VA Disability Condition Ratings
As a veteran, you may be entitled to disability compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for service-connected conditions that impact your health and daily life. The amount of compensation you receive depends on your VA disability rating, which reflects the severity of your condition(s).
As veterans law attorneys, we help veterans understand and navigate the VA disability claims process. In this guide, we’ll explain VA disability ratings, how they are determined, what they mean, and how they affect your benefits.
What are VA Disability Ratings?
VA disability ratings are a way for the VA to assess the severity of your service-connected disability and assign a percentage rating based on that assessment.
The higher your rating, the more compensation you’ll receive.
A few key factors determine VA disability ratings:
- Severity of your disability.
- How your impairments impact your ability to work and function in daily life.
- Specific diagnostic criteria for your condition.
It’s important to note that your condition must be service-connected to receive a VA disability rating.
This rule means your military service must have caused or aggravated your disability.
Initiating the VA Disability Rating Process
If you’re ready to file a VA disability claim, here’s what you should do:
- Gather medical evidence: You must present medical records, treatment notes, and other evidence supporting your claim.
- File your claim: You can file your claim online, by mail, or in person at your local VA office. You can also work with a local Veteran Service Organization (VSO) to file your initial claim.
- Attend a VA exam: In most cases, the VA will schedule you for a medical exam to assess your condition and determine your rating.
Once the VA has all the necessary information, they’ll decide on your claim and assign a disability rating percentage.
VA Disability Rating Percentages
The VA assigns disability ratings in 10% increments, ranging from 0% to 100%.
The higher your rating, the more compensation you’ll receive. VA relies on the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) to assign percentages. While the VASRD is supposed to estimate the average impairment in earning potential for each condition, it is far from perfect. It is important to understand what criteria the VASRD relies on for assigning a percentage. Just because something bothers you a lot, does not necessarily mean VA will assign a higher rating.
- 0% rating: Your disability is service-connected but not severe enough to warrant compensation.
- 10% rating: Typically indicates a mild disability that slightly impairs your ability to function in daily life or work.
- 50% rating: Signifies a moderate disability that significantly impacts your ability to function.
- 100% rating: Your disability prevents you from working or functioning daily.
Multiple ratings
You may have multiple disability ratings for different service-connected conditions. Under these circumstances, it’s more complex than adding up your individual ratings.
The VA uses a unique formula to calculate your combined disability rating, determining your overall compensation amount.
VA Disability Ratings for Physical & Mental Health Conditions
As a veteran, you may be entitled to VA disability benefits for various physical and mental health conditions that are connected to your military service. The VA assigns disability ratings based on the severity of your condition, which determines the amount of compensation you receive.
Physical Health Conditions
Here are some of the more common physical conditions that VA can rate:
- Arthritis
- Arm and Shoulder Injuries
- Asthma
- Back Arthritis
- Back Pain
- Bronchitis
- Cancer
- Carpal Tunnel
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Chronic Pain
- COPD
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Diabetes
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Female Sexual Arousal Disorder
- GERD
- Head Injury
- Heart Disease
- Hypertension
- Incontinence
- Insomnia
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Joint Disorder
- Knee Pain and Injuries
- Lumbosacral Strain
- Meniere’s Disease
- Migraine Headaches
- Military Sexual Trauma (Physical)
- Neck Arthritis
- Neck Pain
- Neurological Disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinsonism
- Pes Planus
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Prostate Cancer
- Radiculopathy
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Scars
- Sciatica
- Shoulder pain and injury
- Sleep Apnea
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine Disorder
- Thyroid Disorder
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (Physical)
- Tinnitus
- Varicose Veins
- Vertigo
Mental Health Conditions
VA rates all mental health under a single rating code. If you have multiple mental health conditions, VA will look at the combined impact on your social and occupational impairment to assign a single rating. VA will not assign separate ratings for separate conditions.
Nor is it true that one condition will get a higher rating than another. You can have mild symptoms of PTSD that are well managed by therapy or medication, or you can have very severe symptoms of Adjustment Disorder. VA assigned the ratings based on the impact of the mental health disorder, not based on what your diagnosis is.
