Allergic diseases — hay fever, hives, allergic dermatitis, and anaphylaxis — are ratable conditions under the VA disability system. Many veterans develop or experience worsening allergic conditions during military service due to environmental exposures, occupational dust, or mold in military housing. The VA recognizes both allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and allergic skin conditions as separately ratable disabilities.
Unlike some conditions with presumptive service connection pathways (e.g., diabetes as Agent Orange presumptive), allergies are not presumptive for any veteran population. This means allergies must be claimed as either direct service connection (proving the allergy was caused or aggravated by military service) or as secondary to another service-connected condition (e.g., allergic rhinitis secondary to service-connected asthma).
The rating for allergies is typically modest — usually 0% to 30% — because allergies alone rarely cause severe functional disability. However, if you have severe anaphylaxis risk, widespread allergic dermatitis, or allergies in combination with other conditions, your total disability rating can increase substantially. This guide covers the regulatory framework, service connection pathways, evidence requirements, and 2026 compensation rates.
Allergic rhinitis is covered under 38 CFR 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6510. Allergic rhinitis includes:
DC 6510 is rated at a single level: 10% if requiring daily medication (antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, or decongestants). There is no 20% rating for DC 6510 alone — allergic rhinitis maxes out at 10% unless associated with allergic sinusitis or secondary conditions.
To qualify for the 10% rating, your allergy must require continuous treatment with prescription or over-the-counter medications to control symptoms. This means:
If your allergy is seasonal and you only take medications during allergy season, this is still "requiring daily medication" (for those months) and supports a 10% rating. VA considers the medication requirement during peak allergy season, not necessarily 365 days per year.
Allergic skin diseases are separately ratable under 38 CFR 4.88, Diagnostic Codes 7806–7816. These include:
| Code | Condition | Rating Range |
|---|---|---|
| 7806 | Contact dermatitis (allergic reaction to touching allergen) | 0-30% |
| 7808 | Atopic dermatitis (eczema) | 0-60% |
| 7809 | Exfoliative dermatitis (widespread scaling, peeling skin) | 0-60% |
| 7810 | Lichen planus (inflammatory skin condition) | 0-30% |
| 7816 | Urticaria (hives) | 0-30% |
Allergic skin conditions are rated based on the extent of body surface area affected and the severity of pruritus (itching), erythema (redness), and functional impairment:
Allergic conditions are not presumptive under any VA regulation. This means allergies must be claimed through one of two pathways:
You must prove one of the following:
Many direct service connection claims for allergies fail because veterans cannot clearly connect the allergy to a specific in-service event. For example, if you developed hay fever years after discharge with no documented exposure link, VA may deny the claim. A strong nexus letter from an allergist is critical for these cases.
If you have a service-connected condition, allergic rhinitis or dermatitis may be claimed as secondary. For example:
Many veterans have multiple allergic conditions that stack together to increase the overall disability rating:
A veteran may have both allergic rhinitis (10% under DC 6510) and allergic dermatitis (10-30% under DC 7806-7816). These are rated separately and combined using the VA's combined rating table. For example, 10% + 10% = 19% combined; 10% + 20% = 28% combined.
Allergic rhinitis is frequently associated with asthma. If you have service-connected asthma (rated at 30-60%) and secondary allergic rhinitis, the allergy adds to your combined rating. A veteran with 30% asthma + 10% allergic rhinitis reaches 39% combined, which rounds to 40% in the VA combined rating table — a substantial increase.
Severe anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reaction) is not separately ratable but is evidence of severe allergic disease. Veterans with anaphylaxis risk are rated at the higher end of the scale for their underlying allergy (10-30% depending on severity and allergen avoidability).
To build a strong allergy claim, compile the following evidence:
The strongest evidence is objective allergy testing confirming specific allergen sensitivities:
Gather all evidence of continuous allergy treatment:
If you undergo allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots or sublingual tablets), this is strong evidence of persistent allergic disease:
Ensure your allergy is formally diagnosed in medical records:
REE Medical specializes in medical nexus letters for allergic conditions, occupational allergies, and service connection arguments. Free consultation.
Get a Free Medical Consultation →Anaphylaxis (severe, life-threatening allergic reaction) is not directly ratable as a separate condition, but it is important evidence of severe allergic disease.
