Percent Schedular Va Ratings
There are two ways in which you can receive a schedular 100 percent disability rating:
However, it is important to note that disability ratings are not added together in the traditional way. Instead, VA uses its own form of math when combining disability ratings. To avoid doing VA math by hand, use the VA math calculator found on our website.
Importantly, VA does round up. Therefore, if the VA math calculator produces an outcome of 75 percent, it means you are likely entitled to an 80 percent combined disability rating. On the other hand, if the VA math calculator produces an outcome of 73 percent, then you are only entitled to a 70 percent combined disability rating.
Types Of 100 Percent Va Disability Ratings
Total disability ratings, or 100 percent disability ratings, from the Department of Veterans Affairs are often confusing to veterans, particularly because they are unsure if they can work after receiving this rating.
The Savannah veterans disability attorneys of The Nye Law Group have put together a helpful guide to 100 percent VA disability ratings. The guide explains the different types of total disability ratings and when you can work if you have received one of these ratings.
If you are struggling to obtain the benefits you are entitled, our experienced VA disability lawyers may be able to help you. Contact us today for a free, no obligation legal consultation.
A Change In Your Family Status Can Change Your Va Disability Payment
Remember to contact the VA whenever you have a change in family status as your rates may change as well.
If you have a 30% disability rating or higher and you are also supporting qualified dependents such as a spouse, child, or parent, you may be eligible to receive a higher VA disability payment.
If your disability rating is 20% or lower, changes in your family status should not affect your VA disability payment rates.
The VA will not know when there is a change in your family status, so you will need to inform them immediately when something changes, like a birth, wedding, a parent moving in with you, divorce, a child coming of age, or the death of a qualified dependent.
Inform the VA of a change as soon as possible.
The VA will sometimes backdate payments to make up for any shortfalls, like if you had to wait for your child to receive a social security number to report a new dependent.
In the case of the loss of an eligible dependent, your payment may decrease. The VA can recoup overpayments if you failed to notify the VA of a change in family status in a timely manner.
Read Also: What Are Potential Risk Factors That May Lead To Ptsd
How Does This Affect Me
Although 1.6% sounds like a low percentage increase, it may not seem so little over time! Now, Veterans with a rating of 100% can receive up to $3,684.01 per month, plus additional benefits based on dependents. This monetary benefit from the VA Disability Compensation is tax-free and does not affect your finances when filing taxes.
Veterans Guardian is here to help Veterans who may be underrated. Our goal is to ensure they are receiving the benefits they are eligible for. If you would like to learn more or if you would like to speak with a Veteran Claims Specialist, you can contact us by filling out the form below.
Va Ratings For Cancer: Temporary Total
If you are service-connected for an active cancer, VA should automatically assign a 100 percent disability rating. This rating continues for as long as your cancer is active, and then for another six months following the successful completion of a treatment program, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. Six months after your cancer treatment ends, VA will schedule you for a Compensation & Pension examination to evaluate the current status of your condition.
If the examination shows that your cancer is no longer active and is in remission, VA will evaluate the cancer based on its residuals. For example, erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence are common residual symptoms of prostate cancer. If prostate cancer is no longer active, VA will likely reduce the disability rating for that condition and assign new ratings based on the severity of the veterans erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence if present.
Recommended Reading: Can You Get Disability For Anxiety
Disability Measurements And Veterans:
There are two different measurements of disability for veterans in the Census Bureaus American Community Survey :
- ACS disability: A difficulty with one or more of the following: hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care and independent living.i Please note that an ACS disability may or may not be acquired during military service.
- Service-connected disability: A disease or injury determined to have occurred during military service. The Veterans Administration assigns a disability rating as a percentage from 0% -100% disabled.ii
Note: These two measures might not fully capture all veterans disabilities. Post-traumatic stress disorder , traumatic brain injury and/or depression are called the signature disabilities because these impairments are so common among returning veterans. Because of the questions asked on the survey, some veterans with the signature disabilities might not have indicated they had disabilities. Also, many veterans with these impairments might not have been diagnosed. They may have acquired their disabilities at a time when the symptoms displayed were not thought to be related to a disability or they may not yet recognize that they have a disability. It is estimated that the number of OEF/OIF veterans with one or more of the signature disabilities is about 30%.iii
What To Do When Applying For Va Compensation For Service
Try to apply for VA compensation before your final out-processing appointment, if possible.
In any case, service members and veterans must supply copies of discharge paperwork, including a DD-214, medical records, supporting documentation for the medical claim and a completed VA Form 21-526.
You may need supporting evidence that shows how your condition affects your ability to work, socialize or pursue hobbies or how your condition has worsened over time, depending on your claim. Medical records and personal statements from family and co-workers who have witnessed your conditions impact on your daily life can help your case.
