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VA rating schedule, diagnostic code 6600
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.
Grounded in federal regulations and VA guidance, independently reviewed June 2026. Educational information, not legal advice or a VA determination.
Across 6,216 real Board appeals for Chronic bronchitis
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 historical outcomes, not a prediction of your case.
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Among the appeals that were granted or partly granted, the most common ways Chronic bronchitis was linked to service:
In appeals where Chronic bronchitis was the only condition decided and the Board granted it, the rating most often assigned was:
These appeals involved a recognized exposure — which can mean the link to service is presumed, with no nexus to prove:
The Board has granted service connection for chronic bronchitis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active duty service.
The Veteran's asthma and chronic bronchitis are granted service connection due to exposure to fine particulate matter during his military service, with the presumption of exposure under the PACT Act for chronic bronchitis.
The Veteran's service-connected right and left ankle disabilities have been granted increased ratings of 20 percent each, the schedular maximum. The claim for a compensable rating for chronic bronchitis has been denied.
The Veteran's asthma with chronic bronchitis is rated at a 30 percent rating, effective from the date of this decision.
The Board has granted service connection for anemia, chronic bronchitis, chronic kidney disease (CKD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and a bilateral ankle disorder. All conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.,Reasoning: The evidence supports that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the Veteran's active duty service.
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC(r)(1) rate effective May 13, 2024. The decision is based on his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities that require aid and attendance.
Jump to the decisions from a specific year.
New decisions are added every week, and older years are actively being backfilled — 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 Chronic bronchitis often look at outcomes for these too:
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