You never experienced breathing issues before you deployed, but after being exposed to burn pits during military service, even simple tasks like grocery shopping can lead to shortness of breath. Now, you’ve been diagnosed with asthma and wonder if it’s from the toxins you inhaled while on duty. If you’re a veteran with asthma, you may qualify for an asthma VA rating. Read on to learn more about how the VA rates asthma and who may be eligible for compensation.
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In this article about the asthma VA rating:
Asthma in veterans
Asthma is a chronic condition caused by narrowing and inflammation of the airways that carry air in and out of the lungs. It can lead to shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. People with asthma can also experience a sudden, sometimes life-threatening worsening of symptoms, called an asthma attack. Symptoms are often triggered by factors like exercise, allergies, or irritants such as chemical fumes, gases, or dust.
About 1 in 13 people in the U.S. have asthma. It’s unknown exactly what causes the condition, but people with allergies or a family history of the condition are at risk. Additionally, people exposed to certain toxins in the environment are at a higher risk of developing asthma.
Research suggests certain veterans may be more likely to develop new-onset asthma than their civilian counterparts. One study showed that participants who deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan and experienced combat were 24%-30% more likely to develop asthma than those who did not.
Asthma VA rating
The VA rates asthma using diagnostic code 6602 in the Schedule of Ratings. Veterans with asthma may be eligible for an asthma VA rating of 10%, 30%, 60%, or 100% depending on the severity of the illness and frequency of symptoms.
To determine an appropriate rating, the VA typically requires veterans with asthma to take a pulmonary function test, also known as a lung function test, to measure how well their lungs work. In the ratings table below, FEV-1 refers to the amount of air exhaled in the first second, whereas FVC measures the total amount of air exhaled.
| Description | VA Rating | Monthly payment (vet only) |
|---|---|---|
| FEV-1 less than 40-percent predicted, or; FEV-1/FVC less than 40 percent, or; more than one attack per week with episodes of respiratory failure, or; requires daily use of systemic (oral or parenteral) high dose corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications | 100% | $3,831.30 |
| FEV-1 of 40- to 55-percent predicted, or; FEV-1/FVC of 40 to 55 percent, or; at least monthly visits to a physician for required care of exacerbations, or; intermittent (at least three per year) courses of systemic (oral or parenteral) corticosteroids | 60% | $1,395.93 |
| FEV-1 of 56- to 70-percent predicted, or; FEV-1/FVC of 56 to 70 percent, or; daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy, or; inhalational anti-inflammatory medication | 30% | $537.42 |
| FEV-1 of 71- to 80-percent predicted, or; FEV-1/FVC of 71 to 80 percent, or; intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy | 10% | $175.51 |
It’s important to note that if the veteran is not experiencing weakened lung function and symptoms of asthma at the time of the pulmonary function test, they can still get rated for the condition. In such chases, they will need to provide official documentation proving a history of asthma attacks.
PACT Act asthma
Veterans who were exposed to burn pits and particulate fine matter during service are more likely to develop asthma than those who didn’t. According to one study of almost 460,000 veterans, those who had deployed to bases in Iraq, Afghanistan, and nearby countries from 2001 to 2011 were found to be more likely to develop asthma than service members who did not. The odds of developing asthma increased for every 100 days spent on a base near a burn pit.
The 2022 PACT Act expanded VA disability benefits and health care for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxins in specific locations and time periods. Because of the PACT Act, the VA recognizes more than 30 conditions, including asthma diagnosed after service, as presumptive for service connection for veterans exposed to burn pits, particulate matter, sand and dust, and radiation, among other toxins and occupational hazards.
This means qualifying veterans do not need to prove a medical nexus between their asthma and their service to be eligible for compensation. Instead, if you are a veteran who was exposed to burn pits or other occupational hazards covered under the PACT Act during service and later developed asthma, you must be able to prove you served in a specific location during a specific period of time and were diagnosed with the condition.
TDIU for asthma
Veterans with severe asthma may find their symptoms make it difficult for them to maintain a full-time job. Frequent asthma attacks or coughing fits can make it hard to stay on task at a sedentary job, and might make physical labor nearly impossible. Veterans who find themselves in a situation like this may be eligible to receive TDIU.
A veteran can be awarded total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) benefits if they can’t maintain “substantially gainful employment” due to their service-connected conditions.
Veterans who receive TDIU benefits are compensated at the same level as those with a 100% disability rating, even though their combined rating is below 100%.
Veterans will typically be eligible for TDIU if they have:
- At least one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling OR
- Two or more service-connected disabilities with at least one rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more
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Frequently asked questions
Although the VA has recognized the connection between Agent Orange and respiratory cancers, there is no evidence that exposure to the herbicide leads to asthma.
The VA rates asthma using diagnostic code 6602 in the Schedule of Ratings for the respiratory system. Veterans with asthma may be eligible for an asthma VA rating of 10%, 30%, 60%, or 100% depending on the severity of the illness and frequency of symptoms.
Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
