Respiratory system
VA rating for allergic rhinitis, diagnostic code 6522
Neither criterion under diagnostic code 6522 counts a symptom. Allergic or vasomotor rhinitis is rated at 10 or 30 percent, with no zero level and nothing above 30, and both criteria describe a physical finding inside the nose rather than how often symptoms occur.
Published 2026-08-21. Last updated 2026-08-24. Written and reviewed under Veteran Health Network's institutional review process.
What each level requires
allergic rhinitis is rated under diagnostic code 6522, which the schedule calls "Allergic or vasomotor rhinitis", at 38 CFR 4.97.
30 percent requires
In plain English
Nasal polyps are present. Polyps alone carry this level, whatever the degree of obstruction.
As written in 38 CFR 4.97
With polyps
10 percent requires
In plain English
No polyps, but the nasal passage is more than half blocked on both sides, or completely blocked on one side. The measurement is of obstruction, not of how often the symptoms occur.
As written in 38 CFR 4.97
Without polyps, but with greater than 50-percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side
Regulation text reproduced from 38 CFR 4.97, read on 2026-08-21. Read the section at the eCFR. Part 4 is amended on a rolling schedule, so the date above is the date this text was checked and not the date it was written.
A two-step scale that ignores symptoms
Derived from the regulation
The whole of the 30 percent criterion is "With polyps". Two words. Polyps are either present or they are not, and their presence carries the level regardless of how blocked the nose is.
The 10 percent criterion is the more demanding one to describe: "Without polyps, but with greater than 50-percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side". It sets a measurement, more than half obstruction on both sides, and an alternative, complete obstruction on one side.
Neither criterion mentions sneezing, congestion, drainage, antihistamines, steroid sprays or how bad the spring is. That is a fact about the regulation rather than about the condition.
What an examiner would have to record
Derived from the regulation
Because both criteria are anatomical, the findings that decide this code are the ones made by looking into the nose. The 30 percent route needs polyps identified. The 10 percent route needs the degree of obstruction estimated on each side separately, because the criterion treats the two sides differently.
A record that says the condition is well controlled on medication answers a question code 6522 does not ask. A record that describes the nasal passages does.
This is a description of what the criteria ask for. It is not an assessment of any reader's record.
The age of this wording
Derived from the regulation
Code 6522 was added when the respiratory schedule was rewritten in 1996.
The Appendix A row for 6522 is one line long: "Added October 7, 1996."
Underneath the section the eCFR prints a second, longer record, the Federal Register citation line: 61 FR 46728, Sept. 5, 1996, as amended at 71 FR 28586, May 17, 2006. It covers the whole section rather than this code alone, and it was read on 2026-08-21.
See every level beside the regulation it comes from
The rating threshold cheatsheet shows all of the levels for allergic rhinitis in one view, plain English on the left and the regulation itself on the right, in a layout built to print.
It is free and it never says which level anyone meets. It describes what each one requires and leaves the reading to the person whose record it is.
Sources
- 38 CFR 4.97, Schedule of ratings, respiratory system (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations)
- Appendix A to Part 4, Table of Amendments and Effective Dates Since 1946 (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations)
Accuracy owner Brayden Marley. Part 4 is amended on a rolling schedule, so the retrieval date above is what this page is accurate as of.