38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.97

Septum, nasal, deviation of — VA Diagnostic Code 6502

ENT / airway

Diagnostic code

6502

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38 CFR § 4.97 lists Diagnostic Code 6502 under “DISEASES OF THE NOSE AND THROAT” as “Septum, nasal, deviation of:”. The next row is “Traumatic only,” with no percentage. The 10 percent line is “With 50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.” Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Septum, nasal, deviation.” and drops the word “of.”

Reviewed 2026-10-05. Text checked against the eCFR versioner full-text XML for 2026-10-01 on 2026-10-05. Title 38 was up to date as of 2026-10-01 and last amended on 2026-08-27. The § 4.97 source note prints 61 FR 46728, Sept. 5, 1996, as amended at 71 FR 28586, May 17, 2006. The § 4.31 source note prints 58 FR 52018, Oct. 6, 1993.

The rating criteria at each level

6502 Septum, nasal, deviation of

Rating %: —

Criteria (verbatim). Traumatic only,

Rating %: 10

Criteria (verbatim). With 50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
—	Traumatic only,
10	With 50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side

“Traumatic only,” is its own row. It ends with a comma. It does not print a percentage.

The 10 percent line does not end with a period. It uses “50-percent” with a hyphen. It says “both sides or complete obstruction on one side.”

DC 6502 does not print a 0 percent line. The next code is DC 6504. Its note is not printed under DC 6502.

38 CFR § 4.31 says that in every instance where the schedule does not provide a zero percent evaluation for a diagnostic code, a zero percent evaluation shall be assigned when the requirements for a compensable evaluation are not met. The only compensable line on DC 6502 is the 10 percent obstruction line, and that line sits under “Traumatic only,”. 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher rating when the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating. Otherwise, the lower rating will be assigned. 38 CFR § 4.6 requires each element affecting the evidence to be studied so that decisions will be equitable and just.

DC 6504 is “Nose, loss of part of, or scars:”. Exposing both nasal passages is 30. Loss of part of one ala, or other obvious disfigurement, is 10. Its note says: “Or evaluate as DC 7800, scars, disfiguring, head, face, or neck.” Those words are the note. The current DC 7800 title is longer: burn scar(s) of the head, face, or neck; scar(s) of the head, face, or neck due to other causes; or other disfigurement of the head, face, or neck. The note is not a DC 6502 sentence. DC 7800 is that scar code.

The General Rating Formula for Sinusitis is printed for DC's 6510 through 6514. DC 6502 is not in that span. DC 6510 is chronic pansinusitis. Its public page is the sinusitis guide. 38 CFR § 4.14 says the evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided, and that the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses is to be avoided.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6502, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Traumatic only

The schedule prints “Traumatic only,” before the 10 percent line. It does not print a line for a deviation that is not traumatic.

One obstruction line

The 10 percent line is 50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides, or complete obstruction on one side. The hyphen is in “50-percent.”

Appendix B drops “of”

The schedule title is “Septum, nasal, deviation of:”. Appendix B indexes “Septum, nasal, deviation.” The catalog slug follows the Appendix B words.

Evidence that speaks to each level

10 — the obstruction line

What the rater needs to see. Traumatic deviation, with 50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.

Where that usually lives. The nose examination that states the obstruction and that the deviation is traumatic.

The “Traumatic only,” row

What the rater needs to see. The schedule’s own qualifier. A non-traumatic deviation is not given a percentage on this code.

Where that usually lives. The same examination, or the records that describe how the septum was injured.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
10 — the obstruction line	Traumatic deviation, with 50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.	The nose examination that states the obstruction and that the deviation is traumatic.
The “Traumatic only,” row	The schedule’s own qualifier. A non-traumatic deviation is not given a percentage on this code.	The same examination, or the records that describe how the septum was injured.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Sinusitis, Rhinitis and Other Conditions of the Nose, Throat, Larynx and Pharynx” under Ear, Nose, Throat. The file is Sinusitis, Rhinitis and Other Conditions of the Nose, Throat, Larynx and Pharynx.

The exam form

DC 6502 prints one 10 percent line under “Traumatic only,”. This page does not say the form replaces that line. The sinusitis formula is a different span of codes.

Related codes and how they interact

Loss of part of the nose is the next code.

DC 6504 prints 30 and 10, and a note that uses the older words “scars, disfiguring, head, face, or neck.” That note is not under DC 6502.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “septum.” This page does not add DC 6502 to a presumptive row.

A separate question, when a presumption does not decide it, is a medical question on the facts under 38 CFR § 3.310. Paragraph (a) covers disability proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury. Paragraph (b) covers increase in severity and requires a medical baseline.

Short answers

What is the VA rating for a deviated nasal septum?

Under 38 CFR § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6502 rates traumatic deviation of the nasal septum at 10 percent with 50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Why does the index drop the word “of”?

Appendix B indexes “Septum, nasal, deviation.” The schedule line is “Septum, nasal, deviation of:”.

FAQ

What percentage does DC 6502 print?

One line: 10 percent, with 50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, under the row “Traumatic only,”. Education only.

Does the code print a zero percent line?

No. Section 4.31 is the general rule for a code that does not provide a zero percent evaluation when the compensable requirements are not met. The 10 percent line is the only percentage on DC 6502.

Is a deviated septum rated on the sinusitis formula?

The General Rating Formula for Sinusitis is for DC's 6510 through 6514. DC 6502 is not in that span.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 6502, whether it used “Traumatic only,” and which obstruction finding it used.
The free worksheet is a place to write the code, the findings, and the records you already have. It does not file a claim or protect a filing date. An accredited representative is at find a VSO.
Other nose and throat codes are on the ENT diagnostic-code index.

Education only. Not legal or medical advice. My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative and does not file claims. VA decides every claim on its own evidence.

Other codes in this body system

Nearby catalog entries in ENT / airway, ordered by diagnostic code number. All ENT / airway codes

Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 6502 • va.gov

How to give a complete Deviated Nasal Septum C&P answer

Context matters

Short answers can leave out frequency, duration, treatment, and functional effects. The examples below show what information may still need to be explained. They are not scripts.

Example incomplete answer
“I can still breathe through one side.”
Context to add, if true
That's exactly the 10% trigger. The schedule awards 10% for 50% obstruction of BOTH passages OR complete obstruction of ONE — being able to breathe through one side doesn't disqualify you.
Example incomplete answer
“It only bothers me when I exercise.”
Context to add, if true
Undersells the obstruction. The exam is about anatomical obstruction percentages — not symptoms. Make sure the examiner measures both passages.
Example incomplete answer
“I had surgery so it's fixed.”
Context to add, if true
If obstruction returned after surgery, document it. Persistent post-surgical obstruction still qualifies for the 10% rating.

Answer in your own words. Describe what is true, including better periods and flare-ups, without minimizing or exaggerating. No phrase guarantees a rating or claim outcome.

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

This page provides general educational information based on public VA regulations and VA.gov resources. It is not legal or medical advice, and My Claim Packet is not a VA-accredited representative. Any worksheets or draft documents produced by the tools must be reviewed for accuracy and are not filed with VA for you. Ratings and service connection are decided case-by-case from the individual record. Consult a VA-accredited VSO, claims agent, attorney, or qualified clinician for help with your situation, and verify current rules using the linked official source.