VA evaluates bronchial asthma through pulmonary-function thresholds, attack and respiratory-failure history, treatment visits, and medication requirements.
Plain-language summaries explain the text; they do not decide whether any level applies.
100%
Official criteria
FEV-1 less than 40-percent predicted, or; FEV-1/FVC less than 40 percent, or; more than one attack per week with episodes of respiratory failure, or; requires daily use of systemic (oral or parenteral) high dose corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications
Plain-language summary
This level uses either a listed severe pulmonary-function result, more than one weekly attack with respiratory-failure episodes, or the specified daily systemic medication regimen.
60%
Official criteria
FEV-1 of 40- to 55-percent predicted, or; FEV-1/FVC of 40 to 55 percent, or; at least monthly visits to a physician for required care of exacerbations, or; intermittent (at least three per year) courses of systemic (oral or parenteral) corticosteroids
Plain-language summary
Any one of the listed pulmonary-function, treatment-visit, or systemic-steroid paths can satisfy this level.
30%
Official criteria
FEV-1 of 56- to 70-percent predicted, or; FEV-1/FVC of 56 to 70 percent, or; daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy, or; inhalational anti-inflammatory medication
Plain-language summary
This level uses a listed pulmonary-function result, daily inhaled/oral bronchodilator treatment, or inhaled anti-inflammatory medication.
10%
Official criteria
FEV-1 of 71- to 80-percent predicted, or; FEV-1/FVC of 71 to 80 percent, or; intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy
Plain-language summary
Any one of the listed pulmonary-function or intermittent-bronchodilator paths can satisfy this level.
Source record
38 CFR § 4.97—Schedule of ratings, respiratory system
38 CFR § 4.97, DC 6602 · Effective Oct 7, 1996 · Reviewed Sep 11, 2026