Loading condition outcomes…
Loading condition outcomes…
Allergic rhinitis is ongoing inflammation of the nasal passages — congestion, sneezing, a runny or blocked nose — triggered by allergens or irritants. It is distinct from sinusitis and is rated under its own part of the VA schedule.
VA rating schedule, diagnostic code 6522
Allergic rhinitis — often called hay fever — is ongoing inflammation of the lining of the nose, with congestion, sneezing, and a runny or blocked nose, set off by allergens or irritants. The VA treats it as a ratable disability that is separate from sinusitis. As with most conditions, service connection follows the three-part test: a current diagnosis, an onset or cause during service, and a medical link between them (38 CFR § 3.303). Some veterans pursue it as secondary to another service-connected condition or to an environmental exposure.
The VA rates allergic (and vasomotor) rhinitis under Diagnostic Code 6522 (38 CFR § 4.97). There are two levels: 30 percent when there are nasal polyps, and 10 percent when there are no polyps but there is greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides, or complete obstruction on one side. Because the rating turns on whether polyps are present and on measured airway obstruction, a VA examination that documents those findings tends to be central to how the condition is evaluated.
This is general educational information about how the VA's rules work — not legal advice, not a VA decision, and not a prediction about any individual claim. Outcomes depend on your own facts and evidence; a denial can be appealed.
Grounded in federal regulations and VA guidance, independently reviewed June 2026. Educational information, not legal advice or a VA determination.
Across 12,513 Board decisions mentioning Allergic rhinitis
A denial is often not the end either — remands (shown below) are sent back for more development and can still end in a grant. These are whole-decision outcomes, not condition-specific success rates or a prediction of your case.
Appeals with representation succeed more often. Find free (VSO) or accredited help →
These are decision-level labels in granted or partly granted decisions mentioning Allergic rhinitis. They do not establish which theory succeeded for this condition.
Ratings from individual decisions are not shown until verified against the original source. This does not mean that no rating was assigned. Check the original Board decision.
A decision may address several conditions. Its overall outcome or exposure tags do not establish what happened to each individual claim. Verify the specific issue against the original Board decision.
Browse decisions mentioning Allergic rhinitis →Jump to the decisions from a specific year.
Coverage is incomplete and may lag publication. A year that looks thin or missing here (especially 2011–2017) is a gap in our library, not in the Board’s decisions.
Veterans appealing Allergic rhinitis often look at outcomes for these too:
We’ll send the free starter guide now, then a note when notable new Allergic rhinitis Board decisions are added. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
We will only use this to send the guide and occasional updates for this condition. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.