Getting a VA Rating for Chronic Bronchitis, with or without the PACT Act

For many veterans, breathing problems don’t stop when their service ends. Bronchitis is one of the most common respiratory conditions connected to toxic exposures during military duty. Depending on your time and place of service, you may have come into contact with a number of harmful airborne hazards, including: 

• Burn pits used in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other post-9/11 deployments 
• Agent Orange in Vietnam and surrounding areas 
• Asbestos, dust, and chemical fumes in military facilities or combat zones 

Burn pits are among the most well-documented hazards. They were used to dispose of plastics, rubber, fuel, medical waste, and even chemicals by open-air burning. The smoke carried toxins directly into living quarters, mess areas, and work zones. Veterans who breathed this smoke for months or years often developed bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, or COPD. 

If you served in one of the affected regions and now struggle with bronchitis, the VA may recognize your illness as service-connected and award disability benefits. 

Is Your Bronchitis Ratable?

Acute Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is a short-term inflammation of the bronchial tubes. It usually starts after a cold, flu, or respiratory infection. In most cases, the cause is viral, but bacteria or irritants like smoke and dust can also trigger it. Typical symptoms usually improve within a few weeks and include: 

• A cough that may bring up mucus 
• Chest pain or soreness from coughing 
• Fever, fatigue, or shortness of breath in some cases 

Can You Get a VA Rating for Acute Bronchitis?

Because acute bronchitis normally clears up and leaves no lasting damage, the VA does not consider it a disability on its own. One isolated episode will not qualify you for compensation. However, if your service medical records show multiple episodes of acute bronchitis while on active duty, this history can still be important. Repeated flare-ups can demonstrate a pattern that supports a claim for a chronic respiratory condition, such as COPD or long-term bronchitis, later in life. 

Chronic Bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is diagnosed when a cough that produces mucus lasts for at least three months in one year and comes back for two years in a row. Unlike acute cases, this condition doesn’t fade away quickly. Instead, it becomes a persistent illness that continues to affect the lungs and daily functioning. 

Veterans with chronic bronchitis often deal with ongoing cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, and recurring infections. These symptoms can make everyday tasks exhausting and limit a veteran’s ability to work or maintain physical activities. 

Because it is a long-term condition with lasting effects, chronic bronchitis is eligible for a VA disability rating. The exact rating depends on the severity of the illness, as shown in pulmonary function testing. 

Chronic Obstructive Bronchitis (COPD-related)

When bronchitis becomes obstructive, it falls under the broader category of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This form of the disease blocks airflow, making it harder to breathe in and out. Veterans with COPD-related bronchitis may experience wheezing, constant fatigue, and frequent lung infections. 

The VA generally rates this condition under Diagnostic Code 6604. In most cases, it issues a single rating under the dominant diagnosis rather than separating bronchitis from COPD. This ensures that symptoms are not double-counted, while still awarding the appropriate level of compensation. See ratings for COPD.

How to Service Connect Bronchitis

Service Connection Requirements

To establish service connection for bronchitis, a veteran must show:

• A current diagnosis of bronchitis by a medical provider 
• Evidence of in-service exposure or illness related to the condition 
• A medical nexus (a professional opinion linking the current diagnosis to service events or exposures) 

These three elements are the foundation of nearly every successful VA disability claim.

Types of Service Connection

The VA may recognize different types of service connection for bronchitis:

• Direct service connection – if bronchitis began during military service and is documented in medical records 
• Secondary service connection – if another service-connected condition (such as asthma or GERD) caused or worsened bronchitis 
• Aggravation of a pre-existing condition – if the veteran had bronchitis or asthma before service but the condition worsened due to exposures such as burn pit smoke or industrial chemicals 

Presumptive Service Connection for Chronic Bronchitis under the PACT Act

The Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022 was a major change in how the VA handles claims related to toxic exposure. For decades, veterans struggled to prove that illnesses like bronchitis were linked to burn pits or other hazardous conditions during service. Often, claims were denied because medical evidence directly connecting the illness to service was difficult to obtain. 

