Respiratory conditions can range from chronic bronchitis and asthma to more severe diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary fibrosis. In each case, the VA has established specific diagnostic codes and rating criteria.
Here are some of the common diagnostic codes used by the VA for respiratory conditions:
6600 - Chronic Bronchitis 6602 - Asthma 6603 - Emphysema 6604 - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) 6825 to 6833 - Interstitial Lung Disease, including Pulmonary Fibrosis
An essential component of evaluating respiratory conditions is the Pulmonary Function Test (PFT). PFTs help measure how well your lungs work by assessing various aspects such as lung volume, capacity, rates of flow, and gas exchange.
Some of the key measurements in a PFT include:
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC): The total amount of air you can forcibly exhale after taking the deepest breath possible. Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1): The amount of air you can forcibly exhale in one second. FEV1/FVC Ratio: The percentage of your lung capacity that you can exhale in one second. Diffusion Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO): Measures how well your lungs transfer a small amount of carbon monoxide from the air in your lungs to your blood.
The results of these tests are crucial as they directly affect the VA’s rating decisions. For instance, a lower FVC or FEV1 might indicate more severe impairment, leading to a higher disability rating.
Rating Criteria
The VA has established specific thresholds for each measurement to determine disability ratings. Let's look at an example using COPD (Diagnostic Code 6604):
100% Rating: FEV1 less than 40% predicted, or FEV1/FVC less than 40%, or DLCO less than 40% predicted, or maximum exercise capacity less than 15 ml/kg/min oxygen consumption with cardiorespiratory limitation. 60% Rating: FEV1 between 40 to 55% predicted, FEV1/FVC between 40 to 55%, DLCO between 40 to 55% predicted. 30% Rating: FEV1 between 56 to 70% predicted, FEV1/FVC between 56 to 70%, DLCO between 56 to 65% predicted. 10% Rating: FEV1 between 71 to 80% predicted, FEV1/FVC between 71 to 80%, DLCO between 66 to 80% predicted.
