EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Bronchial Asthma
DC 6602 | 38 CFR § 4.97, DC 6602 |
Bronchial Asthma is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 6602 of 38 CFR § 4.97, DC 6602 across 3 severity tiers (40%+ -- Severe limitation or ankylosis / 20% -- Moderate limitation / 10% -- Mild limitation or painful motion). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303. This condition is frequently rated as secondary to GERD or Sleep Apnea under 38 C.F.R. § 3.310.
OVERVIEW
Chronic airway inflammation causing breathing difficulty, wheezing, and bronchospasm
RATING CRITERIA (3 LEVELS)
40%+ -- Severe limitation or ankylosis
Severe limitation of motion or ankylosis of the affected joint. Specific percentages depend on the joint and whether dominant/non-dominant.
20% -- Moderate limitation
Moderate limitation of motion with significant functional impairment. DeLuca factors may increase the effective rating.
10% -- Mild limitation or painful motion
Mild limitation of motion, or X-ray evidence of arthritis with painful motion under DC 5003.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
SECONDARY CONDITIONS (13 MAPPED)
DC
Asthma medications relax LES; coughing increases reflux
DC
Airway inflammation affects nighttime breathing
DC
United airways disease - inflammation affects both
DC
Shared allergic pathways
DC
Fear of attacks and breathing difficulties
DC
Chronic disease burden and limitations
DC
Can develop from chronic airway hyperreactivity
DC
Long-term corticosteroid use weakens bones
DC
Long-term steroid use suppresses adrenal function
DC
Corticosteroid side effect
DC
Fear of asthma attacks
DC
Unified airway inflammation
DC
Nocturnal symptoms disrupt sleep
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026