C&P Exam for Diaphragm paralysis or paresis (DC 6840)

Diagnostic code: 6840Condition: Diaphragm paralysis or paresisRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.97DBQ: DBQ RESP Respiratory Conditions (other than tuberculosis and sleep apnea)

Which form the examiner uses

For diaphragm paralysis or paresis (DC 6840), the C&P examiner completes the following Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ):

DBQs are Department of Veterans Affairs Form 21-0960 series documents. Public DBQs are hosted on benefits.va.gov. A handful are examiner-only and are not posted publicly.

What the examiner records

The fields below are reproduced from the DBQ form the examiner completes for this diagnostic code. This is the structural map of the form, showing what the examiner is asked to measure, observe, and record. It is a factual reproduction of the public DBQ, not advice on how to answer.

This DBQ evaluates respiratory conditions (excluding tuberculosis and sleep apnea), including asthma, COPD, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, asbestosis, and diaphragm conditions, organized as Section III subsections per condition.

How DC 6840 maps to this DBQ: for this diagnostic code specifically, the examiner typically completes sections I-VI of this form. Section III is the condition-specific section for this code.

DIAGNOSIS (Section I)
  • 1A. List the claimed condition(s) that pertain to this questionnaire:
  • 1B. Select diagnoses associated with the claimed condition(s) (check all that apply): Asthma — ICD code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1B. Emphysema — ICD code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1B. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — ICD code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1B. Chronic bronchitis — ICD code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1B. Constrictive bronchiolitis — ICD code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1B. Interstitial lung disease (if checked, specify) — ICD code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1B. Restrictive lung disease (If checked, specify) — ICD code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1B. Mycotic lung disease (If checked, specify) — ICD code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1B. Sarcoidosis — ICD code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1B. Benign or malignant neoplasm or metastases of respiratory system (If checked, specify) — ICD code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1B. Pulmonary vascular disease (Including pulmonary thromboembolism)(If checked, specify) — ICD code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1B. Pleurisy with empyema, with or without pleurocutaneous fistula — Unresolved / Resolved — ICD code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1B. Other diagnosis #1 / #2 / #3 — ICD code / Date of diagnosis
  • 1C. If there are additional diagnoses that pertain to respiratory conditions, list using above format:
MEDICAL HISTORY (Section II)
  • 2A. Describe the history, including onset and course, of the Veteran's respiratory condition(s). Brief summary:
  • 2B. Does the Veteran's respiratory condition require the use of oral or parenteral corticosteroid medications?
  • Requires chronic low dose (maintenance) corticosteroids
  • Requires intermittent courses or bursts of systemic (oral or parenteral) corticosteriods — number of courses or bursts in past 12 months: 0 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 or more
  • Requires systemic (oral or parenteral) high dose (therapeutic) corticosteroids for control
  • Requires daily use of systemic (oral or parenteral) high dose corticosteroids
  • Requires daily use of systemic (oral or parenteral) immuno-suppressive medications
  • 2C. Does the Veteran's respiratory condition require the use of inhaled medications?
  • Inhalational bronchodilator therapy — frequency: Intermittent / Daily
  • Inhalational anti-inflammatory medication — frequency: Intermittent / Daily
  • Other inhaled medications, describe:
  • 2D. Does the Veteran's respiratory condition require the use of oral bronchodilators? — frequency: Intermittent / Daily
  • 2E. Does the Veteran's respiratory condition require the use of antibiotics? — list antibiotics, dose, frequency and condition
  • 2F. Does the Veteran require outpatient oxygen therapy for his or her respiratory condition?
  • does the Veteran require continuous oxygen therapy (>17 hours/day)?
PULMONARY CONDITIONS (Section III)
    DIAGNOSTIC TESTING (Section IV)
    • 4A. Have imaging studies or procedures been performed? — Chest x-ray (Date / Results) / MRI (Date / Results) / CT (Date / Results) / HRCT (Date / Results) / Bronchoscopy (Date / Results) / Biopsy (Date / Results) / Other (Date / Results)
    • 4B. Has pulmonary function testing (PFT) been performed?
    • Do PFT results reported below reflect the Veteran's current pulmonary function?
    • Reason PFTs not required: Veteran requires outpatient oxygen therapy / 1 or more episodes of acute respiratory failure / Cor pulmonale/right ventricular hypertrophy/pulmonary hypertension / Exercise capacity testing ≤20 ml/kg/min
    • 4C. Date of test:
    • Pre-bronchodilator FVC: % predicted
    • Pre-bronchodilator FEV1: % predicted
    • Pre-bronchodilator FEV-1/FVC: %
    • Post-bronchodilator FVC: % predicted
    • Post-bronchodilator FEV1: % predicted
    • Post-bronchodilator FEV-1/FVC: %
    • DLCO: % predicted
    • 4D. Which test result most accurately reflects the Veteran's level of disability: FVC % predicted / FEV-1 % predicted / FEV-1/FVC / DLCO
    • 4E. If post-bronchodilator testing has not been completed, indicate reason:
    • 4F. If DLCO testing has not been completed, provide reason:
    • 4G. Does the Veteran have multiple respiratory conditions? — list conditions and predominantly responsible condition:
    • 4H. Has exercise capacity testing been performed? — Maximum exercise capacity <15 ml/kg/min / 15-20 ml/kg/min / >20 ml/kg/min / Unknown results
    • 4I. Are there any other significant diagnostic test findings and/or results? — describe (brief summary):
    FUNCTIONAL IMPACT (Section V)
    • 5A. Regardless of the Veteran's current employment status, do the conditions listed in the diagnosis section impact his/her ability to perform any type of occupational task (such as standing, walking, lifting, sitting, etc.)?
    • If yes, describe the functional impact of each condition, providing one or more examples:
    REMARKS (Section VI)
    • 6A. Remarks (if any - please identify the section to which the remark pertains when appropriate).

