Veterans Disability Lawyer
VA Disability Ratings
Understand Your VA Rating.
Your VA disability rating can affect monthly compensation and eligibility for other VA benefits. Learn how VA evaluates disability severity, combines multiple ratings, and what options may be available when a rating does not reflect your condition.
What Does a VA Disability Rating Mean?
A VA disability rating is a percentage assigned to a service-connected condition based on its severity and functional impact.
VA uses the rating to determine disability compensation and, in some circumstances, eligibility for other VA benefits. A rating can be assigned for a single condition or combined with ratings for multiple service-connected conditions.
Importantly, VA does not simply add individual percentages together when calculating a combined rating. VA uses its combined-ratings methodology to arrive at the final percentage.
The VA Rating Depends on the Evidence
VA considers evidence that helps establish the nature and severity of a service-connected condition. The details vary by disability and by the rating criteria that apply.
Medical Records & Testing
Medical records, diagnostic testing, treatment notes, specialist reports, and other clinical evidence can help show the symptoms, limitations, diagnosis, and progression of a condition.
C&P Examination
VA may schedule a Compensation and Pension examination when an examination is needed to help decide the claim. The examiner may document symptoms, functional limitations, medical findings, and other information relevant to the claim.
Statements & Other Records
Depending on the issue, lay statements, service records, employment information, and other relevant documentation may help establish how a condition affects your daily activities and functioning.
Why VA Ratings don't simply add Up
If you have more than one service-connected disability, VA uses a combined-ratings process rather than ordinary addition.
VA generally starts with the highest evaluation and then applies the next disability to the remaining portion of the Veteran’s efficiency. The resulting value is then combined with additional disabilities before the final percentage is rounded.
Example:
A 40% disability combined with a 20% disability produces a 52% combined value before rounding, which results in a 50% combined rating under VA’s standard methodology.
The exact calculation can be affected by additional VA rules, including the bilateral factor in qualifying circumstances. A personal combined rating should therefore be calculated from the actual disabilities and applicable rules.
What can affect your VA Rating?
Severity of Symptoms
Rating criteria generally focus on the severity and functional effects associated with the specific condition.
Frequency & Duration
For some conditions, how often symptoms occur and how long they last can be relevant to the applicable evaluation.
Functional Limitations
Evidence describing how a condition affects work, relationships, mobility, concentration, sleep, or ordinary activities may be important depending on the rating criteria.
Multiple Service-Connected Conditions
More than one service-connected disability can change the combined evaluation, even though the individual percentages are not simply added together.
How the VA Rating Process Works
The evidence needed depends on the claim. VA may consider federal and private records, statements, and other supporting evidence.
You identify the condition and provide information and evidence supporting service connection and the current disability.
VA reviews the claim, medical and service evidence, and other information needed to decide the issue.
If VA determines an examination is needed, the findings may be considered with the rest of the evidence.
VA applies the appropriate rating criteria to the evidence and issues a decision identifying the evaluation and effective date.
If you disagree with the rating, effective date, or another part of the decision, you may have decision-review options.
Your Rating Is Too Low ?
What If VA Underrated Your Condition?
A rating can be challenged when the evidence and applicable rating criteria support a different evaluation.
Depending on the circumstances, you may need to pursue a decision review of the existing VA decision, file a claim for an increased rating because a service-connected condition has worsened, or address a separate condition that should be service connected.
The right path depends on the reason for the disagreement.
A worsening condition and an error in a recent VA decision are not necessarily handled the same way.
Review the decision letter carefully before choosing the next step. 
How RLGVA Can Help with your VA Rating
A rating decision should be read together with the evidence and the criteria VA used to reach the evaluation.
Examine the rating, effective date, reasons, and evidence.
Identify medical, service, and lay evidence relevant to the evaluation.
Determine which criteria VA applied and whether the evidence addresses them.
Consider an increased-rating claim or decision-review option based on the circumstances.
Evaluate secondary conditions, TDIU, effective dates, or other issues when relevant.
When appropriate, RLGVA can represent Veterans in VA disability matters and decision reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about VA Disability Ratings
VA assigns a rating based on the severity of a service-connected condition and the evidence relevant to the applicable rating criteria. Evidence can include medical records, examination findings, and information from other sources.
Ratings are based on the severity and functional effects of the service-connected condition under VA's rating schedule, together with the evidence in the claim.
No. VA uses a combined-ratings methodology. Individual ratings are combined rather than simply added, and the final combined value is rounded according to VA rules.
Yes. VA can recognize a condition as service connected while assigning a 0% evaluation when the condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. A 0% rating is different from a denial of service connection.
Potentially. If a service-connected condition has worsened, an increased-rating claim may be appropriate. If you disagree with a recent VA decision, a decision-review option may instead be appropriate.
Yes. VA may assign a 100% schedular evaluation when the applicable rating criteria support it. In other circumstances, a Veteran may receive compensation at the 100% rate through TDIU if the requirements are met.