The 5 Most Common VA Disability Ratings & What They Mean
5 minutes
If you're a veteran navigating the world of VA benefits, you'll quickly find that your VA disability rating is the crucial determining factor for compensation. But what does it really mean, and why is it so crucial? Simply put, your VA disability rating is the key that unlocks your monthly compensation for service-connected injuries or illnesses. It's a percentage that represents how much your condition impacts your daily life and ability to work.
In this article, we're going to break down the five most common VA disability ratings. These aren't just random numbers; they're the ratings that pop up most frequently when veterans file their claims.
We'll explore what each rating means, why they're so prevalent, and most importantly, what they mean for your wallet. Whether you're filing your first claim or helping a fellow veteran understand the process, grasping these VA disability ratings can make a world of difference. So let's dive in and demystify this crucial aspect of veteran benefits together!
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What are VA disability ratings?
VA disability ratings are percentages assigned to veterans based on the severity of their service-connected disabilities. These ratings range from 0% to 100% in 10% increments. A higher percentage indicates a more severe disability and greater financial support.
What is a service-connected disability?
A service-connected disability is any illness or injury that was either caused or worsened by your time in the military. This can include physical injuries like back problems or mental health conditions such as PTSD. The key factor is that the disability must be linked to your military service.
Veterans need to provide medical evidence and service records to prove that the condition is connected to their time in the armed forces. Once the VA recognizes this link, they assign a disability rating based on the severity of the condition and its impact on daily life and work.
What are the most common VA disability ratings?
Here are the five most common VA disability ratings and their monthly compensation:
1. 100% Disability Rating
How many receive this rating: 18.45% of veterans
Why it's common: Severe disabilities that completely hinder work ability or daily activities
Monthly compensation: $3,621.95 for a single veteran
2. 10% Disability Rating
How many receive this rating: 17.13% of veterans
Why it's common: Minor injuries or conditions that still qualify for compensation
Monthly compensation: $165.92
3. 70% Disability Rating
How many receive this rating: 9.55% of veterans
Why it's common: Multiple moderate disabilities with significant life impact
Monthly compensation: $1,663.06
4. 80% Disability Rating
How many receive this rating: 9.53% of veterans
Why it's common: Severe disabilities that don't quite reach the 100% threshold
Monthly compensation: $1,933.15
5. 90% Disability Rating
How many receive this rating: 8.78% of veterans
Why it's common: Very severe disabilities that still allow for some work or daily activity
Monthly compensation: $2,172.39
How are these ratings determined?
The VA has a step-by-step process for determining disability ratings:
Filing a claim: First, you'll need to submit your claim either through the VA’s website or by mail. Make sure to include all your medical records and any evidence showing your service-connected disability.
VA review: Once your claim is submitted, the VA reviews your records. They might also schedule a Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam to get a better understanding of your condition.
Rating decision: After the review, the VA assigns you a disability rating based on how severe your condition is. If you have multiple service-connected disabilities, the VA uses a combined rating system, and you’ll receive a letter explaining both your rating and monthly compensation.
Appeals: If you're not happy with the rating, you can appeal. This involves submitting more evidence or asking the VA to take another look at your case.
Why are these ratings the most common?
Several factors contribute to the prevalence of these ratings:
Severity of conditions: Many veterans have conditions that fall into these specific percentage ranges.
Multiple disabilities: Veterans often have more than one service-connected disability, leading to higher combined ratings.
VA guidelines: Specific guidelines for rating different conditions can result in similar ratings for many veterans.
Can a veteran’s disability rating change over time?
Yes, a VA disability rating can change over time. The VA may reassess your condition if they believe it has improved or worsened. This can happen if:
You request a re-evaluation because your condition has worsened.
The VA schedules a routine follow-up exam, which typically happens every 2 to 5 years, depending on the nature of your disability.
The VA reviews your case if they receive new information that suggests your condition has changed.
If your disability improves, your rating could be lowered, and if it worsens, your rating could increase, potentially leading to more monthly compensation.
How are multiple disabilities taken into account?
When a veteran has more than one service-connected disability, the VA uses a combined rating system, which isn’t as simple as adding the percentages together. The combined rating formula ensures that no veteran can receive more than a 100% rating.
Here’s an example:
Let’s say a veteran has a 50% disability for a back injury and a 30% disability for PTSD. Instead of adding 50% and 30% to get 80%, the VA applies the 30% to the remaining 50% of the veteran's body that is not considered disabled. This gives them 15% (30% of 50%), which is added to the 50%, resulting in a combined rating of 65%. The VA rounds this number up or down to the nearest 10%, meaning the veteran would receive a 70% combined rating.
If the veteran also had a 10% rating for tinnitus, the VA would apply the 10% to the remaining 30%, which gives 3%, resulting in a final combined rating of 73%. This rounds down to 70%.
The VA provides a rating table to help veterans and their families calculate combined ratings accurately.
Who is eligible to apply for a VA disability rating?
Any veteran who has a service-connected injury or illness is eligible to apply for a VA disability rating. Veterans must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, and they need to show that their disability is related to their military service. Even veterans with National Guard or Reserve service can apply for a rating if they were activated under federal orders.
To apply, veterans should submit a claim through the VA website, include all medical records, and provide any necessary evidence that links their condition to their time in the military.
How do you appeal your VA disability rating?
If you're unhappy with your VA disability rating, you have the right to appeal. Here’s how:
Submit a Notice of Disagreement (NOD): This form tells the VA that you disagree with your rating. You can choose either a "Higher-Level Review," where a senior reviewer looks over your case, or you can submit additional evidence for a "Supplemental Claim."
Submit additional evidence: If you choose the Supplemental Claim option, provide more documentation, such as updated medical records or new evidence, to support your appeal.
Request a board appeal: If you're still not satisfied with the result, you can request a Board of Veterans' Appeals hearing, either in person or virtually. This process can take longer but allows you to present your case directly to a judge.
Keep in mind, appeals can be time-consuming, but veterans often succeed in getting their ratings adjusted if they can provide strong evidence.
What other programs are affected by your rating?
Your VA disability rating doesn’t just impact monthly compensation. Many other programs are tied to your rating, including:
Healthcare: Veterans with higher ratings (50% or more) often receive more comprehensive healthcare benefits.
Education: Programs like the GI Bill can provide additional benefits or stipends based on your rating.
Housing assistance: Certain grants, like the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant, are available to veterans with disabilities that impact mobility.
Employment support: Veterans with higher ratings may also qualify for job training and placement services through VA vocational rehabilitation programs.
A higher rating often opens the door to more support, both financially and through various programs designed to help veterans adjust to life after service.
What about the lowest ratings?
Lower VA disability ratings, such as 10% or 0%, are less common but still significant. Here's what they mean:
10% Rating: A 10% rating typically applies to minor but verifiable conditions, like tinnitus or mild joint pain. Veterans with a 10% rating receive a small amount of monthly compensation ($165.92 as of 2024), but they can still access certain VA healthcare benefits.
0% Rating: A 0% rating means the VA acknowledges your condition is service-connected but doesn't consider it severe enough for compensation. Although no monthly payments are provided, veterans with a 0% rating may still qualify for VA healthcare and other benefits, like priority in VA job training programs. This rating also opens the door to higher ratings if the condition worsens later on.
In rare cases, ratings between 0% and 50% may be assigned for conditions that moderately affect the veteran's daily life but don't completely prevent them from working or carrying out normal activities.