Rhinitis VA Rating: Allergic and Vasomotor Rhinitis Criteria

Allergic vs. vasomotor rhinitis under Diagnostic Code 6522

Diagnostic Code 6522 evaluates allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis under the exact same 0%, 10%, and 30% criteria:

1. Allergic rhinitis: Triggered by an immune response to allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mold, or dander, causing histamine release, swollen turbinates, watery discharge, and sneezing.
2. Vasomotor (nonallergic) rhinitis: Triggered by neurovascular hypersensitivity of the nasal blood vessels and nerve endings rather than an allergy. Veterans often test negative on allergy panels yet experience chronic congestion and post-nasal drip from fine particulate matter, smoke, diesel exhaust, fumes, dry air, or temperature shifts.

Many deployed veterans develop mixed rhinitis from inhaling dust and burn pit emissions. Because DC 6522 covers both forms, positive allergy tests are not required if you hold a clinical diagnosis of vasomotor or chronic nonallergic rhinitis.

Detailed breakdown of Diagnostic Code 6522 rating tiers

Diagnostic Code 6522 relies on anatomical findings inside the nasal passages rather than pulmonary function tests or annual flare-up counts.

0 percent noncompensable rating

Under 38 CFR 4.31, the VA assigns 0% when rhinitis is service connected without nasal polyps and your nasal passage obstruction is 50% or less on both sides without complete (100%) blockage on either side. A 0% rating establishes legal service connection, qualifies you for no-cost VA health care and medications for rhinitis, preserves your right to file for an increase if polyps or worse obstruction develop, and supports secondary claims under 38 CFR 3.310.

10 percent disability rating: Nasal obstruction thresholds

To qualify for 10% under Diagnostic Code 6522 without polyps, clinical evidence must show either:

1. Greater than 50% obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides (both left and right nostrils more than 50% blocked), or
2. Complete (100%) obstruction on one side, regardless of the opposite side.

Notice the distinction in 38 CFR 4.97 between traumatic deviated septum (DC 6502), which requires “50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side,” and allergic or vasomotor rhinitis (DC 6522), which requires “greater than 50-percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.” Under DC 6522, bilateral obstruction of “50% or less” receives 0% unless one side is 100% obstructed.

30 percent disability rating: Nasal polyps

The maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 6522 is 30%, assigned whenever service-connected allergic or vasomotor rhinitis presents with polyps.

Nasal polyps are benign inflammatory growths lining the nasal passages or sinuses. Under DC 6522, the regulation requires only “With polyps”—it does not require a specific polyp size, count, or airflow obstruction percentage once polyps are verified. If surgical polypectomy removes the polyps completely, the VA evaluates post-surgical residuals based on remaining obstruction (10% or 0%), though documented polyp recurrence restores eligibility for 30%.

Bacterial and granulomatous rhinitis (DCs 6523 and 6524)

In addition to DC 6522, 38 CFR 4.97 provides two specialized rhinitis codes:

• Diagnostic Code 6523 (Bacterial rhinitis): Assigns 10% when chronic bacterial rhinitis produces permanent hypertrophy of the turbinates accompanied by greater than 50% obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, and 50% for rhinoscleroma (a chronic granulomatous bacterial infection).
• Diagnostic Code 6524 (Granulomatous rhinitis): Assigns 20% for other types of granulomatous infection in the nasal cavity, and 100% for Wegener’s granulomatosis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis) or lethal midline granuloma.

Comparing rhinitis (DC 6522) and chronic sinusitis (DCs 6510–6514)

Although rhinitis and sinusitis frequently occur together, rhinitis and chronic sinusitis are distinct diagnoses evaluated under separate criteria in 38 CFR 4.97.

Side-by-side comparison: Rhinitis vs. Chronic Sinusitis

Holding separate ratings for rhinitis and sinusitis

Under the anti-pyramiding rule in 38 CFR 4.14, the VA cannot rate the same manifestation twice. Because DC 6522 evaluates nasal passage obstruction and polyps while DCs 6510–6514 evaluate sinus episodes, headaches, facial tenderness, and purulent drainage or crusting, veterans diagnosed with both chronic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis can hold separate concurrent VA disability ratings.

