Pulmonary fibrosis is a restrictive lung disease, meaning scar tissue stiffens and shrinks the lungs rather than blocking airflow the way COPD or chronic bronchitis do. The VA rates it under 38 CFR 4.97, Diagnostic Codes 6825 through 6833, using a single rating formula that runs from 10% to 100% based almost entirely on two breathing test numbers: forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO). If you have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, asbestosis, or another form of interstitial lung disease connected to your military service, this is the scale that decides your monthly VA compensation.
This guide breaks down the exact FVC and DLCO thresholds for each rating tier, how veterans qualify for presumptive service connection through the PACT Act, and what the claim process looks like from pulmonary function test to decision letter.
What Is Pulmonary Fibrosis, and Why the VA Rates It Differently from COPD
Pulmonary fibrosis is scarring (fibrosis) of lung tissue. As scar tissue builds up, the lungs become stiff and lose their ability to expand fully, which reduces the volume of air a person can inhale (a restrictive pattern) and slows how efficiently oxygen crosses into the bloodstream. This is the opposite mechanical problem from COPD or chronic bronchitis, which are obstructive diseases that make it hard to exhale fully. Because the physiology is different, the VA does not rate pulmonary fibrosis under the COPD or bronchitis diagnostic code (DC 6600). Instead, it falls under its own family of codes for interstitial lung disease.
The most common form, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), has no identifiable cause and is progressive. Other forms include asbestosis (DC 6833), drug-induced pulmonary fibrosis, and fibrosis caused by chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Regardless of the specific diagnostic code assigned, all of them are evaluated under the same general rating formula for interstitial lung disease.
If you are researching an obstructive condition instead, see the separate guides on VA disability rating for COPD and VA disability rating for bronchitis, which use a different diagnostic code and different test thresholds.
2026 VA Rating Tiers for Pulmonary Fibrosis (DC 6825-6833)
The VA assigns one of five ratings, 0%, 10%, 30%, 60%, or 100%, based on pulmonary function test (PFT) results. The two key measurements are:
- FVC (Forced Vital Capacity): the total amount of air you can forcibly exhale after a full breath in, expressed as a percentage of the predicted normal value for your age, height, and sex.
- DLCO (SB): diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide, single breath method, which measures how well oxygen moves from your lungs into your blood.
| Rating | FVC (% predicted) | DLCO (SB) (% predicted) | Other Qualifying Criteria |
|---|
| 10% | 75 to 80% | 66 to 80% | None |
| 30% | 65 to 74% | 56 to 65% | None |
| 60% | 50 to 64% | 40 to 55% | Maximum exercise capacity of 15 to 20 ml/kg/min oxygen consumption with cardiorespiratory limitation |
| 100% | Less than 50% | Less than 40% | Maximum exercise capacity less than 15 ml/kg/min oxygen consumption with cardiorespiratory limitation, cor pulmonale, pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, or requires outpatient oxygen therapy |
A veteran only needs to meet one of the listed criteria at a given tier to qualify for that rating, not all of them. Under 38 CFR 4.96, when a veteran's FVC and DLCO scores fall into two different rating tiers, the VA is required to assign the higher of the two evaluations. In practice, this means a veteran with an FVC in the 30% range but a DLCO score low enough for a 60% rating should be rated at 60%, not averaged down.
There is no rating below 10% for a confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis with any measurable restrictive impairment. A 0% (noncompensable) rating applies only if PFT results are within normal limits despite a documented diagnosis.
2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates
VA disability pay is tax-free and adjusted each December with a cost-of-living increase tied to Social Security. For 2026, a 2.8% COLA applies. Monthly rates for a veteran with no dependents:
| Rating | Monthly Payment (2026) |
|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Veterans with a spouse, children, or dependent parents receive additional amounts on top of these base rates, and the increase is larger at 30% and above. A veteran rated 100% with a spouse and no other dependents receives approximately $4,158.17 per month. Because pulmonary fibrosis is progressive, many veterans start at a lower rating and file for an increase as PFT scores decline over time, or as oxygen dependence develops and pushes them toward the 100% criteria.
Is Pulmonary Fibrosis a Presumptive Condition? The PACT Act
The PACT Act (2022) added pulmonary fibrosis and other interstitial lung diseases to the list of conditions presumptively connected to burn pit and airborne hazard exposure. If you served in a qualifying location during the applicable time period and now have a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis or interstitial lung disease, the VA presumes your condition is related to that exposure. You do not need a nexus letter or medical opinion connecting your lungs to your service, only:
- A current diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis or interstitial lung disease
- Qualifying service in a covered location (Southwest Asia, Afghanistan, and other designated areas, generally on or after August 2, 1990, or later dates depending on location)
This presumption removes the single hardest part of most respiratory VA claims: proving the medical connection to service. Veterans who do not have qualifying burn pit service can still be service connected through direct or secondary pathways, described below.
