Respiratory Conditions (Other than TB and Sleep Apnea)

Your doctor will complete VA Form 21-0960L-1 (Respiratory Conditions (Other than TB and Sleep Apnea) DBQ) after examining you. This walkthrough helps you prepare them. The DBQ is a standardized questionnaire; your doctor's answers directly determine your VA rating. Brief them on these specific points before the exam so nothing important is missed or underdocumented.

Common mistakes

• ×Asking your doctor to just "fill out the VA form" without briefing them - an uninformed completion is often generic and leads to lower ratings.
• ×Bringing the DBQ to a provider who has never seen you before - your treating physician who knows your history will write the most credible documentation.
• ×Going to the exam and waiting for the doctor to ask questions - come prepared with specific examples of your worst days and functional limitations.

These are the key clinical questions from the Respiratory Conditions (Other than TB and Sleep Apnea) DBQ. Help your doctor understand what each question is asking and give them concrete examples for your situation. Print this section and bring it to the appointment. 1. What are the pulmonary function test (PFT) results? WHY IT MATTERS: FEV-1, FEV-1/FVC ratio, and DLCO directly determine rating TIPS: Get PFTs within 3 months of exam if possible 2. What medications are required? WHY IT MATTERS: Need for inhalers, oral steroids, or oxygen affects rating TIPS: List all respiratory medications including rescue vs maintenance 3. How frequent are exacerbations? WHY IT MATTERS: Frequency of attacks and ER visits support higher rating TIPS: Track every exacerbation, ER visit, and steroid burst 4. Is oxygen therapy required? WHY IT MATTERS: Continuous oxygen use warrants 100% for some conditions TIPS: Document oxygen prescription and usage

Common mistakes

• ×Not getting PFTs before the exam
• ×Using bronchodilator before PFT (pre-bronchodilator values used for rating)
• ×Not documenting exacerbation frequency

VA raters use the Respiratory Conditions (Other than TB and Sleep Apnea) DBQ to determine your disability rating. The most important rating factors for this condition are: 1. FEV-1 percentage predicted 2. FEV-1/FVC ratio 3. DLCO percentage predicted 4. Need for systemic corticosteroids or immunosuppressive medications 5. Frequency of physician visits for exacerbations 6. Oxygen therapy requirement For each factor, give your doctor specific examples from your daily life so they can document accurately (not generically).

Common mistakes

• ×Failing to bring medication list

Authority

• 38 CFR 4.1 - Functional impairment as the basis for rating.

Preparation checklist for the Respiratory Conditions (Other than TB and Sleep Apnea) DBQ exam: 1. Get PFTs completed - this is the most important evidence 2. Do NOT use bronchodilator before PFT unless instructed 3. Track exacerbations, ER visits, and steroid courses for 12 months 4. List all respiratory medications with dosages and frequency Remember: Describe your WORST days, not your average days. VA raters evaluate the full range of your disability including its worst manifestations.

Common mistakes

• ×Describing your best days or average functioning instead of your worst - VA rates the full range of disability.
• ×Minimizing symptoms out of stoicism or pride - accurate documentation is not exaggeration; it is honesty.
• ×Not mentioning secondary symptoms, side effects, or additional conditions the doctor may not ask about.