38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.97
Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, minimal, active — VA Diagnostic Code 6703
Respiratory
Diagnostic code
6703
38 CFR § 4.97 places Diagnostic Code 6703 under the heading “Ratings for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Entitled on August 19, 1968.” The title is “Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, minimal, active.” It does not end with a colon or a period. The rating cell is 100. Appendix B to Part 4, under “Ratings for Pulmonary Tuberculosis (Chronic) Entitled on August 19, 1968:”, indexes the code as “Active, minimal.”
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 § 4.96 source note prints 34 FR 5062, Mar. 11, 1969, as amended at 61 FR 46727, Sept. 5, 1996; 71 FR 52459, Sept. 6, 2006.
The rating criteria at each level
6703 Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, minimal, active
Rating %: 100
Criteria (verbatim). Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, minimal, active
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 100 | Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, minimal, active |
General Rating Formula for Inactive Pulmonary Tuberculosis — the block after the inactive titles
Rating %: 100
Criteria (verbatim). For two years after date of inactivity, following active tuberculosis, which was clinically identified during service or subsequently
Rating %: 50
Criteria (verbatim). Thereafter for four years, or in any event, to six years after date of inactivity
Rating %: 30
Criteria (verbatim). Thereafter, for five years, or to eleven years after date of inactivity
Rating %: 30
Criteria (verbatim). Following far advanced lesions diagnosed at any time while the disease process was active, minimum
Rating %: 20
Criteria (verbatim). Following moderately advanced lesions, provided there is continued disability, emphysema, dyspnea on exertion, impairment of health, etc
Rating %: 0
Criteria (verbatim). Otherwise
| Rating % | Criteria (verbatim) |
|---|---|
| 100 | For two years after date of inactivity, following active tuberculosis, which was clinically identified during service or subsequently |
| 50 | Thereafter for four years, or in any event, to six years after date of inactivity |
| 30 | Thereafter, for five years, or to eleven years after date of inactivity |
| 30 | Following far advanced lesions diagnosed at any time while the disease process was active, minimum |
| 20 | Following moderately advanced lesions, provided there is continued disability, emphysema, dyspnea on exertion, impairment of health, etc |
| 0 | Otherwise |
The 100 on DC 6703 is the rating cell for that title. The same 100 is on DC 6701, DC 6702, and DC 6704. Those titles name far advanced, moderately advanced, and advancement unspecified. They are not the minimal title.
DC 6721 through DC 6724 are the inactive titles under the same August 19, 1968 heading. Their rating cells are empty. The General Rating Formula for Inactive Pulmonary Tuberculosis follows those empty cells. The 20 percent line ends with “etc” and does not end with a period. “Thereafter for four years” has no comma after “Thereafter.” “Thereafter, for five years” has that comma.
Note (1): The 100-percent rating under codes 6701 through 6724 is not subject to a requirement of precedent hospital treatment. It will be reduced to 50 percent for failure to submit to examination or to follow prescribed treatment upon report to that effect from the medical authorities. When a veteran is placed on the 100-percent rating for inactive tuberculosis, the medical authorities will be appropriately notified of the fact, and of the necessity, as given in footnote 1 to 38 U.S.C. 1156 (and formerly in 38 U.S.C. 356, which has been repealed by Public Law 90-493), to notify the Veterans Service Center in the event of failure to submit to examination or to follow treatment.
The second sentence of Note (1) names inactive tuberculosis. The first sentences name the 100-percent rating under codes 6701 through 6724, which includes DC 6703.
Note (2): The graduated 50-percent and 30-percent ratings and the permanent 30 percent and 20 percent ratings for inactive pulmonary tuberculosis are not to be combined with ratings for other respiratory disabilities. Following thoracoplasty the rating will be for removal of ribs combined with the rating for collapsed lung. Resection of the ribs incident to thoracoplasty will be rated as removal.
38 CFR § 4.96(b) says Public Law 90-493 repealed section 356 of title 38, United States Code which had provided graduated ratings for inactive tuberculosis. The repealed section, however, still applies to the case of any veteran who on August 19, 1968, was receiving or entitled to receive compensation for tuberculosis. The use of the protective provisions of Pub. L. 90-493 should be mentioned in the discussion portion of all ratings in which these provisions are applied. For application in rating cases in which the protective provisions of Pub. L. 90-493 apply the former evaluations pertaining to pulmonary tuberculosis are retained in § 4.97. DC 6703 is one of those retained titles. DC 6730 is “Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, active,” at 100, under the later heading “Ratings for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Initially Evaluated After August 19, 1968.” That is not the DC 6703 heading.
Paragraph (a) of § 4.96 says ratings under diagnostic codes 6600 through 6817 and 6822 through 6847 will not be combined with each other. A single rating will be assigned under the diagnostic code which reflects the predominant disability with elevation to the next higher evaluation where the severity of the overall disability warrants such elevation. However, in cases protected by the provisions of Pub. L. 90-493, the graduated ratings of 50 and 30 percent for inactive tuberculosis will not be elevated. DC 6703 is inside 6600 through 6817. Paragraph (d) names diagnostic codes 6600, 6603, 6604, 6825-6833, and 6840-6845 for its pulmonary-function rules. It does not name 6703. 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.