Veterans with documented anaphylaxis risk receive ratings at the higher end of the scale:
If you have anaphylaxis risk, ensure your VA medical records include:
The following table summarizes VA rating criteria for allergic rhinitis and dermatitis:
| Condition | Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Allergic Rhinitis (DC 6510) | 0% | Diagnosis confirmed but no functional impairment; no daily medication required |
| Allergic Rhinitis (DC 6510) | 10% | Daily medication required (antihistamines, nasal steroids); symptoms controlled with treatment |
| Allergic Dermatitis (DC 7806-7816) | 0% | Diagnosis confirmed but lesions minimal; controlled with minimal topical treatment |
| Allergic Dermatitis (DC 7806-7816) | 10% | Localized lesions; intermittent treatment; occasional functional impact |
| Allergic Dermatitis (DC 7806-7816) | 20% | Chronic, persistent condition; moderate body surface area affected; requires continuous treatment |
| Allergic Dermatitis (DC 7806-7816) | 30% | Extensive involvement; requires systemic treatment (oral steroids, biologics); significant functional impairment |
| Allergic Dermatitis (DC 7806-7816) | 60% | Severe, widespread involvement; continuous systemic therapy; severe disability affecting all daily activities |
The following monthly compensation rates apply for 2026 based on your overall combined rating. All VA disability compensation is completely federal income tax-free.
| Combined Rating | Veteran Only | Veteran + Spouse | Veteran + Spouse + 1 Child |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $175.51 | $175.51 | $175.51 |
| 20% | $346.95 | $346.95 | $346.95 |
| 30% | $537.42 | $601.58 | $650.40 |
| 40% | $774.16 | $854.61 | $917.93 |
| 50% | $1,102.04 | $1,196.48 | $1,274.27 |
| 60% | $1,395.93 | $1,506.27 | $1,598.84 |
Note: If allergies are your only service-connected condition at 10%, you receive $175.51/month. If allergies are combined with other conditions (asthma, dermatitis, etc.) reaching 30%, dependents add substantial amounts to monthly compensation.
Unless claiming allergies secondary to an established service-connected condition, you will likely need a nexus letter from an allergist or primary care physician. The nexus letter should state:
"It is at least as likely as not that the veteran's [allergic condition] was caused by or aggravated by [specific military service exposure or in-service event]."
Your physician can reference specific bases where you served, types of duty (occupational exposure), or documented environmental hazards. The stronger the nexus letter, the stronger your claim.
If your allergy claim was denied because of lack of service connection, file a Supplemental Claim with a strong nexus letter from your treating allergist. Reference the nexus letter in your appeal and explain the connection between your military service and the allergy development.
If you received a 0% (noncompensable) rating for allergic rhinitis despite daily medication use, file a Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996) citing your prescription records and requesting a 10% rating under DC 6510. If you received less than 30% for allergic dermatitis with significant body surface area involvement, similarly appeal for a higher rating with documentation of severity.
If you have both allergic rhinitis and allergic dermatitis, ensure both are claimed. Each is separately ratable and combined into your total rating, increasing overall compensation.
Allergic rhinitis secondary to service-connected asthma is still rated at maximum 10% under DC 6510. However, the 10% combines with your asthma rating using the VA combined rating table, potentially increasing your overall disability percentage substantially.
No. Anaphylaxis is not separately ratable. However, anaphylaxis risk is evidence of severe allergic disease and supports a higher rating for the underlying allergy (10-30% for rhinitis, 30-60% for dermatitis). Document all anaphylaxis episodes in your claim.
Medication side effects may be separately ratable if severe (e.g., severe drowsiness from antihistamines). However, the primary route is demonstrating the underlying allergy's severity. If antihistamines cause intolerable drowsiness, document this and ask your physician about alternative treatments (nasal steroids, non-sedating antihistamines, immunotherapy).
Food allergies (e.g., peanut allergy, shellfish allergy) are rated the same way as environmental allergies under DC 6510 (if primarily rhinitis symptoms) or DC 7806-7816 (if primarily skin reactions like hives or eczema). Anaphylaxis risk from food allergy elevates rating. Claim them separately if both present.
For direct service connection, you need evidence linking the allergy to a service event (deployment records, occupational exposure documentation, base environmental history). A nexus letter from your physician is often the critical piece that bridges the gap between service and allergy development.
Take our free 2-minute screener to see if your allergic conditions qualify for VA disability compensation.
Take the Free Eligibility Check →