The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability rating for rhinitis is typically 0%, 10%, or 30%. Generally, the VA will base its rating for rhinitis on whether nasal polyps are present and the severity of a nasal passage obstruction.
If you receive a VA disability rating for rhinitis that is lower than what you anticipate, or your request for Veterans Disability benefits has been denied, now may be a good time to seek legal guidance and support.
A rhinitis Veterans Disability claims lawyer can review the specifics of your situation. Depending on your case, your attorney may help you appeal the VA’s original disability benefits decision.
Rhinitis VA Rating Criteria
Diagnostic Code 6522 under 38 C.F.R. § 4.97 covers allergic or vasomotor rhinitis. Ratings for rhinitis range from 0-30%.
Below are details about the criteria that Veterans Affairs will use to determine a veteran’s rhinitis VA rating:
- 0%: A veteran has been diagnosed with rhinitis, but their condition doesn’t meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
- 10%: A veteran doesn’t have polyps, but there’s greater than 50% obstruction of both nasal passages, or complete obstruction on one side.
- 30%: Nasal polyps are present in the nasal cavity.
A Veterans Affairs Disability benefits claims lawyer can answer questions you have about the VA rating criteria for rhinitis and other topics relating to your case. If the VA assigns a rating that does not account for the severity of your rhinitis symptoms, or your claim is rejected, your lawyer may guide you through the process of filing an appeal.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 562-9830
Veterans Affairs Disability Rating for Rhinitis: Key Factors to Consider
Unfortunately, just because you file a Veterans Disability benefits claim for rhinitis doesn’t mean that you’ll get the optimal VA rating. As such, it can be beneficial to have a Veterans Disability lawyer help you with your claim.
Your attorney may advise you to consider various factors, such as:
- Presumptive status: Under the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, chronic rhinitis may be considered presumptive for veterans with qualifying service in certain locations and time periods. Due to this, you may not need to prove that there’s a direct correlation between your rhinitis symptoms and service.
- Compensation and pension (C&P) exam: In a C&P exam, an examiner may look for documentation regarding the frequency, duration, and severity of your rhinitis symptoms. What an examiner finds may contribute to your rhinitis VA rating.
- Secondary conditions: In some cases, rhinitis may be associated with or aggravate sleep apnea, migraines, or other conditions, which may affect your VA disability benefits.
Veterans Disability attorneys can give you insights into the PACT Act and your VA benefits, how a C&P exam works, and more. If you want to appeal the VA’s initial decision regarding your rhinitis disability claim, your lawyer can help you gather evidence and take other measures to show that your benefits request is warranted.
How to Appeal Your VA Disability Rating for Rhinitis
To appeal your VA rhinitis disability rating, you can file a VA supplemental claim or request a higher-level review within one year of your original decision. A supplemental claim may work well if you want to provide the VA with new evidence. Alternatively, a higher-level review allows you to discuss possible VA errors with a senior reviewer.
If a supplemental claim and higher-level review fail, you may want to proceed with requesting a review by a veterans law judge with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. With this option, you can ask for a direct review of your claim, with no new evidence and without a hearing. Or, you may submit evidence and have a hearing with a judge.
Ultimately, appealing a VA Disability claim may be worth it, particularly if you have a rhinitis Veterans Disability claims attorney at your disposal. Your lawyer can help you determine which VA appeals options may help you get your desired case result. Meanwhile, they will remain on your side as your appeal progresses to address your concerns.
Learn More About What the Rhinitis VA Disability Rating Entails
Your Veterans Affairs disability rating for rhinitis can have far-reaching effects. If you receive a rating that falls short of what you feel is fair, or if the VA denies your benefits claim, you may want to exercise your right to appeal. Veterans Disability benefits claims attorneys can assist you with your appeal and help you make informed decisions as you dispute your VA rating.
Marc Whitehead & Associates has a legal team in place with 120 years of combined experience. Our attorneys can give you information about the Veterans Affairs rhinitis disability rating and what it means. If you want to appeal the VA’s decision about your rhinitis disability rating, we are here to help you.
Give us the opportunity to evaluate your rhinitis VA disability rating, and if necessary, represent you as part of an appeal to Veterans Affairs. Contact us for more information.
Call or text (800) 562-9830 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form