38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.97

Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, active — VA Diagnostic Code 6730

Respiratory

Diagnostic code

6730

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38 CFR § 4.97 places Diagnostic Code 6730 under the heading “Ratings for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Initially Evaluated After August 19, 1968.” That heading does not end with a colon. The title is “Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, active.” It does not end with a colon or a period. The rating cell is 100. A note under the code addresses non-service-connected pension in named circumstances. Appendix B to Part 4, under “Ratings for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Initially Evaluated After August 19, 1968:”, indexes the code as “Chronic, active.”

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

6730 Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, active

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, active

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, active

The 100 is the rating cell on the title. The title does not end with a period.

Note: Active pulmonary tuberculosis will be considered permanently and totally disabling for non-service-connected pension purposes in the following circumstances:

(a) Associated with active tuberculosis involving other than the respiratory system.

(b) With severe associated symptoms or with extensive cavity formation.

(d) With advancement of lesions on successive examinations or while under treatment.

(e) Without retrogression of lesions or other evidence of material improvement at the end of six months hospitalization or without change of diagnosis from “active” at the end of 12 months hospitalization. Material improvement means lessening or absence of clinical symptoms, and X-ray findings of a stationary or retrogressive lesion.

The note uses the words “permanently and totally disabling” for non-service-connected pension purposes in those circumstances. It does not print a second compensation percentage, and it does not state a payment amount.

38 CFR § 4.96(a) 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 6730 is inside 6600 through 6817. The 100 on DC 6730 is the active-disease cell. It is not one of those graduated inactive ratings. Paragraph (d) names diagnostic codes 6600, 6603, 6604, 6825-6833, and 6840-6845. It does not name 6730. 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.

38 CFR § 4.96(b) says the repealed section 356 of title 38, United States Code, still applies to the case of any veteran who on August 19, 1968, was receiving or entitled to receive compensation for tuberculosis, and that the former evaluations pertaining to pulmonary tuberculosis are retained in § 4.97 for those cases. DC 6703 is “Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, minimal, active.” at 100 under the earlier heading, “Ratings for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Entitled on August 19, 1968.” That heading is not the DC 6730 heading.

DC 6731 is “Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, inactive:”. Its rating cell is empty. The instruction is: “Depending on the specific findings, rate residuals as interstitial lung disease, restrictive lung disease, or, when obstructive lung disease is the major residual, as chronic bronchitis (DC 6600). Rate thoracoplasty as removal of ribs under DC 5297.” A note on DC 6731 says: “A mandatory examination will be requested immediately following notification that active tuberculosis evaluated under DC 6730 has become inactive. Any change in evaluation will be carried out under the provisions of § 3.105(e).” That note is printed on DC 6731. DC 6600 is chronic bronchitis. DC 6732 is “Pleurisy, tuberculous, active or inactive:” and says to rate under §§ 4.88c or 4.89, whichever is appropriate.

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 6730 does not print a 0 percent line. The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309(a) lists “Tuberculosis, active.” It does not assign DC 6730. 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). 38 CFR § 3.317(c)(2) lists “Mycobacterium tuberculosis.” It does not assign DC 6730. The chronic-disease row in the presumptive registry stays without a diagnostic code.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6730, and 38 CFR § 4.96, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

The index shortens the name

Appendix B says “Chronic, active.” under “Ratings for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Initially Evaluated After August 19, 1968:”. The rating table says “Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, active” and does not put a colon on the heading.

100 is the compensation cell

The rating cell is 100. The note under it is about non-service-connected pension in circumstances (a) through (e). The note does not replace the 100 with another compensation percentage.

Inactive disease is DC 6731

DC 6731 rates residuals as interstitial lung disease, restrictive lung disease, or, when obstructive lung disease is the major residual, as chronic bronchitis (DC 6600). Its note names a mandatory examination when active tuberculosis evaluated under DC 6730 has become inactive, and it names § 3.105(e) for any change in evaluation.

Evidence that speaks to each level

100

What the rater needs to see. The title the code prints: tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, active, under the heading for ratings initially evaluated after August 19, 1968.

Where that usually lives. The tuberculosis examination.

The pension note

What the rater needs to see. One of the circumstances (a) through (e), if the question is the note’s non-service-connected pension sentence. That note does not state a payment amount.

Where that usually lives. The examination findings the letter names, including X-ray findings where (e) defines material improvement.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
100	The title the code prints: tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, active, under the heading for ratings initially evaluated after August 19, 1968.	The tuberculosis examination.
The pension note	One of the circumstances (a) through (e), if the question is the note’s non-service-connected pension sentence. That note does not state a payment amount.	The examination findings the letter names, including X-ray findings where (e) defines material improvement.

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 6730 prints 100 and the pension note. This page does not say a form replaces that cell. The DC 6731 note names § 3.105(e) for a change in evaluation after active tuberculosis evaluated under DC 6730 has become inactive.

Related codes and how they interact

Minimal active disease entitled on August 19, 1968 is DC 6703.

DC 6703 is 100 under the earlier heading. DC 6731 is the inactive code in the same later block as DC 6730. DC 6732 rates tuberculous pleurisy under §§ 4.88c or 4.89.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

Section 3.309(a) lists “Tuberculosis, active.” That list entry does not name DC 6730. Section 3.317(c)(2) lists “Mycobacterium tuberculosis.” That list entry does not name DC 6730. The chronic-disease row 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 chronic active pulmonary tuberculosis under DC 6730?

Under 38 CFR § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6730 is 100 for tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, active, in the block initially evaluated after August 19, 1968. The note under that code addresses non-service-connected pension in circumstances (a) through (e). Inactive disease is DC 6731. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Which note names DC 6730 when the disease becomes inactive?

The note on DC 6731. It requests a mandatory examination immediately following notification that active tuberculosis evaluated under DC 6730 has become inactive, and it says any change in evaluation will be carried out under § 3.105(e). Education only.

FAQ

What percentage does DC 6730 print?

100, for “Tuberculosis, pulmonary, chronic, active,” under “Ratings for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Initially Evaluated After August 19, 1968.” The title does not end with a period. Education only.

What is the note under the 100?

It says active pulmonary tuberculosis will be considered permanently and totally disabling for non-service-connected pension purposes in circumstances (a) through (e). It does not print a dollar amount. Circumstance (e) defines material improvement as lessening or absence of clinical symptoms, and X-ray findings of a stationary or retrogressive lesion.

Does § 3.309 assign DC 6730?

Section 3.309(a) lists “Tuberculosis, active.” It does not assign DC 6730. 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 6730 or DC 6731, and whether the pension note or § 4.96(a) 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

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

Source: 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 6730 • va.gov

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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.