Respiratory system
VA rating for chronic sinusitis, diagnostic codes 6510 to 6514
Chronic sinusitis is rated under one shared formula covering diagnostic codes 6510 through 6514, which separate the condition by sinus rather than by severity. Evaluations run 0, 10, 30 and 50 percent, and the middle two turn on counting episodes across a year.
Published 2026-08-21. Last updated 2026-08-24. Written and reviewed under Veteran Health Network's institutional review process.
What each level requires
chronic sinusitis is rated under diagnostic code 6510, which the schedule calls "Sinusitis, pansinusitis, chronic", at 38 CFR 4.97.
The criteria below are not written for this condition on its own. They come from the General Rating Formula for Sinusitis (DC's 6510 through 6514), which governs every code in this group. The diagnosis decides which formula applies. The formula decides what each level requires.
50 percent requires
In plain English
Either radical surgery followed by chronic osteomyelitis, or near constant sinusitis with headaches, pain and tenderness over the affected sinus, and purulent discharge or crusting after repeated surgeries.
As written in 38 CFR 4.97
Following radical surgery with chronic osteomyelitis, or; near constant sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain and tenderness of affected sinus, and purulent discharge or crusting after repeated surgeries
30 percent requires
In plain English
Either three or more incapacitating episodes a year needing four to six weeks of antibiotics, or more than six non-incapacitating episodes a year with headaches, pain and purulent discharge or crusting.
As written in 38 CFR 4.97
Three or more incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged (lasting four to six weeks) antibiotic treatment, or; more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting
10 percent requires
In plain English
Either one or two incapacitating episodes a year needing four to six weeks of antibiotics, or three to six non-incapacitating episodes a year with headaches, pain and purulent discharge or crusting.
As written in 38 CFR 4.97
One or two incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged (lasting four to six weeks) antibiotic treatment, or; three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting
0 percent requires
In plain English
Sinusitis found on imaging with nothing else. The condition is recognized and pays nothing.
As written in 38 CFR 4.97
Detected by X-ray only
Notes the schedule attaches to this code
These are part of the regulation and they change how the criteria above are applied. They are reproduced word for word.
- Note: An incapacitating episode of sinusitis means one that requires bed rest and treatment by a physician.
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.
Five codes, one formula
Derived from the regulation
The schedule gives sinusitis five diagnostic codes: 6510 for pansinusitis, 6511 for ethmoid, 6512 for frontal, 6513 for maxillary and 6514 for sphenoid sinusitis. None of them carries criteria of its own.
All five read from the General Rating Formula for Sinusitis, which the schedule prints once, immediately above them. The code number therefore records which sinus is involved and has no effect on what any level requires.
A reader who has been told their sinusitis is rated under 6512 rather than 6510 has been told which sinus, not which standard.
The word the whole scale rests on
Derived from the regulation
Both compensable middle levels are built from counted episodes. Thirty percent reads "Three or more incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged (lasting four to six weeks) antibiotic treatment, or; more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting".
The formula then defines its own key term in a note: an incapacitating episode of sinusitis means one that requires bed rest and treatment by a physician. That definition is part of the regulation, not a gloss on it.
The other route at each level counts non-incapacitating episodes instead, and asks for three specific features together: headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting. At 10 percent that route needs three to six episodes; at 30 percent it needs more than six.
When the sinusitis formula was written
Derived from the regulation
The shared formula and the five codes under it were introduced with the 1996 respiratory rewrite.
Appendix A to Part 4 gives code 6510 a single line: "Criterion October 7, 1996."
Below the section sits a longer record. The Federal Register citation line for 4.97 reads 61 FR 46728, Sept. 5, 1996, as amended at 71 FR 28586, May 17, 2006, which dates the section and not these five codes. Read 2026-08-21.
See every level beside the regulation it comes from
The rating threshold cheatsheet shows all of the levels for chronic sinusitis 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.