Respiratory System§ 4.97Updated
Rating criteria

VA Diagnostic Code 6831Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis)

Rated from 10% to 100% under § 4.97. Here is what the VA requires at each level.

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What each rating requires

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  1. 100%

    Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) less than 50-percent predicted, or; Diffusion Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide by the Single Breath Method (DLCO (SB)) less than 40-percent predicted, or; maximum exercise capacity less than 15 ml/kg/min oxygen consumption with cardiorespiratory limitation, or; cor pulmonale or pulmonary hypertension, or; requires outpatient oxygen therapy

  2. 60%

    FVC of 50- to 64-percent predicted, or; DLCO (SB) of 40- to 55-percent predicted, or; maximum exercise capacity of 15 to 20 ml/kg/min oxygen consumption with cardiorespiratory limitation

  3. 30%

    FVC of 65- to 74-percent predicted, or; DLCO (SB) of 56- to 65-percent predicted

  4. 10%

    FVC of 75- to 80-percent predicted, or; DLCO (SB) of 66- to 80-percent predicted

How it is applied

General rating formula

General Rating Formula for Interstitial Lung Disease (diagnostic codes 6825 through 6833)

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis)

VA Diagnostic Code 6831 · Respiratory System · 38 CFR § 4.97

What This Condition Is

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis, also known as extrinsic allergic alveolitis, is a lung condition affecting the respiratory system. The VA rates it under Diagnostic Code 6831 using the General Rating Formula for Interstitial Lung Disease.

How the VA Rates It

The VA assigns a disability rating based primarily on the results of pulmonary function testing and related measures. The key measurements the VA considers are:

  • Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) — expressed as a percent of what is predicted for the individual
  • Diffusion Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide by the Single Breath Method (DLCO (SB)) — expressed as a percent predicted
  • Maximum exercise capacity — measured in ml/kg/min of oxygen consumption, with cardiorespiratory limitation
  • The presence of cor pulmonale or pulmonary hypertension
  • Whether outpatient oxygen therapy is required

Available Rating Levels

RatingWhat the VA Looks For
100%FVC less than 50-percent predicted; or DLCO (SB) less than 40-percent predicted; or maximum exercise capacity less than 15 ml/kg/min oxygen consumption with cardiorespiratory limitation; or cor pulmonale or pulmonary hypertension; or requires outpatient oxygen therapy
60%FVC of 50- to 64-percent predicted; or DLCO (SB) of 40- to 55-percent predicted; or maximum exercise capacity of 15 to 20 ml/kg/min oxygen consumption with cardiorespiratory limitation
30%FVC of 65- to 74-percent predicted; or DLCO (SB) of 56- to 65-percent predicted
10%FVC of 75- to 80-percent predicted; or DLCO (SB) of 66- to 80-percent predicted

What This Means

Within each rating level, meeting any one of the listed measurements can support that rating. Generally, the more significantly lung function is reduced — or the more serious the associated findings such as pulmonary hypertension or the need for oxygen therapy — the higher the rating level under this diagnostic code.

This information is drawn from the VA rating schedule for Diagnostic Code 6831. It is provided for general reference and does not guarantee any particular rating outcome.

These criteria are a rendering of § 4.97, diagnostic code 6831. 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 6831 and attach the evidence for the level you are asking for. Other Respiratory System codes may cover your secondary conditions.

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