How Does a VA Disability Rating Work?

Serving in the armed forces comes with many personal risks. Fortunately, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers disability benefits to veterans who have developed an injury or illness related to their service. These benefits can help offset the costs associated with veteran care and quality of life adjustments. They can also be used alongside private insurance plans to reduce further the amount owed for necessary medical care. 

Veterans benefits can be a lifeline for individuals with a service-related condition. However, not all veterans are eligible for the same amount. The VA uses something called disability ratings to determine how much a veteran can receive in medical benefits each month, and this rating – and the amount it allows – can vary widely depending on your unique situation. 

So, how does a VA disability rating work? Keep reading for an overview of the basics, including a quick explainer on how to calculate a VA disability rating for you or a loved one. 

How VA Disability Ratings Work

How much you can collect in veterans benefits each month for a medical condition is based on two main factors:

• The severity of the service-related injury or illness
• The impact of the injury or illness on your daily functioning and quality of life

Together, these factors are meant to tell the VA just how detrimental a service-related condition is to an individual’s ability to make a living and cover their medical expenses. In order to make these determinations as objective as possible, the VA uses disability ratings on a scale of 0% to 100%, with higher percentages amounting to higher monthly compensation. 

VA disability ratings go up in increments of 10%. If you have multiple conditions related to your service, you will receive a combined disability rating that factors in each condition. Note that VA disability ratings cover new injuries or illnesses incurred during service, as well as the aggravation of pre-existing injuries or illnesses. 

How to Calculate VA Disability Rating

The VA uses medical records, VA claim exams, and other relevant records when calculating a disability rating for each condition a veteran presents with. Final calculations are based on a concept known as the “Whole Person Theory,” which caps the final rating at 100% under the idea that no person can be more than 100% able-bodied. 

The steps for how to calculate a VA disability look like this:

1. All relevant conditions are listed from highest disability percentage to lowest
2. Using the VA disability rating table, percentages are cross-referenced to come up with a final combined percentage

Let’s say the VA assigns a disability rating of 60% for a veteran’s PTSD and 20% for a hearing loss. Once cross-referenced on the ratings table, the final percentage becomes 68%, which is then rounded up to 70%. 

For ratings based on three or more conditions, the VA will first calculate a combined rating based on the top two percentages. This combined rating will then be cross-referenced with the next disability percentage on the list, and then so on for as many percentages are noted.

Beyond accounting for the severity of a veteran’s condition, the VA also relies on additional factors such as number of dependents, the disability of a spouse, and cost of living to come up with a final monthly compensation amount. 

How to Use the VA Disability Rating Table

The VA disability rating table is a helpful resource for anyone trying to figure out how much they may receive in monthly benefits. But it can also be a bit tricky to navigate, especially for those with combined conditions factoring into their rating. 

In the case of two combined conditions, you would look for the row with the percentage of the higher rated disability then cross-reference it with the column that lists the percentage of the lower rated disability. Numbers are then rounded up or down to the nearest 10. 

Think Your VA Disability Rating Too Low?

As veterans benefits attorneys, we have worked with veterans throughout the state of Florida to ensure they receive the proper compensation they are owed. If you were denied veterans disability benefits or believe that your disability rating was too low, we may be able to help. The experienced team of lawyers at Gordon & Partners works on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t owe anything unless you receive an increase in your benefits. Please contact us for a free case review. We’ll talk to you about your legal options and how to navigate the process of applying for and appealing veterans benefits.