Public rules

Sinusitis — public rules, in plain words

See the shared sinusitis formula, including what the rule means by an incapacitating episode.

This page shows the general rating formula for sinusitis in 38 CFR 4.97. Diagnostic codes 6510 through 6514 use that formula: pansinusitis (6510), ethmoid (6511), frontal (6512), maxillary (6513), and sphenoid (6514). It is education and organizing only. It is not your rating. We do not say you have sinusitis. You review the words and you submit. We do not file.

Last reviewed 2026-10-16.

The four lines below match the General Rating Formula for Sinusitis (diagnostic codes 6510 through 6514) in 38 CFR 4.97. Current text checked October 16, 2026. Not medical advice.

What we help you do

We help you review your documents against the published rating criteria. Rating criteria are the public rules VA published. This is education and organizing. It is not a promise of a rating. We do not decide the claim.

Official sources

Why the papers have to say it

A VA exam is a short visit. Write how often something happens, how long it lasts, and how it stops normal life, only if that is true. If those facts are not in the papers you send, the exam may not have them. We do not write them for you.

Published levels (38 CFR 4.97, general rating formula for sinusitis, DC 6510–6514)

CFR means the Code of Federal Regulations. DC means diagnostic code. Those are public rule numbers.

Published: 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 — 50% in the rule book.

The 50 percent line is one of two pictures: after radical surgery with chronic osteomyelitis (a bone infection), or near-constant sinusitis with headaches, pain and tenderness, and purulent discharge or crusting after repeated surgeries. This page does not say you had those surgeries.

Published: 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 — 30% in the rule book.

The note says an incapacitating episode means one that requires bed rest and treatment by a physician. Prolonged antibiotic treatment on this line means lasting four to six weeks. The other half of the line is more than six non-incapacitating episodes in a year with headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

Published: 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 — 10% in the rule book.

Same kinds of episodes as the 30 percent line, fewer of them: one or two incapacitating episodes, or three to six non-incapacitating episodes, in a year.

Published: Detected by X-ray only — 0% in the rule book.

Detected by X-ray only. A 0 is a published level. It is not a decision about you and not a promise of pay.

38 CFR 4.97, Schedule of ratings—respiratory system

What the rule is about — only what you actually have

Records you already have that name which sinus is involved. The five codes share the formula. The code name is the location.
Notes of episodes: bed rest and a physician’s treatment, antibiotic courses and how long they lasted, or headaches, pain, and discharge or crusting. Only what is written.
Operative notes, only if you had sinus surgery and you already have the notes.
A statement in your own words. We do not write it, and we do not count episodes you do not have a record of.

Other conditions

The formula header says it covers diagnostic codes 6510 through 6514. Nearby codes, such as laryngitis, are different rules. This page does not turn a sinus code into a different condition.

Questions if a statement leaves these out

Questions only. They do not make up a fact. They do not write the statement.

Do your records name the sinus (pansinusitis, ethmoid, frontal, maxillary, or sphenoid)? Copy the name that is written.
Do the records describe episodes that needed bed rest and a physician’s treatment? Only if that is what they say.
Do the records show antibiotic treatment and whether it lasted four to six weeks? Only if the length is written.
If you had sinus surgery, is that in records you already have? If not, do not describe a surgery you cannot point to.

Check your own statement against this rule

The statement review lines your own words up with the published words on this page and shows which of those words your statement speaks to and which are not mentioned yet. It asks questions. It does not add a symptom, a test result, or a date.

Common questions

Do all sinusitis codes use the same formula?

Diagnostic codes 6510 through 6514 use the General Rating Formula for Sinusitis in 38 CFR 4.97. The published levels are 50, 30, 10, and 0 percent. The code name is which sinus the rule is about.

What is an incapacitating episode in this rule?

The note under the formula says an incapacitating episode of sinusitis means one that requires bed rest and treatment by a physician. Prolonged antibiotic treatment on the 30 and 10 percent lines means lasting four to six weeks.

Is this page medical advice?

No. This page shows VA's published rule in plain words. It is education and organizing only. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not a rating. You review the words. You, or a free accredited representative, submit to VA.

Forms you can open

There is no sinusitis-only form on VA’s additional-forms page. The disability application is VA Form 21-526EZ. You fill it out and send it. We do not send it.

Application for disability benefits

VA Form 21-526EZ. Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits.

There is no separate form for this condition. This is the disability application. You fill it out and send it to VA. We do not send it.

You fill this out and send it to VA. We do not fill it in with your records. We do not send it. We do not make a packet that is ready to file.

Signed in? The forms list only helps you keep track. It does not fill a form. It does not send it.