Respiratory System§ 4.97Updated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 6701Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, far advanced, active

A single 100% rating under § 4.97. Here is what the VA requires for it.

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  1. 100%

    Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, far advanced, active

From the schedule

Notes on this code

These notes are part of the regulation. They change how the levels above are applied.

  • Note (1): The 100-percent rating under codes 6701 through 6724 is not subject to a requirement of precedent hospital treatment. It will be reduced to 50 percent for failure to submit to examination or to follow prescribed treatment upon report to that effect from the medical authorities. When a veteran is placed on the 100-percent rating for inactive tuberculosis, the medical authorities will be appropriately notified of the fact, and of the necessity, as given in footnote 1 to 38 U.S.C. 1156 (and formerly in 38 U.S.C. 356, which has been repealed by Public Law 90-493), to notify the Veterans Service Center in the event of failure to submit to examination or to follow treatment.
  • Note (2): The graduated 50-percent and 30-percent ratings and the permanent 30 percent and 20 percent ratings for inactive pulmonary tuberculosis are not to be combined with ratings for other respiratory disabilities. Following thoracoplasty the rating will be for removal of ribs combined with the rating for collapsed lung. Resection of the ribs incident to thoracoplasty will be rated as removal.

Pulmonary Tuberculosis (Chronic, Far Advanced, Active) — VA Diagnostic Code 6701

Understanding how the VA rates chronic, far advanced, active pulmonary tuberculosis under 38 CFR § 4.97.

What This Condition Is

Diagnostic Code 6701 covers pulmonary tuberculosis that is chronic, far advanced, and active. It falls under the VA's rating rules for the Respiratory System, found in § 4.97 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

This is one of a group of tuberculosis diagnostic codes (6701 through 6724) that the VA rates according to specific, established rules.

Available Rating Level

For chronic, far advanced, active pulmonary tuberculosis under Diagnostic Code 6701, the rating schedule provides a single level:

RatingDescription
100%Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, far advanced, active

What the VA Looks For When Rating This Condition

When applying Diagnostic Code 6701, the VA follows several specific rules set out in the regulation:

  • No prior hospitalization required for the 100% rating. The 100-percent rating under codes 6701 through 6724 is not subject to a requirement of precedent hospital treatment. (Note 1)

  • Cooperation with examination and treatment matters. The 100-percent rating will be reduced to 50 percent for failure to submit to examination or to follow prescribed treatment, based on a report to that effect from the medical authorities. (Note 1)

  • Notification process for inactive tuberculosis. When a veteran is placed on the 100-percent rating for inactive tuberculosis, the medical authorities will be appropriately notified — including of the necessity (as given in footnote 1 to 38 U.S.C. 1156, formerly in the repealed 38 U.S.C. 356) to notify the Veterans Service Center if the veteran fails to submit to examination or to follow treatment. (Note 1)

  • Certain ratings are not combined with other respiratory disabilities. The graduated 50-percent and 30-percent ratings, and the permanent 30-percent and 20-percent ratings, for inactive pulmonary tuberculosis are not to be combined with ratings for other respiratory disabilities. (Note 2)

  • How surgical procedures are treated. Following thoracoplasty, the rating will be for removal of ribs combined with the rating for collapsed lung. Resection of the ribs incident to thoracoplasty will be rated as removal. (Note 2)

This information summarizes the rating criteria and notes provided in 38 CFR § 4.97 for Diagnostic Code 6701. It is provided for general educational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating outcome.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.97, diagnostic code 6701. The official version is the one that governs your rating.

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What next

How to claim this

Knowing the criteria is the first half. Getting your file to show them is the second.

  1. Find your level in the stack

    Read each rung against what your medical records already say. The level your records document today is the one the VA can support today.

  2. 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.

  3. Claim it by code

    File under diagnostic code 6701 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Respiratory System codes may cover your secondary conditions.

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