strengthen your claim for VA disability compensation and benefits.
Key Takeaways
- Asthma VA ratings range from 10% to 100%, depending on the frequency and severity of symptoms or attacks, pulmonary function test results, and medication requirements.
- The most important piece of medical evidence for asthma is a pulmonary function test (PFT), which tests how well your lungs work.
- Asthma is considered a presumptive condition if it was diagnosed after service and the veteran served in specific locations during qualifying time periods.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a respiratory condition in which your airways narrow, swell, and may produce extra mucus. There is no cure, but with the proper diagnosis and treatment, you can control the symptoms, which include:
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Chest pain or tightness
- Disrupted sleep (caused by the other symptoms)
For some people, asthma can be related to activities or environment, such as exercise, allergies, or exposure to chemical fumes, gases, or dust. The latter, called occupational asthma, may be the most relevant to veterans.
Asthma VA Ratings
Asthma VA ratings range from 10% to 100%, depending on the severity of symptoms and the results of pulmonary function testing (PFTs) or required treatment. Asthma is rated under the diagnostic code (DC) 6602, with ratings assigned based on the outcome of a pulmonary function test (PFT). PFTs test how well your lungs work.
The important PFT measures for asthma claims are:
- Forced vital capacity (FVC). This is the total amount of air you can exhale in 1 long breath.
- Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). This is the amount of air you exhale in the first second. FEV1 is often expressed as a percentage of FVC.
- FEV1/FVC. This is the amount of air exhaled in the first second, compared with the total amount of air exhaled. It’s given as a fraction (ratio) or a percentage. In general, the higher the FEV1/FVC, the better.
DC 6602 Asthma VA Rating Chart
| Description of Impairment/Symptoms | VA Disability Rating |
| 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 | 100% |
| 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 | 60% |
| 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 | 30% |
| FEV-1 of 71- to 80-percent predicted, or; FEV-1/FVC of 71 to 80 percent, or; intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy | 10% |
Note: In the absence of clinical findings of asthma at time of examination, a verified history of asthmatic attacks must be on record.
Establishing Service Connection for Asthma
If you don’t qualify for asthma as a presumptive condition under the PACT Act, you must provide the following to prove service connection:
- A current diagnosis of asthma
- Evidence of an in-service event, injury, disease, or aggravation
- A nexus (link) between your current diagnosis and in-service event through medical evidence (e.g., via a nexus letter or statement)
Asthma and the PACT Act
You’re eligible for VA benefits under the PACT Act for asthma if you served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or other locations specified by VA for post-9/11 service; or you deployed in support of the Global War on Terror in a qualifying location; or you were exposed to burn pits, toxins or other hazards during military service, and your asthma was diagnosed after service.
Secondary Conditions to Asthma
Asthma can also lead to other health or medical issues that you may be able to claim as secondary conditions and increase your compensation.
Some of those secondary conditions include:
- Chronic bronchitis
- Diabetes
The Value of a Nexus Letter
A nexus letter is a medical document that links your current diagnosis to a specific event, injury, or exposure during your military service.
For asthma, a nexus letter can be key to proving service connection, especially if your original claim was denied or if your condition is secondary to another service-connected disability.
Although the VA doesn’t require a nexus letter, having one may significantly strengthen your claim by offering clear medical evidence tying your condition to your service.
The experienced team at Telemedica provides well-crafted nexus letters.
Medical Evidence Wins VA Claims
Did you know that a lack of medical evidence is the #1 reason VA disability claims are denied?
Medical evidence is a crucial piece of the puzzle that VA raters consider when reviewing a disability claim. Telemedica provides solutions for veterans looking to bolster their claims through high-quality medical evidence that wins claims!
Schedule your 20-minute consultation call and learn how to get the supporting medical evidence you need to strengthen your claim.
Conclusion
Asthma can have a serious impact on your daily functioning. If you have a current diagnosis of asthma and can prove that it’s linked to your military service (or meet the presumptive condition criteria), you deserve an asthma VA rating and benefits.
If you’re ready to strengthen your asthma VA claim, connect with Telemedica today.
FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average VA rating for asthma?
This isn’t an “average” rating; however, asthma VA ratings range 10% to 100% disability based on the severity of your symptoms as measured by a pulmonary function test (PFT), which tests how well your lungs function.
Why did VA deny my asthma claim?
If your VA claim for asthma was denied, you likely need more medical evidence. Being able to link your current diagnosis with an in-service event, injury, disease, or aggravation is critical to your claim. Telemedica can help you with a Nexus letter or DBQ to strengthen your claim.
What is the VA asthma rating criteria?
The VA uses the results of a pulmonary function test (PFT) to determine asthma ratings for disability compensation. The VA rating for asthma ranges from 10% to 100%, depending on the severity of symptoms and need for interventions.
Under diagnostic code (DC) 6602, a 10% disability rating indicates a FEV-1/FVC (the amount of air exhaled in the first second, compared with the total amount of air exhaled) of 71%-80% and occasional use of an inhaler, whereas a 100% disability rating indicates a FEV-1/FVC less than 40% and daily use of medications.
Is asthma a VA disability for the PACT Act?
Yes, asthma is a presumptive condition covered by the PACT Act for veterans with qualifying service and exposure to burn pits or other airborne hazards.
How do I prove asthma to VA?
For the best chance at submitting a successful VA disability claim for asthma, you need to have a current medical diagnosis; evidence of an in-service event, injury, disease, or aggravation; and a nexus (link) between your current diagnosis and in-service event proven through medical evidence.
What VA conditions are secondary to asthma?
Some of the common conditions that can be claimed as secondary conditions to asthma include obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic bronchitis, chronic sinusitis, anxiety and depression, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, panic disorder, vocal cord dysfunction (VCD), chronic rhinitis, pulmonary hypertension, lung infections, eczema (atopic dermatitis), and metabolic syndrome.
Can you receive separate VA ratings for asthma and sleep apnea?
Not typically, as they are both considered respiratory conditions; however, in some cases, sleep apnea can be claimed as a secondary condition to service-connected asthma.