Chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is a long-term breathing problem where the airways in your lungs stay swollen, causing a cough, mucus, and trouble breathing. The VA lists it in its rating rules at 38 CFR 4.97 under diagnostic code 6600. In general, for the VA to "service-connect" a condition, the rules ask for three things: a current diagnosis, something that happened in service, and a link (called a "nexus") tying the two together. A presumptive pathway (explained below) can take the place of having to prove that link.

The VA gives chronic bronchitis a percentage rating mostly based on breathing (pulmonary function) test numbers, such as FEV-1, the FEV-1/FVC ratio, and DLCO. Higher percentages go to worse breathing results. As the rule lays out: a 10% rating fits FEV-1 of 71 to 80 percent predicted (or FEV-1/FVC of 71 to 80 percent, or DLCO of 66 to 80 percent); 30% fits FEV-1 of 56 to 70 percent (or FEV-1/FVC of 56 to 70 percent, or DLCO of 56 to 65 percent); and 60% fits FEV-1 of 40 to 55 percent (or FEV-1/FVC of 40 to 55 percent, or DLCO of 40 to 55 percent). A 100% rating fits the most serious cases, such as FEV-1 below 40 percent, or signs like right heart failure (cor pulmonale), pulmonary hypertension, an episode of acute respiratory failure, or needing outpatient oxygen therapy.

There is also a presumptive pathway. Under the PACT Act, the VA now treats chronic bronchitis as a "presumptive" condition tied to burn pits and other airborne hazards. The VA explains that for a presumptive condition you do not need to prove your service caused the condition — you only need to meet the service requirements for the presumption. This can remove the nexus burden for veterans who qualify based on where and when they served.

This is educational information about how the VA's rules work in general; it is not legal advice or a VA decision about your claim.