A VA disability rating is the percentage that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs assigns for a qualified condition(s) to a veteran. This rating determines the amount of disability benefits a veteran can receive for his or her service-connected condition(s). The percentage assigned to VA disability ratings reflects the severity of the condition.
For example, a 0% VA disability rating is assigned to a condition that may have no effect on a veteran, while a 100% VA disability rating is assigned to a condition that has a significant effect on the veteran or perhaps even render a veteran incapacitated and/or unable to work.
Below is some information on how VA disability ratings are calculated. If you are a veteran and have additional questions about VA disability ratings, please contact our veteran’s benefits attorneys today. We are certified to represent veterans and assist them with their appeals before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including before the Board of Veterans Appeals’ Judges.
How the VA Calculates Disability Ratings
When you submit a disability claim for service-connected disability benefits, the VA makes a determination about the severity of your conditions, individually, based on the information and documentation you submit or that the VA obtains from your military records. VA disability rates range from 0% to 100%.
In addition, you may be paid additional amounts if:
- Your disabilities are severe and significantly impact your overall functioning, and ability to work.
- You are married or have dependents.
- You have a spouse who is severely disabled.
Combined Ratings for Multiple Disabilities
If you have more than one disability, the VA calculates a combined disability rating. The algorithm the VA uses to calculate the overall percentage or combined ratings has been notoriously referred to as exceedingly complex and challenging to compute even for practitioners.
In order to combine ratings for more than one disability, the VA takes the following steps:
- First, the VA arranges the disabilities by order of severity, starting with the greatest disability and then combines according to the VA’s ratings table.
- The VA then performs a series of calculations to arrive at a combined value.
- Next, this combined value is rounded to the nearest 10%.
- If there are multiple disabilities to rate, the combined value for the first two disabilities will be determined using the procedure described above.
- The exact combined value is then combined with the degree of the third disability.
- The VA then repeats this process for subsequent disabilities and rounds the final number to the nearest 10%, arriving at a final combined disability rating.
Contact a Michigan Veterans Benefits Attorney
If this seems confusing, don’t fret. With the help of a veterans benefits attorney, you will have no problem compiling and submitting the proper documentation to the VA to determine your veterans’ benefits eligibility, increasing your chances that you will receive the benefits you deserve.
If you are a veteran who suffers from a disability, the skilled veterans benefits attorneys at Disability Law Group want to help you obtain the veterans’ benefits you deserve.
At Disability Law Group, we appreciate your service to our country, and we’re committed to ensuring that your sacrifice doesn’t go unnoticed. We’ll assist you with every step of the veterans’ disability benefits process, including appealing your denial if necessary and representation before the Board of Veterans’ Affairs.
If you live in Macomb County, Oakland County, Wayne County, or elsewhere in Michigan and suffer from a disabling medical condition, we’re here to help. At Disability Law Group, disability is all we do. Please contact us as soon as possible for a free consultation.
