Establishing a Proper VA Rating for Asthma

Anyone who suffers from asthma will tell you that it can be quite disabling and downright scary. Often, veterans with asthma have trouble getting the VA to properly rate their disorder, or even service connect the disability at all! However, knowing the standards the VA uses to rate asthma can be a huge help in your fight for VA disability benefits.

How does VA Rate Asthma?

First, you will need to have tests done to measure the severity of your asthma. The VA uses the following measurements to rate asthma:

1. Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV): This is the amount of air you can breathe out in one second. This is measured against the amount of air someone without respiratory problems could expect to exhale. The VA expresses this comparison in a percentage.
2. A ratio of the FEV to the Forced Vital Capacity (FVC): The Forced Vital Capacity is the amount of air you breathe out AFTER you’ve already exhaled.
3. Additional metrics, including:
   • The number of attacks per week or month
   • The frequency of doctor visits to treat exacerbations
   • The frequency at which the asthma sufferer needs to use medication

For 100% disability rating, you need to show:

• An FEV less than 40-percent of what a non-asthma sufferer would be expected to show, OR
• An FEV/FVC ratio of less than 40 percent, OR
• You experience more than one attack per week with episodes of respiratory failure, OR
• You require daily use of corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications.

For a 60% rating, you need to show:

• An FEV of 40 to 55 percent of what a non-asthma sufferer would be expected to show, OR
• An FEV/FVC ratio 40 to 55 percent, OR
• You need to visit a physician at least once a month to treat exacerbations, OR
• You require at least three uses per year of corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications.

For a 30% rating, you need to show:

• An FEV of 56 to 70 percent of what a non-asthma sufferer would be expected to show, OR
• An FEV/FVC ratio of 56 to 70 percent, OR
• You need to use an inhaled or oral bronchodilator therapy every day, OR
• You require anti-inflammatory medication

For 10% rating, you need to show:

• An FEV of 71 to 80  percent of what a non-asthma sufferer would be expected to show, OR
• An FEV/FVC ratio of 71 to 80 percent, OR
• You need to use an inhaled or oral bronchodilator therapy, but not daily.

The attorneys at Hill & Ponton are available to help veterans with asthma obtain the appropriate benefits. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.