Deviated Septum — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
Start a claim for Deviated Septum— free & guided
Step-by-step builder: add this and any related conditions, see the research, and get a package ready for a free VSO. No account needed to start.
The DBQ for Deviated Septum
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960N-4 (Sinusitis, Rhinitis and Other Conditions of the Nose, Throat, Larynx and Pharynx) — the form that decides your rating. You can have your own doctor complete the same DBQ and submit it as evidence.
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about Deviated Septum — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Deviated Septum, based on your overall combined VA disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly (Alone) | Monthly (w/ Spouse) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | — | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | — | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
Common Symptoms
Document these symptoms in your claim. The more thoroughly you describe how they affect your daily life, the stronger your claim.
Functional Limitations
VA rates disabilities based on how they limit your ability to function. Describe these limitations in your personal statement.
Rating Criteria for Deviated Septum
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.97, DC 6502 (deviation of nasal septum, traumatic only). Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Traumatic deviation of the nasal septum without 50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides and without complete obstruction on one side (noncompensable).
Traumatic deviation with 50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides, or complete obstruction on one side.
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Deviated Septum raise your rating?
Enter your current combined rating and the level this condition would rate at. We'll do the VA math.
New combined
10%
New monthly
$180
Change
+$180
Rates shown are the 2026 veteran-alone amounts (no dependents). VA combines ratings with "whole-person" math and rounds to the nearest 10, so adding a condition does not simply add its percentage. Full combined-rating calculator with dependents →
Peer-Reviewed Medical Evidence
Real, verified studies from PubMed/NIH that support a Deviated Septum claim. Bring these citations to your accredited VSO or C&P exam — they help show your condition is recognized in the medical literature and, where noted, linked to other service-connected conditions.
- Efficacy of Septoplasty in Patients with Nasal Obstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysisDirect
Laryngoscope, 2023 · PMID 37017244
Finding: Meta-analysis of 2,577 patients (65% male, mean age 33) undergoing septoplasty with or without turbinate surgery for nasal septal deviation. The pooled NOSE obstruction score improved from a baseline of 68.1 to a mean difference of -48.8 (95% CI -54.6 to -42.9) at 6 months post-op.
Why it helps: Supports that nasal septal deviation is a recognized structural cause of clinically significant nasal obstruction and that septoplasty produces large, measurable symptom improvement, reinforcing the condition as a genuine functional disability rather than a cosmetic finding.
American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy, 2016 · nexus to asthma · PMID 26980380
Finding: Nationwide Korean health survey of 8,865 adults found nasal septal deviation in 44.8% of the population; obstructive NSD (anatomic deviation plus chronic obstruction symptom) was significantly associated with asthma (odds ratio 2.648, 95% CI 1.211-5.791).
Why it helps: Supports an association between symptomatic deviated septum and asthma in a large population sample, and documents how common septal deviation is overall, which can be relevant when arguing a respiratory condition is aggravated by or linked to the structural nasal obstruction.
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 2016 · nexus to obstructive sleep apnea · PMID 27066415
Finding: In 69 patients evaluated with polysomnography, deviated nasal septum was significantly more frequent in those with obstructive sleep apnea (AHI > 5) than in simple snorers (p = 0.0004), along with inferior turbinate hypertrophy (p = 0.03).
Why it helps: Supports an association between deviated nasal septum and obstructive sleep apnea, helpful when relating a structural nasal condition to sleep-disordered breathing claims.
Laryngoscope, 2017 · nexus to obstructive sleep apnea, CPAP intolerance · PMID 27653626
Finding: A Harvard decision-tree model found nasal surgery (septoplasty and/or turbinate reduction) to be a cost-effective strategy for improving CPAP adherence in OSA patients with nasal obstruction across a range of plausible assumptions, concluding such patients should be evaluated for nasal surgery.
Why it helps: Supports the clinical link between deviated-septum nasal obstruction and difficulty tolerating CPAP for sleep apnea, useful when describing how a deviated septum interacts with a service-connected OSA condition and its treatment.
Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2025 · nexus to chronic rhinosinusitis · PMID 39506931
Finding: Systematic review and meta-analysis of 28 studies (over 237 million participants) found global chronic rhinosinusitis prevalence of 8.71%, and reported that CRS prevalence was greater among individuals with nasal septal deviation (alongside asthma, diabetes, and eczema as associated comorbidities).
Why it helps: Supports an association between nasal septal deviation and chronic rhinosinusitis in a large pooled population, relevant when claiming sinus disease secondary to a deviated septum.
Journal of Stomatology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2025 · PMID 40250709
Finding: Surgical technical note from a French military hospital (Sainte Anne Military Hospital) describing correction of post-traumatic deviated noses with septal involvement, noting these deformities arise from trauma and require septal targeting for straightening and airway correction.
Why it helps: Supports that deviated septum/nose commonly results from facial trauma and is managed in military medical settings, relevant to a direct service-connection theory based on an in-service nasal or facial injury.
Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 2008 · PMID 19098567
Finding: Case series from a military hospital of 9 male patients (mean age 21) with crooked noses; the authors note that a major septal deformity almost always accompanies the crooked nose, impairing breathing and appearance, and all patients had both functional and cosmetic problems with airway patency improved after corrective surgery.
Why it helps: Supports that septal deviation frequently coexists with traumatic external nasal deformity and causes functional breathing impairment in a young, military-age population, relevant to a direct service-connection theory.
Every citation is real and verified against PubMed. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — your accredited VSO or representative can advise on your specific claim.
Evidence Checklist
Gather these types of evidence before filing your claim. The strongest claims include multiple evidence types.
Common Treatments
Documenting ongoing treatment strengthens your claim and supports higher ratings.
Secondary Conditions Linked to Deviated Septum
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Deviated Septum. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
Share this rating breakdown
A free, source-cited infographic of how the VA rates Deviated Septum. Save it and post it, or send it to someone who needs it. No fee, no catch.
Square format, ready for an Instagram or Facebook post.
Open / save the image →Sharing the page link also shows a wide preview card automatically.
Filing a Deviated Septumclaim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Deviated Septum should also be looking at:
Quick calculator
Estimate your combined rating →
The VA doesn't add ratings — they use a specific formula. See your combined rating in 30 seconds.
Health care
Estimate your VA Priority Group →
Priority Group 1-8 determines what care you get and what it costs. Service-connected = lower copays, full access.
Where you live
Compare 50 state veteran benefits →
State property tax exemptions for SC vets vary 10x. Some states fully exempt 100%-rated vets, others give nothing.
Home buying
VA home loan + funding fee waiver →
ANY service-connected rating waives the funding fee. On a $400K loan that's ~$8,600 saved.
Draft your Deviated Septum personal statement
7-step wizard that builds your VA claim personal statement using your own words. Detects presumptive eligibility, cites 38 CFR + DBQ, includes federal-crime disclosure. You review and edit before filing.
Start draftingNot legal or medical advice. Always have a VSO or accredited rep review before filing.
Start Your Deviated Septum VA Claim
Use our free Claims Builder to organize your Deviated Septum evidence, track your claim status, and prepare for your C&P exam. No coaching fees — just tools.
Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to Deviated Septum.
Deviated Septum Claim Guide by State
Find state-specific VA facilities, veteran benefits, and filing resources.
More free tools
Educational content, not professional advice
This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.
MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.