38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.97

Pulmonary vascular disease — VA Diagnostic Code 6817

Respiratory

Diagnostic code

6817

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38 CFR § 4.97 lists Diagnostic Code 6817 as “Pulmonary Vascular Disease:” under Nontuberculous Diseases. The code prints 100, 60, 30, and 0. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes the same name, with a period instead of the colon on the rating row.

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

6817 Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). Primary pulmonary hypertension, or; chronic pulmonary thromboembolism with evidence of pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, or cor pulmonale, or; pulmonary hypertension secondary to other obstructive disease of pulmonary arteries or veins with evidence of right ventricular hypertrophy or cor pulmonale

Rating %: 60

Criteria (verbatim). Chronic pulmonary thromboembolism requiring anticoagulant therapy, or; following inferior vena cava surgery without evidence of pulmonary hypertension or right ventricular dysfunction

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Symptomatic, following resolution of acute pulmonary embolism

Rating %: 0

Criteria (verbatim). Asymptomatic, following resolution of pulmonary thromboembolism

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	Primary pulmonary hypertension, or; chronic pulmonary thromboembolism with evidence of pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, or cor pulmonale, or; pulmonary hypertension secondary to other obstructive disease of pulmonary arteries or veins with evidence of right ventricular hypertrophy or cor pulmonale
60	Chronic pulmonary thromboembolism requiring anticoagulant therapy, or; following inferior vena cava surgery without evidence of pulmonary hypertension or right ventricular dysfunction
30	Symptomatic, following resolution of acute pulmonary embolism
0	Asymptomatic, following resolution of pulmonary thromboembolism

Note: Evaluate other residuals following pulmonary embolism under the most appropriate diagnostic code, such as chronic bronchitis (DC 6600) or chronic pleural effusion or fibrosis (DC 6844), but do not combine that evaluation with any of the above evaluations.

The 30 percent line says “acute pulmonary embolism.” The 0 percent line says “pulmonary thromboembolism.” The 100 percent line uses “or;” twice. The 60 percent line uses “or;” once.

38 CFR § 4.96(a) says ratings under diagnostic codes 6600 through 6817 and 6822 through 6847 will not be combined with each other. DC 6817 is the last code in the first span. A single rating is 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. Paragraph (d) names diagnostic codes 6600, 6603, 6604, 6825-6833, and 6840-6845. DC 6817 is not in that paragraph. 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 DC 6817 note names “chronic pleural effusion or fibrosis (DC 6844).” In the same section, DC 6844 is “Post-surgical residual (lobectomy, pneumonectomy, etc.).” DC 6845 is “Chronic pleural effusion or fibrosis.” DC 6600 is chronic bronchitis, the other example in the note. DC 6844 is the number the note prints. This page does not rewrite the note.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6817, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

Three clauses on the 100 percent line

The line joins them with “or;”. Primary pulmonary hypertension is the first. Chronic pulmonary thromboembolism with evidence of pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, or cor pulmonale is the second. Pulmonary hypertension secondary to other obstructive disease of pulmonary arteries or veins, with evidence of right ventricular hypertrophy or cor pulmonale, is the third.

The note’s DC 6844 and the row titled 6845

The note’s example is the words “chronic pleural effusion or fibrosis” next to the number 6844. The row numbered 6845 uses those words. The row numbered 6844 uses “Post-surgical residual (lobectomy, pneumonectomy, etc.).”

Paragraph (d) is a different list

Section 4.96(d) is the pulmonary-function-test paragraph for the codes it names. 6817 is inside 6600 through 6817 for the combining rule in paragraph (a). It is not inside the paragraph (d) list.

Evidence that speaks to each level

The 100, 60, 30, and 0 lines

What the rater needs to see. Whether the record shows primary pulmonary hypertension, chronic pulmonary thromboembolism, inferior vena cava surgery, or symptoms after resolution of acute pulmonary embolism, using the words on each line.

Where that usually lives. The pulmonary and cardiac findings in the treatment record, including the studies the examiner relied on.

The note

What the rater needs to see. Any other residual after pulmonary embolism that the note says to evaluate under another diagnostic code, and the instruction not to combine that evaluation with a DC 6817 evaluation.

Where that usually lives. The same records, read against DC 6600 and the code the note numbers 6844.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
The 100, 60, 30, and 0 lines	Whether the record shows primary pulmonary hypertension, chronic pulmonary thromboembolism, inferior vena cava surgery, or symptoms after resolution of acute pulmonary embolism, using the words on each line.	The pulmonary and cardiac findings in the treatment record, including the studies the examiner relied on.
The note	Any other residual after pulmonary embolism that the note says to evaluate under another diagnostic code, and the instruction not to combine that evaluation with a DC 6817 evaluation.	The same records, read against DC 6600 and the code the note numbers 6844.

VA’s public DBQ list, checked October 5, 2026, names “Respiratory Conditions (other than tuberculosis and sleep apnea)” under Respiratory. The file is Respiratory Conditions (other than tuberculosis and sleep apnea).

The exam form

DC 6817 prints four percentage lines and a note. This page does not say the form replaces those lines.

Related codes and how they interact

The combining rule covers this code and the note’s examples.

Section 4.96(a) names 6600 through 6817 and 6822 through 6847. Chronic bronchitis and both 6844 and 6845 sit in those spans with DC 6817. The DC 6817 note adds its own “do not combine” sentence for other residuals following pulmonary embolism.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “pulmonary vascular.” It does not assign DC 6817.

Short answers

What is the VA rating for pulmonary vascular disease?

Diagnostic Code 6817 in 38 CFR § 4.97 prints 100, 60, 30, and 0. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Can DC 6817 be combined with chronic bronchitis?

Section 4.96(a) says ratings under diagnostic codes 6600 through 6817 will not be combined with each other. The DC 6817 note says not to combine an evaluation for other residuals following pulmonary embolism with any of the DC 6817 evaluations.

FAQ

What percentages does DC 6817 print?

Under 38 CFR § 4.97, pulmonary vascular disease is 100, 60, 30, or 0 percent. The 30 percent line is symptomatic following resolution of acute pulmonary embolism. The 0 percent line is asymptomatic following resolution of pulmonary thromboembolism. Education only.

Does the note rate chronic pleural effusion under DC 6844?

The note says to evaluate other residuals following pulmonary embolism under the most appropriate diagnostic code, “such as chronic bronchitis (DC 6600) or chronic pleural effusion or fibrosis (DC 6844).” The row numbered 6845 is “Chronic pleural effusion or fibrosis.” The row numbered 6844 is “Post-surgical residual (lobectomy, pneumonectomy, etc.).”

Is DC 6817 in the pulmonary-function-test paragraph?

Section 4.96(d) lists 6600, 6603, 6604, 6825-6833, and 6840-6845. It does not list 6817. Section 4.96(a) does include 6817 in “6600 through 6817” for the rule against combining those respiratory ratings with each other.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 6817, the line it used, and any other respiratory code in the same decision.
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 6817 • 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.