YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Pulmonary embolism VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Pulmonary embolism under diagnostic code 6817, in 38 CFR § 4.97 (respiratory system), and the schedule provides four evaluation levels for it: 100%, 60%, 30% and 0%.
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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 Pulmonary embolism
Blockage in lung arteries typically caused by blood clots.
The rating follows what the embolism left behind: 0% with no symptoms after it resolved; 30% when symptoms remain after an acute embolism resolved; 60% for chronic pulmonary thromboembolism requiring anticoagulant therapy, or after inferior vena cava surgery without pulmonary hypertension or right ventricular dysfunction; and 100% for primary pulmonary hypertension, or for chronic thromboembolism or other obstruction of the lung arteries or veins with pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, or cor pulmonale as the schedule specifies.
- Diagnostic code
- 6817
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.97
- Schedule levels
- 100%, 60%, 30% and 0%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
Which level applies is set by the criteria the evidence meets, not by the diagnosis. Where there is a question as to which of two evaluations applies, 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher one if the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Pulmonary embolism VA rating criteria (DC 6817)
Choose a percentage to see what that level means. Open the full comparison to read all the criteria in one place.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
IN THE REGULATION’S OWN WORDS
What 38 CFR also says about Pulmonary embolism
The notes 38 CFR Part 4 prints with these criteria, quoted. They govern how the evaluation is made without being a rating level themselves.
- “Note: Evaluate other residuals following pulmonary embolism under the most appropriate diagnostic code, such as chronic bronchitis (DC 6600) or chronic pleural effusion or fibrosis (DC 6844), but do not combine that evaluation with any of the above evaluations.”DC 6817
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Pulmonary embolism 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 Pulmonary embolism?
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 Pulmonary embolism 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 claim2 tips
- 01
Document whether you take blood thinners long term, and any finding of pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, or cor pulmonale, since those are what the 60% and 100% criteria turn on.
- 02
Include your history of blood clots, since underlying clotting risk factors provide important context for the condition's origin and ongoing risk.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
The condition being confused with asthma or another respiratory issue rather than clearly documented as embolism residuals.
- 02
No confirmation imaging included in the evidence.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
No acute care records documenting the original event.
- 02
Missing D-dimer results or imaging that would confirm the diagnosis.
When symptoms may first appear1 tips
- 01
Pulmonary embolism typically has a sudden onset, and is often triggered by a period of immobility, surgery, or an underlying clotting disorder.
THE BROADER PICTURE
Pulmonary embolism by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- Moderate
- Veterans service-connected
- ~1,200 veterans
- Typical rating awarded
- ~60%
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 Pulmonary embolism
Is Pulmonary embolism a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Pulmonary embolism under VASRD diagnostic code 6817 (Respiratory System). Blockage in lung arteries typically caused by blood clots.
What VA disability rating can I get for Pulmonary embolism?
Possible VA ratings for Pulmonary embolism are 100%, 60%, 30%, 0%. Examples: 100%: Primary pulmonary hypertension, or; chronic pulmonary thromboembolism with evidence of pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, or cor pulmonale, or; pulmonary hypertension secondary to other obstructive disease of pulmonary arteries or veins with evidence of right ventricular hypertrophy or cor pulmonale; 60%: Chronic pulmonary thromboembolism requiring anticoagulant therapy, or; following inferior vena cava surgery without evidence of pulmonary hypertension or right ventricular dysfunction; 30%: Symptomatic, following resolution of acute pulmonary embolism.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Pulmonary embolism?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Pulmonary embolism at around 60%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. An estimated 1,200 veterans are service-connected for Pulmonary embolism. Estimated approval outlook: Moderate.
What evidence helps prove Pulmonary embolism for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Pulmonary embolism claim includes: A pulmonary angiogram confirming the diagnosis; An echocardiogram assessing any resulting heart strain; Hospitalization records from the acute event.
Which DBQ is used for Pulmonary embolism?
VA's Respiratory Conditions (other than tuberculosis and sleep apnea) 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 Pulmonary embolism?
Common pitfalls when filing for Pulmonary embolism: No acute care records documenting the original event; Missing D-dimer results or imaging that would confirm the diagnosis.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.97, Schedule of ratings, respiratory system (Diagnostic Code 6817)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two 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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