Respiratory System§ 4.97Updated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 6702Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, moderately 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, moderately 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the fact, and of the necessity, as given in footnote 1 to 38 U.S.C. 1156 (and formerly in 38 U.S.C. 356, which has been repealed by Public Law 90-493), to notify the Veterans Service Center in the event of failure to submit to examination or to follow treatment.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, Moderately Advanced, Active) — VA Diagnostic Code 6702

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

What This Condition Is

Diagnostic Code 6702 covers chronic pulmonary tuberculosis that is moderately advanced and active. This is a condition of the respiratory system, evaluated under § 4.97 of the VA's rating schedule.

Available Rating Level

Under Diagnostic Code 6702, there is a single listed evaluation level:

RatingCriteria
100%Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, moderately advanced, active

What the VA Looks For

The rating for this condition connects to specific rules built into the schedule for tuberculosis codes 6701 through 6724. Key points the VA applies:

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

  • Cooperation with examination and treatment matters. The 100-percent rating will be reduced to 50 percent upon report from medical authorities that a veteran has failed to submit to examination or to follow prescribed treatment (Note 1).

  • Notification process. When a veteran is placed on the 100-percent rating for inactive tuberculosis, the medical authorities are notified of that fact and of the need to inform the Veterans Service Center if the veteran fails to submit to examination or follow treatment. This requirement is described in footnote 1 to 38 U.S.C. 1156 (formerly 38 U.S.C. 356, repealed by Public Law 90-493) (Note 1).

  • 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).

  • Special handling after thoracoplasty. Following thoracoplasty, the rating is based on removal of ribs combined with the rating for collapsed lung. Resection of the ribs incident to thoracoplasty is rated as removal (Note 2).


This information is drawn directly from the VA rating schedule (38 CFR § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6702) and its accompanying notes. It is provided for general educational purposes and does not guarantee any particular rating or outcome.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.97, diagnostic code 6702. 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 6702 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Respiratory System codes may cover your secondary conditions.

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