How VA rates allergic rhinitis
VA rates allergic or vasomotor rhinitis under 38 CFR § 4.97, DC 6522, based on nasal polyps and measured obstruction.
Rating criteria from the tool data
| Rating | What VA looks for |
|---|---|
| 10% | Without polyps, but greater than 50% obstruction on both sides or complete obstruction on one side |
| 30% | With polyps |
DBQ and symptom topics to review
Review these topics against your own records and symptoms. Do not exaggerate or minimize; describe functional impact accurately.
- Greater than 50% obstruction on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, without polyps10%DC 6522
- Allergic or vasomotor rhinitis with polyps30%DC 6522
What may happen in the exam room
- Nasal examination for obstruction and polyps
- Review of imaging, endoscopy, and treatment history
Measurements and findings to understand
- Percentage obstruction on each side
- Presence or absence of polyps
Questions the examiner may cover
- Is blockage one-sided or bilateral?
- Have polyps been documented?
- What treatment is used and how effective is it?
Functional-impact language to think through
Use plain, truthful wording that matches your records and daily limitations. These examples are prompts for accuracy, not scripts.
- Describe actual breathing obstruction and frequency.
- Identify documented polyps or complete one-sided blockage.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using sinus-infection frequency for a rhinitis rating
- Reporting congestion without documented obstruction or polyps
Evidence to organize before the exam
- Sinusitis/Rhinitis DBQ
- ENT notes
- Endoscopy or imaging
- Medication and procedure records
Preparation notes
- Do not stop medication without clinician guidance.
- Separate rhinitis obstruction from sinusitis episodes.
Official rating source
38 CFR 4.97, DC 6522. Checked 2026-09-04. Educational preparation only; not a personal rating.
How secondary service connection works
A secondary condition is not automatic. The evidence must connect a current diagnosed disability to an already service-connected condition or its medically indicated treatment.
- Basic evidence: a current diagnosis, an already service-connected primary condition, and competent evidence linking the two.
- Two theories: the primary condition or its treatment caused the new disability under 38 CFR § 3.310(a), or aggravated a pre-existing non-service-connected disability under § 3.310(b). An opinion should address both when the record raises both; causation alone may be inadequate (El-Amin).
- Treatment pathway: service-connected condition → medically indicated medication or surgery → documented adverse effect → current diagnosis. Pharmacy records, start and stop dates, and a treating clinician’s reasoning matter; medication use alone does not establish the connection.
- Weight as an intermediate step: obesity or weight gain can be part of the causal chain under VAOPGCPREC 1-2017, but obesity itself is not a disability for a VA rating.
- Standard of proof: VA applies the “at least as likely as not” standard and reasonable-doubt rule under 38 CFR § 3.102. This guide identifies evidence questions; it does not tell you what to file.
- Avoid pyramiding: 38 CFR § 4.14 prohibits rating the same manifestation twice. Mental-health diagnoses generally use one § 4.130 evaluation for the same occupational and social impairment, and insomnia may be a symptom rather than a separate disability.
- Presumptives are different: qualifying service may make chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, hypertension associated with herbicide exposure, or type 2 diabetes presumptive. OSA is not a PACT Act presumptive. Check current eligibility before seeking nexus evidence for a condition the law may already presume.
- DBQ is not a nexus: a DBQ documents diagnosis and severity; it does not necessarily establish service connection. A VA-accredited VSO can help with filing strategy at no charge.
Other medically indicated treatments for a service-connected condition may support a secondary theory when a clinician documents the adverse effect in this veteran.
Sources: 38 CFR § 3.310 · 38 CFR § 4.14 · VA-accredited representatives
Possible secondary conditions to discuss with a qualified reviewer
These are educational issue-spotting notes, not medical nexus opinions. VA decides service connection.
If OSA is diagnosed, a clinician may evaluate documented nasal obstruction or prescribed steroid treatment and weight change as possible causal or aggravation pathways. OSA is not a PACT Act presumptive.
Chronic rhinitis may be presumptive for qualifying service. Check eligibility before pursuing a secondary theory or paying for nexus evidence.