Kevin Medeiros: Hello and thank you for joining  us for this episode of CCK Live in Under Five.  
Kevin Medeiros: Hello and thank you for joining  us for this episode of CCK Live in Under Five.  

I'm Kevin Medeiros, an attorney here at CCK,  
I'm Kevin Medeiros, an attorney here at CCK,  

and today we're going to talk about  VA disability benefits for asthma.
and today we're going to talk about  VA disability benefits for asthma.

Asthma, also called bronchial asthma,  is a respiratory condition in which a  
Asthma, also called bronchial asthma,  is a respiratory condition in which a  

person's airways become inflamed, making it  difficult to breathe. When the airways become  
person's airways become inflamed, making it  difficult to breathe. When the airways become  

inflamed and narrow, some people may cough,  wheeze, or experience shortness of breath.  
inflamed and narrow, some people may cough,  wheeze, or experience shortness of breath.  

Severity ranges from person to person, can be  relatively minor or it can be relatively severe.  
Severity ranges from person to person, can be  relatively minor or it can be relatively severe.  

VA provides disability benefits for  veterans service-connected for asthma. The  
VA provides disability benefits for  veterans service-connected for asthma. The  

way that they test for the severity is with two  different test outcomes. The first type of test  
way that they test for the severity is with two  different test outcomes. The first type of test  

is called the forced expiratory volume or the  FEV1. That's when an individual exhales into  
is called the forced expiratory volume or the  FEV1. That's when an individual exhales into  

the spirometer as forcefully as possible and it  measures the amount that the person is able to  
the spirometer as forcefully as possible and it  measures the amount that the person is able to  

exhale in one second. VA takes that number  and compares it to what a person without  
exhale in one second. VA takes that number  and compares it to what a person without  

asthma would be able to achieve on that test. The  other test is called the forced vital capacity.  
asthma would be able to achieve on that test. The  other test is called the forced vital capacity.  

It's the maximum amount of air that a person can  exhale or inhale from the lung. VA compares the  
It's the maximum amount of air that a person can  exhale or inhale from the lung. VA compares the  

first test to the results of the forced vital  capacity and this represents the proportion of  
first test to the results of the forced vital  capacity and this represents the proportion of  

a person's vital capacity they can expel  in the first second of a forceful exhale.
a person's vital capacity they can expel  in the first second of a forceful exhale.

VA also, in addition to those tests, looks  at other factors that come into play when a  
VA also, in addition to those tests, looks  at other factors that come into play when a  

person has asthma to achieve a certain rating.  So that would be the number of asthma attacks a  
person has asthma to achieve a certain rating.  So that would be the number of asthma attacks a  

person experiences on a weekly or monthly basis,  the number of times they have to visit a doctor  
person experiences on a weekly or monthly basis,  the number of times they have to visit a doctor  

for asthma-related care, and the frequency  of medication used to treat the condition.  
for asthma-related care, and the frequency  of medication used to treat the condition.  

The diagnostic code specific to asthma is  6602. The regulation here is section 4.97.  
The diagnostic code specific to asthma is  6602. The regulation here is section 4.97.  

Some conditions have caps on their ratings less  than 100%, asthma does not. It ranges anywhere  
Some conditions have caps on their ratings less  than 100%, asthma does not. It ranges anywhere  

from 0% all the way to 100%. A veteran with a  10% rating will score on the range of 71 to 80%.  
from 0% all the way to 100%. A veteran with a  10% rating will score on the range of 71 to 80%.  

Other than that, the other way when VA will assign  a 10 % rating is if a veteran needs an inhaler or  
Other than that, the other way when VA will assign  a 10 % rating is if a veteran needs an inhaler or  

a bronchodilator, which are prescribed to treat  asthma, but a 10% rating will be assigned if the  
a bronchodilator, which are prescribed to treat  asthma, but a 10% rating will be assigned if the  

veteran does not need to use those daily. A 30%  rating, the amount that the individual is able to  
veteran does not need to use those daily. A 30%  rating, the amount that the individual is able to  

inhale or exhale on those tests drops  down to 56 to 70% or they require the  
inhale or exhale on those tests drops  down to 56 to 70% or they require the  

daily use of an inhaler or bronchodilator  therapy or anti-inflammatory medication.
daily use of an inhaler or bronchodilator  therapy or anti-inflammatory medication.

As we get to the 60% rating, we see those  percentages drop down again to 40 to 50% on  
As we get to the 60% rating, we see those  percentages drop down again to 40 to 50% on  

the FEV test and that FVC test, or the veteran  will need to visit a doctor at least monthly for  
the FEV test and that FVC test, or the veteran  will need to visit a doctor at least monthly for  

exacerbations of asthma. And the other way that a  60% rating will be assigned is for intermittent,  
exacerbations of asthma. And the other way that a  60% rating will be assigned is for intermittent,  

which VA considers at least three per year courses  of corticosteroids or immunosuppressant therapy.  
which VA considers at least three per year courses  of corticosteroids or immunosuppressant therapy.  

And finally, a 100% rating is warranted if  results on the FEV or FVC are less than 40%,  
And finally, a 100% rating is warranted if  results on the FEV or FVC are less than 40%,  

or there are more than one asthma attack per  week with episodes of respiratory failure.  
or there are more than one asthma attack per  week with episodes of respiratory failure.  

In this case, the veteran would be experiencing a  pretty severe condition with asthma attacks weekly  
In this case, the veteran would be experiencing a  pretty severe condition with asthma attacks weekly  

and resulting episodes of respiratory failure.  The final way a 100% rating would be assigned  
and resulting episodes of respiratory failure.  The final way a 100% rating would be assigned  

is if the veteran requires daily use of high-dose  corticosteroids or immunosuppressive medications.  
is if the veteran requires daily use of high-dose  corticosteroids or immunosuppressive medications.  

So the more severe the condition,  the higher the rating VA will assign.
So the more severe the condition,  the higher the rating VA will assign.

If you'd like more in-depth information on VA  ratings for asthma, please check out our blog.  
If you'd like more in-depth information on VA  ratings for asthma, please check out our blog.  

You can also visit our YouTube channel  and check out our extensive video library  
You can also visit our YouTube channel  and check out our extensive video library  

there. We have some more in-depth  discussions. Thank you for tuning in.
there. We have some more in-depth  discussions. Thank you for tuning in.

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