Other Ways to Get Service Connected for Pulmonary Fibrosis
Direct service connection: Occupational exposure to asbestos (common in Navy veterans who served aboard ships, and veterans who worked in shipyards, insulation, or construction trades) or other lung irritants during service, combined with a current diagnosis and a medical opinion linking the two.
Secondary service connection: Pulmonary fibrosis frequently develops as a complication of other service-connected conditions, including:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is strongly linked to IPF through chronic microaspiration
- Rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and other autoimmune or connective tissue diseases
- Radiation or chemotherapy treatment for a service-connected cancer
If any of these conditions are already service connected, a secondary claim for pulmonary fibrosis does not require proving a new connection to your time in service, only that the already-connected condition caused or aggravated the lung disease.
How to File a Claim: Step by Step
- Get a current diagnosis. You need a pulmonary function test showing FVC and DLCO results, typically ordered by a pulmonologist, along with imaging (CT or X-ray) confirming fibrosis.
- File VA Form 21-526EZ through VA.gov, by mail, or with help from an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO). Include your diagnosis, any private medical records, and evidence of qualifying service location if claiming under the PACT Act presumption.
- Attend the Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam. The VA will schedule a pulmonary function test as part of this exam if your private records do not already include recent FVC and DLCO scores. Bring copies of any existing PFT results to avoid delays.
- Submit a nexus letter if not presumptive. If your claim relies on direct or secondary service connection rather than the PACT Act presumption, a written medical opinion stating the condition is "at least as likely as not" related to service or to a service-connected condition significantly strengthens the claim.
- Wait for the rating decision. The VA will issue a decision letter listing your assigned percentage and effective date. If the rating does not reflect your actual FVC or DLCO scores, you can file a Supplemental Claim with new evidence or a Higher-Level Review.
Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU)
Pulmonary fibrosis is progressive, and advanced cases often prevent veterans from sustaining full-time work well before their disability rating alone reaches 100%. If your rating is below 100% but your pulmonary fibrosis (alone or combined with other service-connected conditions) prevents you from holding substantially gainful employment, you may qualify for TDIU, which pays at the 100% rate even though your schedular rating is lower. TDIU generally requires either one condition rated at 60% or more, or a combined rating of 70% with at least one condition rated at 40% or more.
Requesting a Higher Rating as the Disease Progresses
Because pulmonary fibrosis typically worsens over time, an initial rating is rarely the last word. If your FVC or DLCO scores drop into a higher tier, or you begin requiring supplemental oxygen, you can file a claim for an increased rating with updated PFT results. The VA will schedule a new C&P exam to reassess your lung function against the same 6825-6833 criteria described above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VA diagnostic code for pulmonary fibrosis?
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is rated under Diagnostic Code 6825. Related interstitial lung diseases are rated under DC 6826 through 6833, depending on the specific cause (for example, asbestosis is DC 6833). All of these codes use the same general rating formula based on FVC and DLCO.
Can pulmonary fibrosis get a 100% VA disability rating?
Yes. A 100% rating applies when FVC is less than 50% predicted, DLCO (SB) is less than 40% predicted, maximum exercise capacity is less than 15 ml/kg/min with cardiorespiratory limitation, or the veteran has cor pulmonale, pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, or requires outpatient oxygen therapy.
Is pulmonary fibrosis a presumptive condition under the PACT Act?
Yes, for veterans with qualifying burn pit or airborne hazard exposure during service in Southwest Asia, Afghanistan, or other covered locations. These veterans do not need to prove a medical nexus between the diagnosis and their service.
Is pulmonary fibrosis rated the same way as COPD?
No. COPD and chronic bronchitis are obstructive lung diseases rated under Diagnostic Code 6600, which uses FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC ratio thresholds. Pulmonary fibrosis is a restrictive lung disease rated under DC 6825-6833, which uses FVC and DLCO instead. A veteran cannot combine both codes for the same lung impairment, since VA rules against pyramiding (rating the same disability twice under different codes).
Do I need a pulmonary function test for my C&P exam?
Yes. The VA will order or review a recent PFT including FVC and DLCO (SB) values as part of any C&P exam for a pulmonary fibrosis claim. If you already have PFT results from a private pulmonologist within the past year, submit them with your claim to speed up the process.
Can I get secondary service connection if my pulmonary fibrosis was caused by GERD or an autoimmune disease?
Yes. If GERD, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, or another already service-connected condition is medically linked to your pulmonary fibrosis, you can file for secondary service connection. A medical opinion establishing that link is typically required unless the connection is already well documented in your treatment records.
What happens if my FVC and DLCO scores fall into different rating tiers?
Under 38 CFR 4.96, the VA must assign whichever rating tier is higher when FVC and DLCO results disagree. You do not need to average the two scores or argue for the higher one; it is the required outcome under the regulation.