The PACT Act changed that. Under this law, chronic bronchitis is now recognized as a presumptive condition for veterans exposed to airborne hazards. This means the VA accepts that toxic exposure likely caused the illness, removing the need for a veteran to prove a direct medical link. To qualify, veterans must have served in specific locations and timeframes where exposure risks were highest:

• Southwest Asia after August 2, 1990 
• Afghanistan, Iraq, or certain African countries after September 11, 2001 

If you meet these service requirements and have a diagnosis of chronic bronchitis, the VA will presume your illness is service-connected. This makes it much easier to qualify for benefits. 

For veterans who had claims denied in the past, the PACT Act opens the door to reapply. You may be able to get your claim approved under the new presumptive rules, even if you could not prove the connection before. This is especially important for veterans who were exposed to burn pits or other hazardous environments but lacked the medical evidence to support their case at the time. Contact us to discuss your case.

Aggravation of a Pre-Existing Condition

Not every veteran develops bronchitis for the first time in service. Some may have entered the military with pre-existing respiratory issues, such as childhood asthma or a history of mild bronchitis. Under VA law, these conditions don’t automatically disqualify a veteran from benefits. Instead, the VA looks at whether military service made the illness worse. 

Military environments often expose service members to heavy smoke, burn pit fumes, sandstorms, asbestos, industrial chemicals, and fuel exhaust. Even if a veteran’s condition was stable before enlistment, these hazards can push symptoms beyond what would normally happen over time. For example, someone with mild asthma that only caused occasional wheezing as a child might see it come back more aggressively after breathing in smoke and dust overseas. Over time, that aggravation could develop into chronic bronchitis. 

The VA compensates for the degree of aggravation that goes beyond the natural progression of the illness. That means benefits are not awarded for the baseline condition itself, but for the measurable worsening caused by military service. To prove aggravation, medical evidence is key. Records showing increased hospital visits, new prescriptions, or more severe test results after service can support the claim. 

This rule is especially important for veterans who may have worried that a pre-existing condition would bar them from benefits. The law recognizes that service-related exposures can make an illness far more serious than it would have been otherwise, and compensation is available for that added impact. 

Chronic Bronchitis as a Secondary Disability

Chronic bronchitis does not always appear as an independent illness. In many cases, it develops as a secondary condition, meaning it is caused or worsened by another service-connected disability. This opens additional pathways for qualifying for VA benefits. Some of the most common primary conditions that can lead to or aggravate chronic bronchitis include:

• Asthma – Long-term asthma can inflame and narrow the airways. Over time, this constant irritation may lead to chronic bronchitis. 
• GERD (acid reflux) – When stomach acid flows upward into the esophagus and airways, it can cause aspiration. This repeated irritation damages the bronchial tubes, creating a cycle of inflammation that may develop into chronic bronchitis.
• Chronic sinusitis or allergic rhinitis – These conditions often cause drainage into the lungs. When mucus and allergens repeatedly enter the bronchial passages, they can aggravate or trigger bronchitis symptoms. 

By claiming chronic bronchitis as a secondary disability, veterans can increase their rating and overall compensation. The VA will consider both the original service-connected condition and the new secondary condition when calculating the combined rating. 

How the VA Rates Bronchitis

The VA uses a standardized system called the Schedule for Rating Disabilities to decide how much compensation a veteran should receive. For bronchitis, ratings are based largely on the results of pulmonary function tests (PFTs), which measure how well the lungs are working. Common tests include:

• Spirometry, which measures how much air you can exhale in one second (FEV-1) and compares it to your overall lung capacity (FVC). 
• DLCO (Diffusion Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide), which measures how well your lungs move oxygen from the air into your blood. 
• Maximum oxygen consumption, which shows how much oxygen your body can use during activity and whether heart or lung limitations stop you from exerting yourself. 

