YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Deviated nasal septum VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Deviated nasal septum under diagnostic code 6502, in 38 CFR § 4.97 (respiratory system), and the schedule provides a single evaluation under it: 10%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Plan your preparationTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Deviated nasal septum
A deviated septum is a displacement of the wall between the nostrils that can block airflow on one or both sides. DC 6502 rates it only when the deviation is traumatic in origin, and only when the obstruction reaches a specific threshold.
DC 6502 is headed 'Traumatic only,' and provides a single 10 percent evaluation for a deviation with 50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side. Two things follow: a congenital or developmental deviation is not rated under this code, and a deviation that does not reach the stated obstruction threshold is not compensable under it.
- Diagnostic code
- 6502
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.97
- Schedule levels
- 10%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
There is no higher or lower step inside this code: a rating decision either finds its criteria met or it does not. Where they are not met, 38 CFR § 4.31 assigns a 0% evaluation: service connection granted, at a level that does not pay.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Deviated nasal septum VA rating criteria (DC 6502)
This condition has one published rating level. Read the criteria, then explore the details and monthly pay.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Deviated nasal septum claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Deviated nasal septum?
VA's page says: “You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers.”
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Deviated nasal septum claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim3 tips
- 01
Get the obstruction quantified per side in the examination record, because the criterion is written as a percentage of obstruction.
- 02
Document the in-service nasal injury, since the code is limited to traumatic deviation.
- 03
Claim chronic sinusitis or sleep apnea separately if either is present - each has its own code and criteria.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
An exam that records a deviation without quantifying obstruction on each side.
- 02
No documentation tying the deviation to an in-service injury, which the code's 'Traumatic only' heading requires.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Claiming a long-standing congenital deviation under this code, which covers traumatic deviation only.
- 02
Relying on symptom description alone when the criterion is a measured degree of obstruction.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
A deviated septum can result from a traumatic injury (like a broken nose) during service, or it can be a congenital condition that becomes more symptomatic over time.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Deviated nasal septum by the numbers
- Veterans service-connected
- ~9,023 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~10%
Vetrify editorial estimates informed by VA published claims data (VBA Annual Benefits Report) and the VA rating schedule, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Deviated nasal septum
Is Deviated nasal septum a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Deviated nasal septum under VASRD diagnostic code 6502 (Respiratory System). A deviated septum is a displacement of the wall between the nostrils that can block airflow on one or both sides. DC 6502 rates it only when the deviation is traumatic in origin, and only when the obstruction reaches a specific threshold.
What VA disability rating can I get for Deviated nasal septum?
Possible VA ratings for Deviated nasal septum are 10%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 10%: Traumatic only, with 50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Deviated nasal septum?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Deviated nasal septum at around 10%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 9,023 veterans are service-connected for Deviated nasal septum.
What evidence helps prove Deviated nasal septum for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Deviated nasal septum claim includes: An ENT examination measuring the degree of obstruction on each side, since the percentage of obstruction is the criterion; Service treatment records documenting the nasal trauma, because this code is limited to traumatic deviation; Imaging or rhinoscopy documenting the septal deviation itself.
Which DBQ is used for Deviated nasal septum?
VA's Sinusitis, Rhinitis and Other Conditions of the Nose, Throat, Larynx and Pharynx Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Deviated nasal septum?
Common pitfalls when filing for Deviated nasal septum: Claiming a long-standing congenital deviation under this code, which covers traumatic deviation only; Relying on symptom description alone when the criterion is a measured degree of obstruction.
What conditions can be secondary to Deviated nasal septum?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Deviated nasal septum, when a medical opinion links them, include: Sleep apnea; Chronic sinusitis. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.97, Schedule of ratings, respiratory system (Diagnostic Code 6502)
- 38 CFR § 4.31, zero percent evaluations
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
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