---
title: "DC 6701 - Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, far advanced, active"
diagnostic_code: "6701"
body_system: "Respiratory System"
cfr_section: "§ 4.97"
canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/respiratory/6701-tuberculosis-pulmonary-chronic-far-advanced-active"
source: "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.97"
updated: "2026-07-21T03:40:27.816568Z"
---

# DC 6701 - Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, far advanced, active

Rated under § 4.97. Body system: Respiratory System.

## Rating criteria

| Rating | Criteria |
| --- | --- |
| 100% | Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, far advanced, active |

## Notes

- 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the fact, and of the necessity, as given in footnote 1 to 38 U.S.C. 1156 (and formerly in 38 U.S.C. 356, which has been repealed by Public Law 90-493), to notify the Veterans Service Center in the event of failure to submit to examination or to follow treatment.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:

| Rating | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| **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.*

Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.97