Education · 38 CFR § 4.97 · Lungs, nose, and throat (respiratory system) · not your rating · we do not file
Bronchiectasis VA rating (DC 6601)
VA rates bronchiectasis under diagnostic code 6601 in 38 CFR § 4.97. The rule book lists 10%, 30%, 60%, and 100%. Below: each level in plain English, then the exact words.
Rule-book name: Bronchiectasis. Last checked against eCFR on 2026-10-10 (eCFR issue 2026-08-27). Official text: 38 CFR § 4.97 on eCFR.
Each rating level in plain English
- 100%: The published words look at: times a doctor prescribed bed rest; how often it happens; and how long it lasts.
- 60%: The published words look at: times a doctor prescribed bed rest; food or liquid going into the lungs, or losing weight; how often it happens; and how long it lasts.
- 30%: The published words look at: how long each attack lasts; times a doctor prescribed bed rest; how often it happens; and how long it lasts.
- 10%: Read the exact words below. We have not mapped this line to plain words, so we quote it rather than guess.
Plain words come from our reading aid for the published words. They never add a symptom. The quotes below are the rule.
Exact words in 38 CFR § 4.97
100% · “With incapacitating episodes of infection of at least six weeks total duration per year”
60% · “With incapacitating episodes of infection of four to six weeks total duration per year, or; near constant findings of cough with purulent sputum associated with anorexia, weight loss, and frank hemoptysis and requiring antibiotic usage almost continuously”
30% · “With incapacitating episodes of infection of two to four weeks total duration per year, or; daily productive cough with sputum that is at times purulent or blood-tinged and that requires prolonged (lasting four to six weeks) antibiotic usage more than twice a year”
10% · “Intermittent productive cough with acute infection requiring a course of antibiotics at least twice a year”
Notes printed with this code
“Or rate according to pulmonary impairment as for chronic bronchitis (DC 6600).”
“Note: An incapacitating episode is one that requires bedrest and treatment by a physician.”
What records usually show this
VA reads these things from your records: service treatment records, VA and private treatment records, and the VA claim exam (C&P exam). The published words on this page talk about:
- Times a doctor prescribed bed rest: usually found in medical notes that record how long it lasted, or a doctor's order (for example prescribed bed rest), when those exist.
- How often it happens: usually found in treatment notes or the VA claim exam (C&P exam) report that describe it, when those exist.
- How long it lasts: usually found in treatment notes or the VA claim exam (C&P exam) report that describe it, when those exist.
- Food or liquid going into the lungs, or losing weight: usually found in treatment notes or the VA claim exam (C&P exam) report that describe it, when those exist.
- How long each attack lasts: usually found in treatment notes or the VA claim exam (C&P exam) report that describe it, when those exist.
Education only. This does not say you have any of these, and a record that mentions them does not decide a rating. Only write what is true for you. Evidence needed for your disability claim · VA claim exam (C&P exam)
Put your records next to these lines
Statement review checks your own statement against the published words for this code and points out what it does not cover yet. It does not write it for you. Ask My Records finds where your uploaded records mention these topics and shows the page number.
Save this and organize your records - start free
14-day free trial, then $9.99/month or $107.99/year. No success fees, never a cut of your VA pay.
Prefer free, hands-on help? Accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) can file a claim with you at no cost. Find accredited help on VA.gov.
Common questions
What percentages does the VA rating schedule list for Bronchiectasis (DC 6601)?
38 CFR § 4.97 lists 10%, 30%, 60%, and 100% for diagnostic code 6601. VA decides which line fits from the evidence. This page is not your rating.
Where do these words come from?
They are quoted from the public eCFR copy of 38 CFR § 4.97, last checked 2026-10-10. The official page is linked on this page so you can check every word.
Does this page tell me what my rating will be?
No. It shows what the published rule book says. It does not predict a rating, a decision, or a dollar amount, and it does not say you have this condition.
Who can file a VA claim for me for free?
Accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) can prepare and file a claim with you at no cost. VA lists accredited representatives on VA.gov. We do not file.
This page quotes the public VA rule book. It is not your rating and not your pay. We do not say you have this condition. We do not file. You, or a free accredited representative, file with VA.
Veterans Benefits AI · veteransbenefitsai.com · MAOMA Enterprises LLC. Veterans Benefits AI (veteransbenefitsai.com) is not affiliated with similarly named sites such as veteransbenefits.ai, with any VA GPT or chatbot, or with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.