---
title: "DC 6829 - Drug-induced pulmonary pneumonitis and fibrosis"
diagnostic_code: "6829"
body_system: "Respiratory System"
cfr_section: "§ 4.97"
canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-rating-schedule/respiratory/6829-drug-induced-pulmonary-pneumonitis-and-fibrosis"
source: "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.97"
updated: "2026-07-21T18:20:00.697554Z"
---

# DC 6829 - Drug-induced pulmonary pneumonitis and fibrosis

Rated under § 4.97. Body system: Respiratory System.

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

## Rating criteria

| Rating | Criteria |
| --- | --- |
| 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 |
| 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 |

# Drug-Induced Pulmonary Pneumonitis and Fibrosis (VA Diagnostic Code 6829)

*Respiratory System · 38 CFR § 4.97*

## What This Condition Is

Drug-induced pulmonary pneumonitis and fibrosis is a lung condition in which certain medications trigger inflammation of the lung tissue (pneumonitis) and, over time, scarring (fibrosis). As lung tissue becomes inflamed or scarred, it can become harder for the lungs to move air and transfer oxygen into the bloodstream.

The VA evaluates this condition under Diagnostic Code 6829, using the **General Rating Formula for Interstitial Lung Disease**. This means the rating is based largely on measurable lung function tests rather than symptoms alone.

## How the VA Measures It

When rating this condition, the VA looks at objective results from pulmonary function testing and related evaluations, including:

- **Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)** — the amount of air you can forcefully exhale, expressed as a percentage of what is predicted for someone like you.
- **Diffusion Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO (SB))** — how well oxygen passes from your lungs into your blood, measured by the single breath method and expressed as a percentage of predicted.
- **Maximum exercise capacity** — measured in oxygen consumption (ml/kg/min), particularly when there is a cardiorespiratory limitation.
- **Cor pulmonale or pulmonary hypertension** — heart or blood-pressure changes in the lungs related to the lung condition.
- **The need for outpatient oxygen therapy.**

## Available Rating Levels

| Rating | What the VA Looks For |
|--------|-----------------------|
| **100%** | FVC less than 50% predicted; **or** DLCO (SB) less than 40% 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% predicted; **or** DLCO (SB) of 40% to 55% predicted; **or** maximum exercise capacity of 15 to 20 ml/kg/min oxygen consumption with cardiorespiratory limitation. |
| **30%** | FVC of 65% to 74% predicted; **or** DLCO (SB) of 56% to 65% predicted. |
| **10%** | FVC of 75% to 80% predicted; **or** DLCO (SB) of 66% to 80% predicted. |

## Key Takeaways

- Ratings range from **10% to 100%**, based on the severity of lung function loss.
- The word **"or"** in each level matters: meeting **any one** of the listed measurements at a given level can support that rating.
- Because the criteria rely on test results like FVC and DLCO (SB), accurate and current pulmonary function testing plays a central role in how this condition is evaluated.

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