- Adjustment Disorder
- Anxiety
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Military Sexual Trauma (Mental)
- Other Specified Stressor and Trauma Related Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- PTSD
- Sleep Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
Understanding the VA disability rating system and the various conditions that may qualify for benefits can be overwhelming. By exploring the links provided above, you can gain a deeper understanding of each condition, its symptoms, and how the VA assigns disability ratings.
If you believe you have a service-connected disability, you should apply for benefits on your own, or with the help of a VSO. If you get denied or have questions about whether VA accurately rated all your symptoms, you may benefit from working with an experienced VA-accredited attorney who can help you navigate the appeals process and ensure you receive the benefits you deserve.
At ProVet Legal, our VA disability attorneys are dedicated to helping veterans secure the compensation they are entitled to receive. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let us help you on your journey to obtaining the benefits you’ve earned through your service to our country.
Appealing a VA Disability Rating Decision
If you disagree with the VA’s decision on your disability rating, you can appeal.
Here are a few tips for a successful outcome:
- Understand why the VA denied the claim: Before you appeal anything, you need to understand the reason VA denied it. If VA is saying you have a disability, but they don’t have evidence of an in-service injury or incurrence, your appeal should focus on establishing that something happened in service, and additional evidence about how bad your current symptoms are will not help.
- Be specific: Clearly explain why you believe your rating should be higher, referencing the VASRD rating criteria, and point to specific evidence supporting your argument.
- Don’t miss deadlines: There are strict deadlines for filing appeals, so stay on top of them.
The appeals process is complex, so don’t hesitate to seek help from an experienced VA disability attorney to guide you through the process.
Increasing Your VA Disability Rating
You may be eligible for a rating increase if your service-connected condition worsens over time.
To file for one, you’ll need to submit a claim along with medical evidence showing that your impairment has deteriorated.
Some common reasons for a VA disability rating increase include:
- Worsening symptoms.
- New medical evidence or diagnoses.
- Development of secondary conditions related to your service-connected disability.
Please remember, there is a difference between filing an appeal because you think VA did not assign a high enough initial rating, and filing a new claim, sometimes years later, for an increased rating as the condition gets worse over time.
Special VA Disability Rating Considerations
There are a few special considerations to keep in mind when it comes to VA disability ratings:
Gulf War Syndrome
Veterans who served in the Gulf War may be eligible for disability ratings for a range of unexplained chronic symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches, and joint pain.
Agent Orange Exposure
Veterans exposed to Agent Orange during service may be eligible for presumptive disability ratings for certain conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, Parkinson’s Disease, and certain cancers, among others.
Secondary Conditions
If your service-connected disability causes or aggravates another health condition, you may be eligible for additional disability ratings.
Maintaining Your VA Disability Rating
Once the government grants you a disability rating, it may reevaluate your rating occasionally. Typically, if VA determines that a condition is unlikely to improve, it will not reevaluate the condition. If you are 100% total and permanent, VA will not reevaluate your conditions unless you file a new claim or appeal an existing rating.
Typically, VA does not reevaluate ratings if the veteran is over 55 years old, or if the condition has been consistently rated for a certain length of time. Some conditions are presumed not to be permanent in nature, like cancers that may go into remission.
The VA typically requests a new examination if there’s evidence that your condition has improved.
If the VA proposes to reduce your rating, the agency will notify you in writing and will usually allow you to submit evidence and arguments against the reduction.
In some cases, you may also be entitled to a hearing.
To protect your rating, continue to seek regular medical treatment for your condition and promptly notify the VA of any negative changes in your health or circumstances.
Additional Resources
- The VA disability rating chart provides a detailed breakdown of the rating criteria for various conditions.
- The VA disability compensation rates for 2024 can help you understand how much you may be entitled to based on your rating.
Maximize Your VA Disability Benefits With ProVet Legal
We understand that the claims and appeals process can be a maze of contradictory information. VA is a large bureaucracy and often gets things wrong.
If you question whether VA assigned the correct ratings or think VA might have gotten something wrong, working with an attorney accredited by the VA may help you get answers faster and avoid some frustration.
At ProVet Legal, we help veterans nationwide maximize their benefits and get the compensation they deserve.
Schedule an appointment with us today to learn more about how we can assist you with your VA disability appeals.
