Rhinitis, Allergic or Vasomotor VA disability rating & claim guide

Yes. The VA rates Rhinitis, Allergic or Vasomotor under VASRD diagnostic code 6522 (Respiratory System). Allergic or vasomotor rhinitis causes chronic nasal congestion, runniness, and sneezing, either from allergens or from a non-allergic sensitivity to irritants like temperature changes or strong smells. The VA rating is based specifically on nasal airflow obstruction and the presence of nasal polyps, not on the severity of sneezing or congestion alone.

Possible VA ratings for Rhinitis, Allergic or Vasomotor are 30%, 10%, 0%. The 0% level comes from 38 CFR 4.31, which assigns it wherever no compensable level is met. Examples: 30%: With polyps; 10%: Without polyps, but with greater than 50 percent obstruction of nasal passages on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.

Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Rhinitis, Allergic or Vasomotor at around 10%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. Per the VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), veterans receiving VA compensation as of September 30, 2025 had 819,645 service-connected disabilities rated as Rhinitis, Allergic or Vasomotor. The report counts disabilities, not veterans. Estimated approval outlook: High.

Strong evidence for a Rhinitis, Allergic or Vasomotor claim includes: ENT evaluation notes specifically documenting nasal obstruction findings or the presence of polyps; A CT scan, which can confirm polyps or structural nasal blockage; Allergy test results, useful for establishing the allergic subtype and its chronic nature.

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."

Common pitfalls when filing for Rhinitis, Allergic or Vasomotor: Confusing rhinitis with sinusitis in your statement or evidence, since they're rated under different codes with different criteria; Not documenting the specific degree of nasal obstruction, since that percentage is literally what the lower rating tier depends on.

Yes, for a veteran who meets a presumption's conditions. 38 CFR 3.320(a) names "Rhinitis" among the chronic diseases associated with fine particulate matter, for a veteran with service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, or in Afghanistan, Syria, Djibouti or Uzbekistan on or after September 19, 2001, if it became manifest to any degree at any time after that service. 38 U.S.C. 1120(b) names "Chronic rhinitis" for a covered veteran: one who, on or after August 2, 1990, was assigned to a duty station in, or in the airspace above, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia or the United Arab Emirates, or, on or after September 11, 2001, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen or Uzbekistan (38 U.S.C. 1119(c)). Each presumption gives way to affirmative evidence to the contrary (38 CFR 3.320(b); 38 U.S.C. 1113).

Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Rhinitis, Allergic or Vasomotor, when a medical opinion links them, include: Sleep apnea. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.