38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.97

Coccidioidomycosis — VA Diagnostic Code 6835

Respiratory

Diagnostic code

6835

Start free worksheet Get the Founding Pass — $9.99/month

38 CFR § 4.97 lists Diagnostic Code 6835 as “Coccidioidomycosis.” The General Rating Formula for Mycotic Lung Disease applies to diagnostic codes 6834 through 6839. Its lines are 100, 50, 30, and 0. A note printed after that formula discusses the incubation period of coccidioidomycosis. Section 3.309(a) lists “Coccidioidomycosis.” Section 3.307(a)(3) uses one year for that listing.

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 rating criteria at each level

General Rating Formula for Mycotic Lung Disease — diagnostic codes 6834 through 6839, including DC 6835

Rating %: 100

Criteria (verbatim). Chronic pulmonary mycosis with persistent fever, weight loss, night sweats, or massive hemoptysis

Rating %: 50

Criteria (verbatim). Chronic pulmonary mycosis requiring suppressive therapy with no more than minimal symptoms such as occasional minor hemoptysis or productive cough

Rating %: 30

Criteria (verbatim). Chronic pulmonary mycosis with minimal symptoms such as occasional minor hemoptysis or productive cough

Rating %: 0

Criteria (verbatim). Healed and inactive mycotic lesions, asymptomatic

Rating %	Criteria (verbatim)
100	Chronic pulmonary mycosis with persistent fever, weight loss, night sweats, or massive hemoptysis
50	Chronic pulmonary mycosis requiring suppressive therapy with no more than minimal symptoms such as occasional minor hemoptysis or productive cough
30	Chronic pulmonary mycosis with minimal symptoms such as occasional minor hemoptysis or productive cough
0	Healed and inactive mycotic lesions, asymptomatic

Note: Coccidioidomycosis has an incubation period up to 21 days, and the disseminated phase is ordinarily manifest within six months of the primary phase. However, there are instances of dissemination delayed up to many years after the initial infection which may have been unrecognized. Accordingly, when service connection is under consideration in the absence of record or other evidence of the disease in service, service in southwestern United States where the disease is endemic and absence of prolonged residence in this locality before or after service will be the deciding factor.

The 0 percent line is printed in the formula: “Healed and inactive mycotic lesions, asymptomatic.” The 50 percent line is 50, not 60. 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(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. In cases protected by Pub. L. 90-493, the graduated ratings of 50 and 30 percent for inactive tuberculosis will not be elevated. DC 6835 is inside 6822 through 6847. Paragraph (d) of § 4.96 names diagnostic codes 6600, 6603, 6604, 6825-6833, and 6840-6845 for its pulmonary-function rules. It does not name 6834 through 6839.

The titles that share the formula are DC 6834 histoplasmosis of lung, DC 6835 coccidioidomycosis, DC 6836 blastomycosis, DC 6837 cryptococcosis, DC 6838 aspergillosis, and DC 6839 mucormycosis. The note after the formula names coccidioidomycosis.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6835, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

The formula is shared. The note names coccidioidomycosis.

The formula header says diagnostic codes 6834 through 6839. The note’s first word is “Coccidioidomycosis.” It says the incubation period is up to 21 days, and the disseminated phase is ordinarily manifest within six months of the primary phase. It also says there are instances of dissemination delayed up to many years after the initial infection which may have been unrecognized.

The note’s service sentence is not § 3.307(a)(3)

The note says that when service connection is under consideration in the absence of record or other evidence of the disease in service, service in southwestern United States where the disease is endemic and absence of prolonged residence in this locality before or after service will be the deciding factor. Section 3.309(a) and § 3.307(a)(3) are a different sentence. Paragraph (a)(3) uses one year for coccidioidomycosis. It does not give coccidioidomycosis the 3-year or 7-year periods.

50 percent is the suppressive-therapy line

That line is chronic pulmonary mycosis requiring suppressive therapy with no more than minimal symptoms such as occasional minor hemoptysis or productive cough. The 30 percent line is chronic pulmonary mycosis with those minimal symptoms and does not contain the words “requiring suppressive therapy.”

Evidence that speaks to each level

100 — fever, weight loss, night sweats, or massive hemoptysis

What the rater needs to see. Chronic pulmonary mycosis with persistent fever, weight loss, night sweats, or massive hemoptysis. The line uses “or.”

Where that usually lives. The pulmonary records describing those findings.

50 — suppressive therapy

What the rater needs to see. Chronic pulmonary mycosis requiring suppressive therapy, with no more than minimal symptoms such as occasional minor hemoptysis or productive cough.

Where that usually lives. The treatment record that shows suppressive therapy, and the symptom description.