The code prints no 0 percent line. 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. DC 6723 is the inactive minimal title. Its rating cell is empty. DC 6731 rates inactive chronic pulmonary tuberculosis by the residual method that code names. DC 6732 is tuberculous pleurisy.
The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309(a) lists “Tuberculosis, active.” It does not assign DC 6703. 38 CFR § 3.307(a)(3) says the disease must have become manifest to a degree of 10 percent or more within 1 year (for Hansen's disease (leprosy) and tuberculosis, within 3 years; multiple sclerosis, within 7 years) from the date of separation from service as specified in paragraph (a)(2).
Source: 38 CFR § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6703, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.
What the words mean in your records
Entitled on August 19, 1968
That is the § 4.97 heading over DC 6701 through DC 6724. Appendix B adds “(Chronic)” and a colon: “Ratings for Pulmonary Tuberculosis (Chronic) Entitled on August 19, 1968:”. The later heading, “Initially Evaluated After August 19, 1968,” is where DC 6730 sits.
Minimal is the title, not a lower percentage
Far advanced, moderately advanced, minimal, and advancement unspecified are all 100 while the title says active. The inactive formula’s 50, 30, 20, and 0 lines are not printed on the DC 6703 row.
Note (1) can reduce the 100 to 50
The 100-percent rating under codes 6701 through 6724 will be reduced to 50 percent for failure to submit to examination or to follow prescribed treatment upon report to that effect from the medical authorities. That is Note (1). It is not a 50 percent line on the DC 6703 row.
Evidence that speaks to each level
100
What the rater needs to see. The title the code prints: tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, minimal, active, read under the heading for ratings entitled on August 19, 1968.
Where that usually lives. The tuberculosis examination and the rating discussion of Pub. L. 90-493, which § 4.96(b) says should be mentioned when those provisions are applied.
The inactive formula
What the rater needs to see. The inactive titles, DC 6721 through DC 6724, use the General Rating Formula for Inactive Pulmonary Tuberculosis. DC 6703’s own cell remains 100.
Where that usually lives. The date of inactivity, if the decision is on an inactive title rather than DC 6703.
VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Tuberculosis” under Infectious Diseases, and a separate “Respiratory Conditions (other than tuberculosis and sleep apnea)” under Respiratory. The files are Tuberculosis and Respiratory Conditions (other than tuberculosis and sleep apnea).
The exam form
DC 6703 prints 100 under the August 19, 1968 heading. This page does not say a form replaces that cell or Note (1).
Related codes and how they interact
Active disease initially evaluated after that date is DC 6730.
DC 6730 is 100 for “Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, active,” under the heading for pulmonary tuberculosis initially evaluated after August 19, 1968. A note under DC 6730 addresses non-service-connected pension in named circumstances. That note is not printed on DC 6703.
Secondary conditions and presumptions
Section 3.309(a) lists “Tuberculosis, active.” That list entry does not name DC 6703, and it does not say “minimal.” The chronic-disease row in the presumptive registry stays without a diagnostic code.
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
How does VA rate minimal active pulmonary tuberculosis under DC 6703?
Under 38 CFR § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6703 is 100 for tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, minimal, active, in the block entitled on August 19, 1968. The inactive formula is the next block, under the inactive titles. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.
Which note names codes 6701 through 6724?
Note (1) under the inactive formula. It says the 100-percent rating under those codes is not subject to a requirement of precedent hospital treatment, and it states the reduction to 50 percent for failure to submit to examination or to follow prescribed treatment.
FAQ
What percentage does DC 6703 print?
100, for “Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, minimal, active,” under “Ratings for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Entitled on August 19, 1968.” Note (1) says the 100-percent rating under codes 6701 through 6724 will be reduced to 50 percent for failure to submit to examination or to follow prescribed treatment upon report from the medical authorities. Education only.
Is DC 6730 the same code?
No. DC 6730 is chronic active pulmonary tuberculosis under “Ratings for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Initially Evaluated After August 19, 1968.” DC 6703 is the minimal active title in the earlier block.
Does § 3.309 assign DC 6703?
Section 3.309(a) lists “Tuberculosis, active.” It does not assign DC 6703. Section 3.307(a)(3) places tuberculosis within 3 years, in the parenthetical that also names Hansen's disease (leprosy).
Next steps
- Read the decision for DC 6703 or another code in the August 19, 1968 block, and whether Note (1) or § 4.96(b) is discussed.
- 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 respiratory codes are on the respiratory diagnostic-code index. The category page is respiratory conditions.
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 Respiratory, ordered by diagnostic code number. All Respiratory codes
- DC 6600Bronchitis, chronic
- DC 6601Bronchiectasis
- DC 6602Asthma, bronchial
- DC 6603Emphysema, pulmonary
- DC 6604Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- DC 6701Pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic, far advanced, active
- DC 6702Pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic, moderately advanced, active
- DC 6704Pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic, active, advancement unspecified
- DC 6721Pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic, far advanced, inactive
- DC 6722Pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic, moderately advanced, inactive
- DC 6723Pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic, minimal, inactive
- DC 6724Pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic, inactive, advancement unspecified
- DC 6730Pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic, active
- DC 6731Pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic, inactive
- DC 6732Pleurisy, active or inactive
- DC 6817Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Also: DC code lookup (tools) lists the same index in a compact layout.
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 6703 • va.gov
⚠️ 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.