PACT Act presumptive service connection for rhinitis (38 CFR 3.320)

Under the PACT Act of 2022 and 38 CFR 3.320(a)(2), asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis (to include rhinosinusitis) are presumptive chronic diseases associated with presumed exposure to fine particulate matter when manifested to any degree at any time after separation from a qualifying period of service under 38 CFR 3.320(a)(5)–(6):

• The Southwest Asia theater of operations (during the Persian Gulf War, from August 2, 1990 onward): Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the neutral zone between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the airspace above these locations.
• Additional qualifying locations under 38 CFR 3.320(a)(5)(ii) (on or after September 19, 2001, during the Persian Gulf War): Afghanistan, Syria, Djibouti, or Uzbekistan. (Separately, the PACT Act statutory presumption in 38 U.S.C. 1120 and 38 U.S.C. 1119(c)(1) also covers chronic rhinitis for qualifying service on or after August 2, 1990 in Somalia and on or after September 11, 2001 in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Yemen, and the airspace above these locations.)

Qualifying veterans only need service records verifying deployment to an eligible location and a current diagnosis of rhinitis. Veterans without qualifying deployments can establish direct service connection under 38 CFR 3.303 using in-service treatment or exposure records, or secondary connection under 38 CFR 3.310.

How the C&P exam and DBQ measure rhinitis

During a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam, the clinician completes the Sinusitis/Rhinitis and Other Conditions of the Nose, Throat, Larynx and Pharynx Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ), listed on the VA Public DBQs portal:

1. Diagnosis selection: Confirms allergic, non-allergic (vasomotor), bacterial, or granulomatous rhinitis.
2. Anterior rhinoscopy and obstruction check: Inspects both nostrils with a speculum and light source to record greater than 50% obstruction on both sides, complete (100%) obstruction on one side, or permanent hypertrophy of the turbinates.
3. Polyp identification: Records whether nasal polyps are present. Because anterior rhinoscopy only views the front of the nostrils, deeper polyps in the middle meatus or ethmoid region often require a private or VA nasal endoscopy or sinus CT scan to document accurately.

(Note: A February 15, 2022 proposed rule in 87 FR 8474 proposed redesignating rhinitis under DC 6240 and rating the 10% tier on continuous medication therapy, but that proposal remains unfinalized. Current 38 CFR 4.97 rules govern all claims, and established ratings are protected under 38 CFR 3.951(a).)

Secondary conditions linked to service-connected rhinitis

Under 38 CFR 3.310(a), chronic nasal obstruction, mucosal swelling, and polyps may cause or aggravate secondary disabilities when supported by a medical nexus opinion:

• Chronic sinusitis (DCs 6510–6514): Swollen nasal mucosa and polyps can block sinus ostia and trap secretions, leading to secondary chronic sinusitis rated at 0%, 10%, 30%, or 50%.
• Obstructive sleep apnea (DC 6847): Severe nasal blockage increases upper airway resistance and mouth breathing during sleep, which may cause or aggravate sleep apnea (rated at 0%, 30%, 50% with a prescribed CPAP device, or 100% under 38 CFR 4.97).
• Complete loss of sense of smell (DC 6275) or taste (DC 6276): Under 38 CFR 4.87a, complete loss of smell (anosmia, DC 6275) and complete loss of taste (ageusia, DC 6276) each carry a separate 10% rating when supported by an anatomical or pathological basis such as polyps or chronic mucosal blockage.
• Asthma (DC 6602), chronic laryngitis (DC 6516), and chronic otitis media (DC 6200): Post-nasal drip and nasopharyngeal swelling may aggravate bronchial reactivity, vocal cord inflammation, or eustachian tube obstruction.

Combining ratings and when to seek accredited help

When you hold multiple VA disability ratings, the VA combines them using the Combined Ratings Table in 38 CFR 4.25 rather than adding percentages directly (and the bilateral factor under 38 CFR 4.26 does not apply to the nose). Model how a 10% or 30% rhinitis evaluation affects your overall pay with our VA combined rating calculator.

If your rhinitis claim was denied, rated at 0% despite severe obstruction or polyps on an ENT scan, or requires a PACT Act supplemental claim, consider working with a VA-accredited representative. Chartered Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs)—such as the DAV, VFW, and American Legion—provide representation completely free of charge, while VA-accredited claims agents and attorneys can be verified through the VA Office of General Counsel Accreditation Search.