    Rating Levels for DC 6840

    The following tiers are reproduced from 38 CFR Part 4, the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Toggle between the official VA criteria and a Plain English explanation.

    Plain-English summaries are AI-generated to explain the official criteria. The official 38 CFR language is the binding legal standard. When in doubt, ask a VSO.

    What the Board discussed in granted decisions for DC 6840

    The themes below were extracted by clustering 84 grant-factor sentences from published Board of Veterans Appeals decisions for this diagnostic code. Frequencies indicate how often each theme appeared in the sample. This is a factual aggregate of the public record, not advice or strategy for any specific claim.

    1. 36% Benefit of the doubt rule stated or applied
      The Board cited the statutory or regulatory benefit-of-the-doubt standard, noting that approximate balance of positive and negative evidence requires resolution in the claimant's favor.
      30 of 84 sample sentences
    2. 21% Preponderance against claim, benefit of doubt inapplicable
      The Board found that the weight of evidence persuasively stood against the claim, making the benefit-of-the-doubt doctrine inapplicable and resulting in denial.
      18 of 84 sample sentences
    3. 17% Evidence in equipoise, Veteran prevails
      The Board found the evidence at least in relative equipoise on a specific issue and resolved the doubt in the Veteran's favor to grant the benefit claimed.
      14 of 84 sample sentences
    4. 8% VA examiner nexus opinion at least as likely as not
      A VA examiner opined that it was at least as likely as not that the Veteran's disability was incurred in or related to service, providing a positive nexus finding.
      7 of 84 sample sentences
    5. 6% TDIU supported by equipoise or preponderance of evidence
      The Board found the evidence in equipoise or favoring the Veteran regarding whether service-connected disabilities precluded substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU grant.
      5 of 84 sample sentences
    6. 5% Service connection granted with benefit of doubt applied
      The Board granted service connection for a specific disability after affording the Veteran the benefit of the doubt based on the overall balance of evidence.
      4 of 84 sample sentences
    7. 4% Examiner instructed to opine on service connection nexus
      The Board or remand order directed a VA examiner to provide an opinion on whether a pulmonary or diaphragm-related disability was at least as likely as not related to service.
      3 of 84 sample sentences
    8. 4% Higher rating warranted after benefit of doubt applied
      The Board applied the benefit of the doubt and found that a specific higher disability rating was supported by the Veteran's reported symptomatology and functional impairment.
      3 of 84 sample sentences
    View the full DC 6840 pageSearch BVA decisions for this codeAbout DBQ forms

    Disclaimer: This page reproduces public Department of Veterans Affairs forms (DBQs) and verbatim text from 38 CFR Part 4 (the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities). It is informational only and is not legal or medical advice. For guidance on a specific claim, contact a VA-accredited representative.