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How Much Is 10 Percent Va Disability

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How To File A Va Claim For Hearing Loss

10 Tips To Increase Your VA Disability Rating

It is vital to do your homework when you start preparing a VA disability claim.

Thankfully, the VA recognizes hearing impairment as a significant issue in the U.S. Armed Forces and usually attempts to work with veterans toward receiving disability benefits.

However, you will still need to follow a complicated process to state your case:

Step 1: Schedule an examination for hearing impairment with a state-licensed audiologist.

Step 2: Make sure that the hearing examination also includes a controlled speech discrimination test and puretone audiometry test. The examinations are conducted without the use of hearing aids.

Step 3: The VA uses Table VI, Numeric Designation of Hearing Impairment Based on Puretone Threshold Average and Speech Discrimination to determine a Roman numeral designation for your level of hearing impairment.

Step 4: The VA determines a percentage evaluation for hearing impairment by combining the Roman numeral designation for each ear based on test results.

Step 5: After hearing loss is determined through the examination, the veteran must link the hearing impairment to a service connection. In certain situations, patients may only be able to prove the hearing impairment is service-connected in only one ear.

Step 6: The VA concludes its medical evaluation and assigns a final VA disability rating. Based on the rating, the veteran may receive special monthly compensation for deafness or another hearing loss disability.

How To File A Va Disability Claim

  • Gather any evidence youll submit yourself when you file your VA disability claim.
  • File your claim online, by mail or in person at a VA regional office near you.
  • Be sure your claim is filled out completely and you have all the supporting documents ready to send in along with your claim. This will help us process your claim quickly.
  • Alternatively, if you are not ready to file a VA Claim, an Intent to File may be submitted. An Intent to File claim can buy some time to navigate the claims process, as well as getting more compensation once your claim is approved. An intent to file form helps lock in an effective date on your claim thereby getting back pay based on the effective date of the Intent to File.

    Changes In Family Status For Va Disability Compensation

    It is important to contact the VA whenever there are changes in your family status, as your VA disability pay rates may change as a result. If you have a 30% disability rating or higher and are 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 do not affect your payment.

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    Aid & Attendance And Housebound

    Veterans and survivors who are eligible for a VA pension and require the aid and attendance of another person, or are housebound, may be eligible for additional monetary payment. These benefits are paid in addition to monthly pension, and they are not paid without eligibility to Pension.

    Since Aid and Attendance and Housebound allowances increase the pension amount, people who are not eligible for a basic pension due to excessive income may be eligible for pension at these increased rates. A veteran or surviving spouse may not receive Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound benefits at the same time.

    For more information on veterans pension, please

    Who Should I Contact If I Have Questions About My Disability Rating

    2016 VA Disability Rates  Archwood Mortgages

    There are many organizations that specialize in helping veterans with their benefits and claims.

    The first place to start is with the VA. They will have access to your records and other information. This is the best source for current and up to date information.

    However, the VA isnt always the best place to get assistance with your claim, especially if you are filing an appeal after the VA denied your claim.

    In that instance, I recommend contacting a veterans benefits counselor at your county VA office, or an organization such as the DAV, AMVETS, VFW, American Legion, or similar Veteran Service Organizations.

    These organizations have trained benefits counselors who should be able to review your personal and medical situation and provide a better answer to your question than I can provide.

    Alternatively, if you prefer to use the anonymity of the Internet, you can use the Physical Evaluation Board Forum, which offers an excellent community that offers advice on VA disabilities, ratings, and the military medical board process.

    Please note that while I have a solid understanding of how the VA disability system works, I am unable to answer specific questions regarding ones VA disability claims or specific medical conditions. These questions should be addressed by the VA, your medical professionals, or a veterans benefits counselor.

    Thank you for understanding, and thank you for your service!

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    Va Disability Pay And Benefits In 2020

    90 Percent VA Disability Pay Rate

    We have also built a VAdisability rates for conditions expert-level guide that willassist veterans who currently have a 90 VA disability rating.

    This guide will also help you at both lower and higher VAratings, and explains VA disability rates for conditions in 2020.

    How Is A Va Disability Rating Determined

    After reviewing medical evidence, the VA will evaluate your medical condition and assign a disability rating. It is critical to ensure that the VA has your most recent medical documentation to receive an accurate assessment. Putting your best case forward from the beginning can result in a better outcome.

    In general, the elements below are what the VA uses to determine your rating:

    C& P Exam Results

    The VA considers the results of a C& P examination when establishing your disability rating. C& P exams are medical assessments performed by a VA physician or other medical professional to document the severity of your disability. It is vital that you show up for all scheduled exams and remain completely honest with your C& P examiner.

    If the C& P examiner recommends aftercare, you should also follow up on their orders as soon as possible.

    Functional Impairment

    When determining a proper disability rating, the VA will look at your overall functional impairment as well. Functional impairment describes how the disability affects your daily life. For example, you might have a disability that prevents you from working but still allows you to live independently.

