Diagnostic Code 6843 · 38 CFR §4.97
Traumatic chest wall defects include structural damage to the rib cage, sternum, or chest wall muscles from combat injuries, accidents, or blast exposure. These defects can include rib fracture deformities, flail chest, sternum fractures, and loss of chest wall tissue. Such injuries impair the chest wall mechanics needed for normal breathing and can cause chronic pain, respiratory restriction, and visible deformity. Veterans commonly sustain these injuries from explosions, vehicular accidents, falls, and penetrating wounds during service.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | |
| 60% | |
| 30% | |
| 10% | |
| 0% |
Chest X-rays or CT showing rib deformities, metal fixation hardware, or structural defects, PFT results documenting respiratory restriction, Service records of the causative injury, Surgical records for any chest wall reconstruction, Pain management records, Photos of any visible chest wall deformity