VA Diagnostic Code 6523Bacterial rhinitis:
Rated from 10% to 50% under § 4.97. Here is what the VA requires at each level.
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What each rating requires
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- 50%
Rhinoscleroma
- 10%
With permanent hypertrophy of turbinates and with greater than 50-percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side
Bacterial Rhinitis (VA Diagnostic Code 6523)
Respiratory System · 38 CFR § 4.97
Understanding This Condition
Bacterial rhinitis is a condition affecting the nasal passages, rated by the VA under the Respiratory System section of the rating schedule (§ 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6523).
The VA assigns a disability rating based on the specific findings documented in your medical evidence. For bacterial rhinitis, there are two rating levels defined in the schedule.
Available Rating Levels
| Rating | What It Reflects |
|---|---|
| 50% | Rhinoscleroma |
| 10% | With permanent hypertrophy of turbinates and with greater than 50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides, or complete obstruction on one side |
What the VA Looks For
When evaluating bacterial rhinitis under Diagnostic Code 6523, the VA considers the following:
- For a 50% rating: The presence of rhinoscleroma.
- For a 10% rating:Permanent hypertrophy of the turbinates, along with greater than 50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides, or complete obstruction on one side.
Your rating is determined by comparing the findings in your medical records to these criteria. Accurate documentation of the extent of nasal passage obstruction and any related findings is central to how this condition is evaluated.
These criteria are a rendering of § 4.97, diagnostic code 6523. The official version is the one that governs your rating.
View official sourceHow to claim this
Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.
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Read each rung against what your medical records already say. The level your records document today is the one the VA can support today.
Name the gap
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.
Claim it by code
File under diagnostic code 6523 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Respiratory System codes may cover your secondary conditions.
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