Read Also: What Is The Special Educational Needs And Disability Act 2014
Va Ratings For Cancer
Veterans service-connected for active cancer should automatically receive a 100 percent disability rating. This rating continues for as long as your cancer is active, and then for another six months following the successful completion of a treatment program, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. VA will then reevaluate based on residuals.
Additional Va Ratings Above 100 Percent
Under the traditional rating scale for compensation, 100 percent is the highest rating you will receive for either an individual service-connected condition or combined service-connected conditions. However, there are certain circumstances in which veterans can receive additional forms of compensation due to particularly severe conditions. For example, special monthly compensation is awarded to veterans who have severe disabilities that bring them above and beyond the schedular rating criteria.
Recommended Reading: How Long Does It Take To Get Disability For Copd
We Analyzed 47 Million Veterans With A Va Rating: Heres What We Learned About The Average Va Disability Rating For Ptsd
I hope you enjoy reading this blog post.
If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, to speak with a VA claim expert for free.
We analyzed 4,743,108 veterans who have a current service-connected VA rating of 0% or higher to better understand the prevalence of mental health conditions and the average VA disability rating for PTSD.
We also looked at the 2019 data overall regarding the total veteran population in the US, which is currently 19.2M veterans.
Digging in deeper, we wanted to know the average VA disability rating for PTSD.
With the help of the Veterans Benefits Administration FY 2018 Annual Report to Congress and the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, we uncovered some very interesting findings.
And now itstime to share what we discovered.
Disability Ratings Are Awarded On A Case By Case Basis
To rate a disability claim, the VA first tries to determine whether or not you sustained your illness or injury in military service. Then, they assign a rating for each illness or injury.
If the VA determines your injury or illness isnt related to your military service or didnt happen while you were in the military, they will deny your claim. If the VA approves your claim, they will assign it a rating between 0% 100%.
A 0% rating shows there is an illness or injury that is connected to your military service, but it doesnt warrant compensation at this time. It is still good to get a 0% rating compared to no service-connected link because if the condition worsens at a later date, you can apply to have your disability rating upgraded.
Recommended Reading: Can You Apply For Disability For Ptsd
% Permanent And Total Va Disability Ratings
Permanent and total disability ratings mean that VA has determined the veteran is both permanently and totally disabled. It is a classification that means veterans no longer need to attend Compensation & Pension exams. In addition, veterans with permanent and total disability ratings are typically no longer subject to rating reductions. If you believe you are entitled to a permanent and total disability rating, you should apply through VA.
What Are The Most Common Service Connected Va Disabilities
- Tinnitus or ringing in the ear syndrome is the #1 most commonly claimed and service connected disability.
- 7.8% of veterans with a disability rating are service connected for Tinnitus with a 10% VA rating.
- Male veterans are more than 2x as likely to be service connected for Tinnitus than female veterans.
- Male veterans are nearly 7x as likely to be service connected for Hearing Loss than female veterans.
- Female veterans are more than 3x as likely to be service connected for Migraines than male veterans.
Did you know there are more than 833 ratable VA disability conditions under the law? Click > > < <
Recommended Reading: How Long Can You Be On Disability From Work
How Many Veterans Are There In The Us
- In 2017, the total US veteran population was 20.0M.
- In 2019, the total US military veteran population in the US was 19.2M.
- The veteran population is slowly declining and will reach a low of 12.0M by 2045.
- Baby Boomers are the largest veteran demographic, but will be overtaken by Millennials in 2037.
Total Veteran Population Decline from 2017 to 2037
Va Disability Ratings Are Not Always Permanent
Many disability ratings are temporary. The VA retains the right to reexamine your disability rating at any time. If they wish to reexamine you, you will receive a Notice of Reexamination letter in the mail which will include a scheduled appointment date.
Make sure you attend this appointment or reschedule, as the VA can reduce or terminate your benefits rating if you fail to attend this scheduled appointment. After the VA reexamines your condition, they will make a recommendation to increase, decrease, or leave your benefit at its current rating.
There are times when your ratings may be protected, based on the type of disability, how long you have held the rating, your age or other factors.
Heres more information on VA disability reexaminations and benefits reductions.
Don’t Miss: Is Being Left Handed A Disability
How Do You Know If Your Rating Is Permanent
If a veteran is rated permanent and total for a service-connected condition, there are a number of ways in which they will be notified. In most cases, it will be indicated in the decision letter. On some Rating Decisions, there is a Permanent and Total box that will be checked. On others, there may be language like eligibility to Dependents Chapter 35 DEA/CHAMPVA are established or no future exams are scheduled both of which indicate permanence. The exact language may vary between different VA Regional Offices.
With Dependents Including Children
Find the dependent status in the left column that best describes you. Then look for your disability rating in the top row. Your basic monthly rate is where your dependent status and disability rating meet.
