Many people mistakenly believe that combined ratings are added together. However, VA math is much more complicated. VA uses what’s called a “Combined Ratings Table.” This takes the total efficiency of a person and subtracts the highest individually rated disability.
What is a VA Disability Rating?
A VA disability rating is a percentage of a veteran’s total permanent impairment (TPI) in earning capacity that determines their compensation. These ratings range from 0 to 100 percent and increase in 10 percent increments. Specific disabilities are rated as 100% disabling by themselves, while others require a combination of conditions to be rated at 100%. The most common reason to file an appeal VA disability rating is that the department made a mistake you want them to correct in their original decision. The other common sense is that your condition has worsened since the initial evaluation.
In these cases, the VA assigns a percentage for each condition and then adds them together to reach the final combined rating. The VA then rounds the rating to the nearest 10%. Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) is the #12 most claimed disability claim. This condition is characterized by an intense focus on physical symptoms, often leading to depression, anxiety, and difficulty functioning.
How is a VA Disability Rating Determined?
A disability rating determines how much compensation a veteran will receive for their service-connected condition. Many veterans have multiple disabilities, and each of those disabilities has a different disability rating. The VA then combines those ratings to reach a single combined rating.
The VA calculates the combined rating by using a table. They start with your highest disabling condition and then rank each of your other disabilities in order of severity. The table then shows where your ratings intersect.
What are the VA’s Criteria for Determining a VA Disability Rating?
The VA uses specific criteria for evaluating disabilities and assigning a rating. These ratings can be complex to understand, and they directly impact the benefits that veterans receive.
The rating for your condition is based on the severity of the symptoms and how they impact your life. The rating is then combined through a complicated process to determine your overall disability rating percentage, influencing your monthly benefit dollar amount.
The highest VA disability rating you can receive is 100%. This rating is reserved for those with the most severe disabilities that prevent them from being able to work at all. To get a 100 percent rating, you must have the nexus letter that links your current medical condition to a service-related event, and your private medical records show that your condition is permanent.
What is the VA’s Combined Rating Table?
Most veterans have more than one service-connected disability, so they need a combined rating. To calculate a combined rating, VA uses the Combined Ratings Table. This table ranks your disabilities in order of severity, from highest to lowest. It also takes into account aggravation levels.
The way the table works is pretty simple. You start with your highest disability and then find the number for that disability on the left column of the table. Next, you find the number for your second disability on the top row of the table. Where the columns and rows meet is your combined rating.
In cases of bilateral disabilities (disabilities that affect both legs or arms), the VA uses something called the bilateral factor. This factor adds 10 percent to your combined rating.
What is the VA’s Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD)?
Your disability rating determines how much you will receive in monthly compensation. But there is more to the process than simple addition. When combining disabilities, the VA uses its equations rather than simply adding together each percentage rating.
For example, if your service-connected condition is cancer, you will automatically receive a 100 percent disability rating while the disease is active and for six months after treatment is complete. However, if your other disabilities cause significant limitations that exceed the schedular criteria, you may be eligible for extra-schedular consideration and a higher disability rate.
This is why every veteran needs to have a thorough understanding of VA ratings and their application. Those who do can better prepare their claims and maximize the benefits they receive.