These numbers are important because they provide an objective way to measure lung function. A veteran may feel short of breath, but the VA looks at these test results to assign a percentage that reflects the severity of breathing impairment. The lower the test results, the higher the rating is likely to be. The rating percentage represents the VA’s way of translating medical results into disability compensation.

What Is the VA Rating for Chronic Bronchitis?

Chronic bronchitis is assigned disability ratings ranging from 10% to 100%, depending on how severe the symptoms are and how much they interfere with a veteran’s daily life. The VA bases these ratings on pulmonary function test (PFT) results and related medical findings.

• 10% rating – FEV-1 of 71–80% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 71–80%, or DLCO of 66–80% predicted 
• 30% rating – FEV-1 of 56–70% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 56–70%, or DLCO of 56–65% predicted 
• 60% rating – FEV-1 of 40–55% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 40–55%, or DLCO of 40–55% predicted, or maximum oxygen consumption of 15–20 ml/kg/min (with cardiorespiratory limitation) 
• 100% rating – FEV-1 less than 40% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC less than 40%, or DLCO less than 40% predicted, or maximum oxygen consumption less than 15 ml/kg/min, or medical evidence of right-sided heart failure, cor pulmonale, or requirement for oxygen therapy 

How to Increase Your VA Rating and Benefits

If your bronchitis has worsened since your original rating, or if you believe the VA gave you too low of a rating, you may request a reevaluation. Veterans can also file an appeal if they feel their condition was underrated. 

When seeking an increase, it’s important to provide current medical records, such as pulmonary function tests, specialist evaluations, or treatment notes that show your condition has become more severe. Statements about how your breathing issues limit your daily activities and employment can also strengthen your case. 

If your claim was denied completely, you may still have options to appeal. Many veterans have successfully earned benefits on appeal with the right medical evidence and legal guidance. Get a free case evaluation from Hill & Ponton today.

Claim Secondary Conditions

If you already have a service-connected disability, you may be able to file chronic bronchitis as a secondary condition. This happens when another illness, injury, or exposure linked to your service either caused or aggravated bronchitis. 

For example, a veteran with service-connected asthma may later develop chronic bronchitis because the airways are already weakened. Likewise, a service-connected condition like GERD may cause aspiration that leads to bronchial damage. In these cases, the VA can grant secondary service connection, which adds to your overall disability rating and monthly benefits. 

Conditions Related to Chronic Bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis itself can create or worsen other health problems. Veterans should be aware that these related conditions may also qualify for service connection if properly documented. Some of the most common include:

• Sleep Apnea – Airway inflammation from bronchitis can make apnea episodes more frequent and severe 
• Heart Disease or Pulmonary Hypertension – Low oxygen levels over time can put added strain on the heart 
• Anxiety or Depression – Living with chronic breathing issues often affects mental health 
• GERD (acid reflux) – Persistent coughing and airway irritation are often linked with acid reflux 

By filing these conditions as connected to chronic bronchitis, veterans may qualify for  a higher combined rating and additional compensation. 

TDIU and Bronchitis

For some veterans, chronic bronchitis becomes so severe that it limits their ability to hold a steady job. Constant coughing, shortness of breath, and fatigue can interfere with physical labor, office work, or even tasks that require focus and stamina. In these cases, the VA may grant Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). 

TDIU allows veterans who cannot work due to their service-connected conditions to be compensated at the 100% disability rate, even if their combined rating does not equal 100%. For example, a veteran rated at 60% for chronic bronchitis who can no longer maintain employment may still qualify for TDIU. To apply for TDIU, veterans typically need to show: 

• Medical records proving the severity of their bronchitis 
• Evidence of how symptoms, such as exhaustion or frequent coughing fits, prevent full-time work 
• Employment history that demonstrates the impact of the condition on maintaining steady income 

If you believe you qualify for VA unemployability benefits due to chronic bronchitis, our TDIU lawyers may be able to assist you.