The exam form
The examiner fills out VA's "Sinusitis/Rhinitis and Other Conditions of the Nose, Throat, Larynx and Pharynx" form (a Disability Benefits Questionnaire, or DBQ). See the form on VA.gov
Form version checked: Updated on 2026-04-07 (v26_2).
What the exam is for
The exam records your sinus or nose diagnosis and how often your sinus problems flare up: how many episodes you have in a year, how they're treated, and any surgery. For rhinitis, it records how blocked your nose is and whether you have polyps. Chronic sinusitis and chronic rhinitis are also on VA's burn pit (PACT Act) list of conditions presumed linked to service, for veterans who served in certain places and times.
What the examiner will ask and measure
- Your diagnosis: chronic sinusitis, or allergic, non-allergic or another type of rhinitis.
- How your sinus or nose problem started and how it has changed.
- Which sinuses are affected: behind the cheeks (maxillary), in the forehead (frontal), between the eyes (ethmoid), deep behind the nose (sphenoid), or all of them (pansinusitis).
- Sinus surgery: repeated surgeries of any type, or open (radical) sinus surgery, with the sinuses, sides and dates.
- Symptoms: headaches, pain or tenderness over the sinus, pus-like drainage (purulent discharge), or crusting. The examiner also notes if sinusitis shows up only on scans.
- Whether your sinusitis is near constant.
- Episodes in the past 12 months that didn't put you in bed: how many came with headaches, pain, and pus-like drainage or crusting. The form counts from 1 to "7 or more."
- Bad (incapacitating) episodes in the past 12 months: how many needed bed rest, a doctor's treatment, and four to six weeks of antibiotics.
- Rhinitis checks: whether your nose is more than half blocked on both sides, or fully blocked on one side; lasting swelling of the ridges inside the nose (permanent hypertrophy of the turbinates); nasal polyps; and rare conditions that cause lumps of inflamed tissue (granulomatous conditions).
- Tests, if done: scans such as a CT or X-rays, and a look inside the nose with a small camera (nasal endoscopy). If past tests reflect how you are now, the form says repeat testing isn't required.
- How your condition affects work tasks.
The same form also covers throat and voice problems and a deviated septum, if you claimed them.
Be ready to describe
- When your sinus or nose problems started in service, and what you were exposed to, such as dust, smoke or burn pits.
- How many sinus infections you had in the past 12 months, and when. Your log helps.
- For each one: whether a doctor prescribed antibiotics, how many weeks you took them, and whether a doctor told you to rest in bed.
- What an episode is like: headaches, pain or pressure over your sinuses, pus-like drainage, or crusting.
- Sinus surgeries: what was done, on which side, and when.
- For rhinitis: how blocked your nose feels on each side, and any polyps a doctor found.
- How episodes affect your work, such as days you missed.
Common mistakes
- Guessing at how many episodes you had. Keep a log and count the past 12 months.
- Not saying how long each course of antibiotics lasted. The rules count courses that last four to six weeks.
- Leaving out smaller episodes. Episodes with headaches, pain, and pus-like drainage or crusting count too, even if you didn't need bed rest.
- Not mentioning a sinus surgery because it was years ago.
How VA rates it
VA rates every type of chronic sinusitis with one set of rules, no matter which sinus is affected. It looks mainly at how many episodes you have each year, whether they need bed rest, a doctor's care and long courses of antibiotics, and any sinus surgery. Rhinitis is rated on nasal polyps and how blocked your nose is. VA proposed changes to its rules for ear, nose and throat conditions in February 2022 (87 FR 8474). As of October 2026 they aren't final, so the current rules still apply.
In plain English
- Chronic sinusitis, any sinus: VA uses the same levels for the maxillary, frontal, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses, and for all of them together (pansinusitis).
- 0%: Sinusitis detected by X-ray only.
- 10%: One or two incapacitating episodes a year of sinusitis that need prolonged antibiotic treatment (lasting four to six weeks); or three to six non-incapacitating episodes a year of sinusitis with headaches, pain, and pus-like drainage (purulent discharge) or crusting.
- 30%: Three or more incapacitating episodes a year of sinusitis that need prolonged antibiotic treatment (lasting four to six weeks); or more than six non-incapacitating episodes a year of sinusitis with headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.