If you have more than one child or your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits, be sure to also look at the Added amounts table, and add these to your amount from the Basic monthly rates table.
| Dependent status | 30% disability rating | 40% disability rating | 50% disability rating | 60% disability rating | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dependent status | Veteran with 1 child only | 30% disability rating | 504.39 | 40% disability rating | 722.28 | 50% disability rating | 1020.44 | 60% disability rating | 1,288.03 |
| With 1 child and spouse | 30% disability rating | 563.39 | 40% disability rating | 801.28 | 50% disability rating | 1,118.44 | 60% disability rating | 1,407.03 | |
| With 1 child, spouse, and 1 parent | 30% disability rating | 607.39 | 40% disability rating | 860.28 | 50% disability rating | 1,192.44 | 60% disability rating | 1,496.03 | |
| With 1 child, spouse, and 2 parents | 30% disability rating | 651.39 | 40% disability rating | 919.28 | 50% disability rating | 1,266.44 | 60% disability rating | 1,585.03 | |
| With 1 child and 1 parent | 30% disability rating | 548.39 | 40% disability rating | 781.28 | 50% disability rating | 1,094.44 | 60% disability rating | 1,377.03 | |
| With 1 child and 2 parents | 30% disability rating | 592.39 | 40% disability rating | 840.28 | 50% disability rating | 1,168.44 | 60% disability rating | 1,466.03 |
Recommended Reading: Can A Doctor Put You On Disability
Us Department Of Defense / Uniformed Services Sponsor Identification And Privilege Card
Resource link: Card Benefits: Military ID Cards provide access to many services and benefits such as Tricare, legal assistance, education benefits, use of Morale and Welfare Activities , commissaries, exchanges and of course discounts at many restaurants and stores. Also grants access to bases nationwide.Eligibility: Veteran their dependents.How to obtain ID: Do a web-search for base nearest to you with a DEERS office.Link to locating DEERS office nearest you: https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/Call the DEERS office ahead of time. Often hours are limited for Veterans ID cards.
- Example: Battle Creek Air National Guard Base only allows Veteran Military IDs to be produced on Wednesdays only.
Documents needed: Each DEERS office seems to have slightly different requirements, but this is a general list of what to expect.Veteran: Form of ID, Summary of Benefits Letter.Dependents: Bring Marriage license plus 2 forms of ID
Total Disability Based On Individual Unemployability : Compensated At 100% Rate
By demonstrating TDIU, you can receive monthly disability compensation at the 100 percent rate, even if your combined disability rating is less than 100 percent. TDIU is awarded when veterans are unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to their service-connected conditions. Importantly, TDIU can be due to any service-connected conditions that contribute to their unemployability .
Furthermore, such service-connected conditions can be taken in combination when considering TDIU. That is, veterans do not have to show that their depression alone prevents them from working. Instead, veterans can argue that their depression combined with their knee and back conditions make them unable to work. In order to qualify for TDIU on a schedular basis, veterans must demonstrate the following:
- They have one service-connected condition rated at 60 percent or higher or
- They have multiple service-connected conditions, one of which is rated at least 40 percent disabling, with a combined disability rating of at least 70 percent
Recommended Reading: Veterans Ptsd Social Security Disability
How Many Veterans Receive Disability Compensation
- Total number of Wake County veterans who received Disability Compensation: 9,680
- Number of veterans who had a zero to 20 percent disability rating: 2,840
- Number of veterans who had a 30 to 40 percent disability rating: 1,849
- Number of veterans who had a 50 to 60 percent disability rating: 1,571
- Number of veterans who had a 70 to 90 percent disability rating: 2,420
- Number of veterans who had a 100 percent disability rating: 1,180
- Approximate ratio of male to female Veteran Disability recipients: 8.9 to 1.3
- Recipients under age 35: 1,443
- Recipients ages 34 to 44: 1,690
- Recipients ages 45 to 54: 2,144
- Recipients ages 55 to 64: 1,830
- Recipients ages 65 to 74: 2,217
Priority Group 1 For Health Care
When you sign up for VA health care, you will be assigned a priority group. These priority groups are numbered 1 through 8 and each group is used to help make sure that veterans who need to be seen right away, will be able to be signed up quickly. Each priority group can affect each veteran differently. The priority group you are assigned to may affect how soon you are signed up for health care and how much you will need to pay for the cost of your care.
Veterans who are already service connected, are assigned the highest priority. You may be assigned to Priority Group 1 if you have been rated at 50 percent combined rating or more or have a service-connected disability that they have concluded makes you unemployable or have received the Medal of Honor .
As a veteran who is rated at the 100 percent rate, it is likely, you will be assigned to Priority Group 1 for VA health care purposes. To learn more about the different priority groups and who you can contact if you have any questions, please click this link.
Read Also: How Does Long Term Disability Affect Social Security Disability