38 CFR Part 4 — 38 CFR § 4.97

Aspergillosis — VA Diagnostic Code 6838

Respiratory

Diagnostic code

6838

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38 CFR § 4.97 lists Diagnostic Code 6838 as “Aspergillosis.” The title ends with a period. The rating cell on the title is empty. 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 coccidioidomycosis. It does not say aspergillosis. Appendix B to Part 4 indexes “Aspergillosis.” with a period.

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

General Rating Formula for Mycotic Lung Disease — diagnostic codes 6834 through 6839, including DC 6838

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

The formula header says diagnostic codes 6834 through 6839. DC 6838 is inside that span. The title “Aspergillosis.” does not print its own percentage.

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.

That note’s first word is “Coccidioidomycosis.” It is printed after the shared formula. It is not a DC 6838 sentence.

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 6838 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. DC 6600 is chronic bronchitis. It is not in the mycotic caption.

Source: 38 CFR § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6838, eCFR full-text XML for 2026-10-01.

What the words mean in your records

The formula is shared. The note names coccidioidomycosis.

DC 6838 uses the 100, 50, 30, and 0 lines. The incubation note printed under those lines names coccidioidomycosis and southwestern United States. It does not name aspergillosis.

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.”

The 100 percent line uses “or”

Chronic pulmonary mycosis with persistent fever, weight loss, night sweats, or massive hemoptysis. The line does not say all four findings are required.

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.

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 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 linked from that list is Respiratory Conditions.

The exam form

DC 6838 uses the mycotic formula. This page does not say the form replaces that formula. Section 4.96(d) pulmonary-function rules name other codes. They do not name 6834 through 6839.

Related codes and how they interact

Six titles, one formula.

Histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis, cryptococcosis, aspergillosis, and mucormycosis are listed separately. The percentages are the formula, not a second scale printed only under DC 6838.

Secondary conditions and presumptions

The 2026-10-01 text of 38 CFR § 3.309 does not contain “aspergill.” It lists “Coccidioidomycosis.” That listing does not print diagnostic code 6838. This page does not assign DC 6838 to that name.

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 aspergillosis?

Under 38 CFR § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6838 uses the General Rating Formula for Mycotic Lung Disease. The formula prints 100, 50, 30, and 0. Education only. VA decides on the evidence.

Is aspergillosis rated on the restrictive-lung formula?

The restrictive-lung caption says diagnostic codes 6840 through 6845. The mycotic caption says diagnostic codes 6834 through 6839. DC 6838 is in the mycotic span.

FAQ

What percentages apply to DC 6838?

The General Rating Formula for Mycotic Lung Disease prints 100, 50, 30, and 0. DC 6838 is one of diagnostic codes 6834 through 6839. Education only.

Does the coccidioidomycosis note apply the words “aspergillosis”?

No. The note’s first word is “Coccidioidomycosis.” It discusses an incubation period of up to 21 days and service in southwestern United States. DC 6838’s title is “Aspergillosis.”

Does the chronic-disease list name this code?

Section 3.309 lists “Coccidioidomycosis.” The 2026-10-01 text does not contain “aspergill,” and that coccidioidomycosis listing does not print DC 6838.

Next steps

Read the decision for DC 6838 and which mycotic-formula line was 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 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 6838 • 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.