- 50%: Chronic bone infection (chronic osteomyelitis) after radical sinus surgery; or near-constant sinusitis with headaches, pain and tenderness of the affected sinus, and purulent discharge or crusting, after repeated surgeries.
- Incapacitating episode: The regulation's note says an incapacitating episode of sinusitis "means one that requires bed rest and treatment by a physician."
- Allergic or vasomotor rhinitis, 10%: No polyps, but the nasal passage is more than 50 percent blocked on both sides, or completely blocked on one side.
- Allergic or vasomotor rhinitis, 30%: Rhinitis with polyps.
The regulation, word for word
Quoted from 38 CFR Part 4 (current as of October 16, 2026). This is what VA applies. The plain-English version above is our summary of it.
VA rates this code with the formula below.
| Criteria | Rating |
|---|
| 6522 Allergic or vasomotor rhinitis: | |
| With polyps | 30 |
| Without polyps, but with greater than 50-percent obstruction of nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side | 10 |
General Rating Formula for Sinusitis (DC's 6510 through 6514)
| Criteria | Rating |
|---|
| General Rating Formula for Sinusitis (DC's 6510 through 6514): | |
| Following radical surgery with chronic osteomyelitis, or; near constant sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain and tenderness of affected sinus, and purulent discharge or crusting after repeated surgeries | 50 |
| Three or more incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged (lasting four to six weeks) antibiotic treatment, or; more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting | 30 |
| One or two incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged (lasting four to six weeks) antibiotic treatment, or; three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting | 10 |
| Detected by X-ray only | 0 |
| Note: An incapacitating episode of sinusitis means one that requires bed rest and treatment by a physician. | |
Related
About every C&P exam
What is it?
After you file a claim, VA may ask you to have a claim exam, also called a compensation and pension (C&P) exam. It helps VA decide whether your condition is connected to your service, and how severe it is. It isn't treatment: the examiner won't treat you, prescribe medicine or refer you to anyone.
Who does it?
A VA provider or a provider from one of VA's exam contractors (Loyal Source, OptumServe, QTC or VES). VA picks; you can't choose. Hearing, mental health, eye and dental exams are done by specialists. For a reproductive, breast, rectal or mental health exam, or a claim related to military sexual trauma, you can ask for a male or female examiner.
How long does it take?
VA says anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or more, depending on what you claimed. Some exams are by phone or video. If you claimed more than one condition, VA tries to schedule them on the same day.
Does the examiner decide my claim?
No. The examiner writes a report on a standard form (a Disability Benefits Questionnaire, or DBQ) and sends it to VA. VA decides your claim using all the evidence: the report, your medical and service records, and statements from you and others. The examiner can't tell you the results or answer questions about your claim.
Does everyone get one?
No. If your records already have what VA needs, VA can decide from the records alone (VA calls this Acceptable Clinical Evidence, or ACE).
What if I can't make it?
Call the number on your appointment letter at least 48 hours ahead to reschedule. Missing an exam delays your claim. VA may decide your claim on the evidence it already has, and some claims, such as a claim for an increase, are denied (38 CFR 3.655). If you had a good reason, such as being in the hospital or a death in your family, tell VA and ask for a new exam.
What should I bring?
VA says you don't need to bring anything. Send any new medical records to VA before the exam, because the examiner can't send them in for you. Arrive 15 minutes early and wear clothes you can move in. Many veterans find it helps to bring a short list of their symptoms, medicines and side effects, and key dates, so nothing is forgotten.
Can someone come with me?
You can ask the examiner. They may ask family members or caregivers to wait outside. For a sensitive physical exam, you can ask for a chaperone in the room.
Can I get a copy of the report?
Yes. Ask VA with a Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act request (VA Form 20-10206). VetEZ Claim can help you fill it out and send it.
Can my own doctor fill out the form instead?
For many conditions, yes. VA publishes the exam forms (DBQs) your own doctor can fill out and you can send in. VA doesn't pay for this. A few exam forms are for VA's own examiners.
Checked against VA's forms and rules on October 20, 2026. General information only, not medical or legal advice about your claim. VA decides every claim.
