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VA rating schedule, diagnostic code 6510
Sinusitis and rhinitis are breathing-related conditions of the sinuses and nasal passages, and the VA rates both under its respiratory schedule in 38 CFR 4.97. Chronic sinusitis is listed under diagnostic codes 6510 through 6514 (for example, code 6510 covers chronic pansinusitis), and all of these are scored using the same "General Rating Formula for Sinusitis." Rhinitis has its own codes: allergic or vasomotor rhinitis falls under code 6522, and bacterial rhinitis under code 6523. To be service-connected, the VA generally looks for a current diagnosis, an in-service event or exposure, and a link (called a "nexus") between the two.
For sinusitis, the rating formula is built around "episodes." A 0% rating applies when sinusitis is detected by X-ray only. A 10% rating reflects one or two incapacitating episodes a year that need long (four-to-six-week) antibiotic treatment, or three to six non-incapacitating episodes with headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting. A 30% rating reflects three or more incapacitating episodes a year, or more than six non-incapacitating episodes. The top 50% rating applies after radical surgery with chronic osteomyelitis, or near-constant sinusitis with headaches, pain, tenderness, and discharge after repeated surgeries. The VA defines an "incapacitating episode" as one that requires bed rest and treatment by a physician.
For rhinitis, the numbers are different. Allergic or vasomotor rhinitis (code 6522) is rated 30% when there are polyps, and 10% without polyps but with greater than 50% blockage of the nasal passage on both sides or complete blockage on one side. Bacterial rhinitis (code 6523) is rated 10% with permanent enlargement of the turbinates and similar blockage, and 50% for rhinoscleroma. So with rhinitis, the size of the blockage and the presence of polyps are what drive the percentage.
There is also a presumptive pathway that can remove the nexus burden. Under the PACT Act, chronic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis are now presumptive conditions tied to burn pit and other toxic exposures, mainly for Gulf War and post-9/11 era service. "Presumptive" means the VA assumes the condition is connected to that service, so you do not have to separately prove the link. This is educational information only and is not legal advice or a VA decision; a denial can be a starting point, not the end of the road.
Grounded in federal regulations and VA guidance, independently reviewed June 2026. Educational information, not legal advice or a VA determination.
Across 18,970 real Board appeals for Sinusitis
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 Sinusitis was linked to service:
In appeals where Sinusitis 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 Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea and sinusitis have been granted. The Board found that the evidence supports a relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
The Veteran's chronic headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The left and right knee disabilities, sinusitis, tinea pedis, and sleep apnea are denied.
The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis on a direct basis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service, including exposure to environmental factors during Operation Desert Storm.
The Board has granted an initial rating of 10 percent for sinusitis, effective from the date of the September 2020 decision. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is dismissed.
The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were granted effective from July 1, 2020.
The Veteran's service-connected chronic sinusitis and laryngeal disability have been granted. The reduction of the disability evaluation for chronic sinusitis was improper, and a 50 percent rating is restored effective April 1, 2018.
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 Sinusitis often look at outcomes for these too:
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