30 or 0

What the rater needs to see. Minimal symptoms such as occasional minor hemoptysis or productive cough, without the suppressive-therapy words, at 30. Healed and inactive mycotic lesions, asymptomatic, at 0.

Where that usually lives. The imaging or clinical note that uses those findings.

Level	What the rater needs to see	Where that usually lives
100 — fever, weight loss, night sweats, or massive hemoptysis	Chronic pulmonary mycosis with persistent fever, weight loss, night sweats, or massive hemoptysis. The line uses “or.”	The pulmonary records describing those findings.
50 — suppressive therapy	Chronic pulmonary mycosis requiring suppressive therapy, with no more than minimal symptoms such as occasional minor hemoptysis or productive cough.	The treatment record that shows suppressive therapy, and the symptom description.
30 or 0	Minimal symptoms such as occasional minor hemoptysis or productive cough, without the suppressive-therapy words, at 30. Healed and inactive mycotic lesions, asymptomatic, at 0.	The imaging or clinical note that uses those findings.

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 6835 uses the General Rating Formula for Mycotic Lung Disease and the coccidioidomycosis note. This page does not say the form replaces that formula.

Related codes and how they interact

The same formula covers histoplasmosis of lung

DC 6834 is histoplasmosis of lung. The formula header includes it with DC 6835. The note after the formula discusses coccidioidomycosis’s incubation period and dissemination. Section 4.96(a) says ratings in the named ranges, which include both codes, will not be combined with each other.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

38 CFR § 3.309(a) lists “Coccidioidomycosis.” 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). Paragraph (a)(1) requires 90 days or more during a war period or after December 31, 1946. 38 CFR § 3.309(a) says the listed diseases shall be granted service connection although not otherwise established as incurred in or aggravated by service if manifested to a compensable degree within those time limits, provided the rebuttable presumption provisions of § 3.307 are also satisfied. Paragraph (a) of § 3.307 also says no condition other than one listed in § 3.309(a) will be considered chronic. The longer periods do not name coccidioidomycosis.

The § 4.97 note is an additional sentence about service connection when there is no record or other evidence of the disease in service. It names southwestern United States where the disease is endemic, and absence of prolonged residence in this locality before or after service. It does not list states. It is not a sentence in § 3.309(e), § 3.320, or § 3.320b.

38 CFR § 3.308(a) says there is no provision for presumptive service connection for chronic disease, as distinguished from tropical diseases, based on peacetime service before January 1, 1947.

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309(e) does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.309(f) does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.309(d) does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.320 does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.320a does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.320b does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.316 does not name it. 38 CFR § 3.317 does not name it. Section 3.309(b) does not name coccidioidomycosis. Section 3.309(c) does not name it.

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 DC 6835?

Under 38 CFR § 4.97, coccidioidomycosis is rated under the General Rating Formula for Mycotic Lung Disease at 100, 50, 30, or 0 percent. The 0 percent line is healed and inactive mycotic lesions, asymptomatic. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Is coccidioidomycosis on the chronic-disease list?

Section 3.309(a) lists “Coccidioidomycosis.” Section 3.307(a)(3) uses one year for that listing. The § 4.97 note is a separate sentence about incubation, delayed dissemination, and service in southwestern United States where the disease is endemic.

FAQ

How does VA rate coccidioidomycosis under DC 6835?

DC 6835 uses the General Rating Formula for Mycotic Lung Disease, diagnostic codes 6834 through 6839. The lines are 100, 50, 30, and 0 percent. The 50 percent line is the one that requires suppressive therapy. Education only.

What does the coccidioidomycosis note say about timing?

The note says the incubation period is up to 21 days, and the disseminated phase is ordinarily manifest within six months of the primary phase. It also says dissemination can be delayed up to many years after an unrecognized initial infection. When there is no record or other evidence of the disease in service, the note says service in southwestern United States where the disease is endemic, and absence of prolonged residence in this locality before or after service, will be the deciding factor.

Is that note the same as the one-year chronic-disease rule?

No. Section 3.309(a) lists coccidioidomycosis on the time limit in § 3.307(a)(3), which is one year for this disease. The incubation note is printed in § 4.97 after the mycotic-lung formula.

Do the pulmonary-function rules in § 4.96(d) apply to DC 6835?

Paragraph (d) names diagnostic codes 6600, 6603, 6604, 6825-6833, and 6840-6845. It does not name 6834 through 6839. Paragraph (a) does cover DC 6835, because that paragraph includes diagnostic codes 6822 through 6847 and says those ratings will not be combined with each other.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 6835, which formula line was used, and whether § 4.96(a) assigned a single predominant rating.
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 6835 • 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.