VA Diagnostic Code 6521Pharynx, injuries to:
A single 50% rating under § 4.97. Here is what the VA requires for it.
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- 50%
Stricture or obstruction of pharynx or nasopharynx, or; absence of soft palate secondary to trauma, chemical burn, or granulomatous disease, or; paralysis of soft palate with swallowing difficulty (nasal regurgitation) and speech impairment
Injuries to the Pharynx (VA Diagnostic Code 6521)
Understanding This Respiratory System Rating
The pharynx is part of your throat, connecting the back of your nose and mouth to your esophagus and airway. It plays a key role in swallowing, breathing, and speech. Injuries to this area can affect these everyday functions.
Under § 4.97, the VA evaluates injuries to the pharynx under Diagnostic Code 6521, within the Respiratory System.
Available Rating Level
This condition has a single rating level under the VA's schedule:
50%
A 50% rating applies when there is:
- Stricture or obstruction of the pharynx or nasopharynx, or
- Absence of the soft palate secondary to trauma, chemical burn, or granulomatous disease, or
- Paralysis of the soft palate with swallowing difficulty (nasal regurgitation) and speech impairment
What the VA Looks For
When rating an injury to the pharynx, the VA reviews whether your condition matches the specific criteria outlined above. This includes evidence of:
- A narrowing (stricture) or blockage (obstruction) of the pharynx or nasopharynx
- Loss of the soft palate resulting from trauma, chemical burn, or granulomatous disease
- Paralysis of the soft palate that causes both swallowing difficulty—such as nasal regurgitation—and impaired speech
The VA assesses these findings against the criteria in § 4.97 to determine whether the 50% rating applies.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.97, diagnostic code 6521. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
View official sourceHow to claim this
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Look at the rung above yours and write down exactly what it asks for that your file does not show yet — a diagnosis, a measurement, a prescribed brace, a doctor’s opinion linking it to service.
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File under diagnostic code 6521 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Respiratory System codes may cover your secondary conditions.
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