    Permanent & Total Severe Disabilities

    It is possible to receive a 100 percent disability rating for a singular medical condition, especially if your disability prohibits you from working and living independently. Examples of permanent and total severe disabilities include the loss of sight, limbs, cognitive functionality, and more.

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    Standard Va Disability Claims

    With standard VA disability claims, the VA gathers evidence and compiles all supporting documents.

    If the VA is unable to obtain a needed document, they may require your help. When help is required, it typically applies to documents not held by a federal agency, such as private medical records, employer information, and documents from state or local governments.

    As with all claims programs, be prepared to provide your DD214 , service treatment records, VA medical records, and private medical records about your claim. Those needing help applying for their VA disability claim may also work with an accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Officer .

    Special Monthly Compensation Rates For Veterans With Dependents Including Children

    How much the VA pays for 100 percent disability

    Effective December 1, 2020

    Levels L through O cover specific disabilities and situations. Learn how we assign SMC levels L through O

    Level R may apply if you need daily help from another person for basic needs .

    Level S may apply if you cant leave the house because of your service-connected disabilities.

    Start with the Basic SMC rates table. Find the dependent status in the left column that best describes you. Then look for your SMC letter designation in the top row. Your monthly basic rate is where your dependent status and SMC letter 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 SMC rates table.

    Basic SMC rates

    With 1 child and spouse
    With 1 child, spouse, and 1 parent SMC-L
    With 1 child, spouse, and 2 parents SMC-L
    With 1 child and 1 parent
    With 1 child and 2 parents
    Each additional child under age 18 SMC-L
    Each additional child over age 18 in a qualifying school program SMC-L
    Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance SMC-L SMC-N 160.89

    Start with the Basic SMC rates table. Find the dependent status in the left column that best describes you. Then look for your SMC letter designation in the top row. Your monthly basic rate is where your dependent status and SMC letter meet.

    Also Check: Sc Disabled Veterans Benefits

    Va Disability Pay Chart

    90 VA Disability Pay Rates 2020
    What is 90 VA Disability Worth in 2020? 90% VA Pay
    Veteran with Spouse and One Parent $2,142.96
    Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents $2,267.96
    90 VA Disability Pay Rates 2020
    What is 90 VA Disability Worth in 2020? 90% VA Pay
    Veteran with Spouse and Child $2,132.96
    Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and Child $2,257.96
    Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and Child $2,382.96
    Veteran with One Parent and Child $2,091.96
    Veteran with Two Parents and Child $2,216.96
    Add for Each Additional Child Under 18 $77.00
    Each Additional Schoolchild Over 18 $250.00

    Tdiu Vs 100 Percent Schedular Disability Ratings: How A 70% Rating Comes Into Play

    As indicated above, the process of going from a combined 70% disability rating to a combined 100 percent disability rating can be difficult to do. That is why VA offers an alternative path to 100 percent total disability based on individual unemployability . This path allows veterans to be compensated at the 100 percent rate even if their combined disability rating is less than 100 percent. A 70% VA disability rating may qualify you for this benefit.

    Here, veterans must demonstrate that they are unable to work as a result of their service-connected conditions. Therefore, the biggest difference between TDIU and a 100 percent schedular disability rating is the impact TDIU has on a veterans future employment status. Veterans who are capable and wish to continue working for additional income may prefer to pursue a 100 percent schedular disability rating versus TDIU, as there are no work restrictions with a 100 percent schedular rating.

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    Veterans Pension Versus Disability Compensation

    In some cases, veterans can receive disability compensation. It’s not the same as the VA pension. Heres a way to tell the difference:

    • Disability compensation is for an illness or injury that happens because of or was made worse by your military service. Its not income-based and war service is not required.

    • A VA pension is for war veterans with a low income and who may have a disability that is not service-related.

    Combined Rating System For Multiple Disabilities

    2020 VA Pay Rates

    The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes that former service members may have incurred more than one disability or had a pre-existing condition made worse while on active duty. Veterans applying for a combined disability rating must submit relevant medical records for each disability. Here is how the VA assigns a combined disability rating:

    Using its internal Combined Rating Table, the VA lists the most severe disability first and the least severe disability last. After assigning a disability rating to each condition, the VA rounds the combined rating to the nearest 10th percentile.

    Veterans should keep in mind that the VA uses a different formula to calculate each disability percentage. For example, one disability rating of 50 percent and another of 30 percent does not mean the veteran will automatically receive an 80 percent combined disability rating. The actual figure is likely to be closer to 65 percent, which the VA then rounds to 70 percent.

    In another combined disability rating example provided by the VA, a veteran filing a disability claim has a 40 percent disability rating with the first service-related condition and a 20 percent disability rating for the second issue. The Combined Rating Table assigned this veteran a total disability rating of 52 percent. Since VA disability compensation only pays in what they refer to as whole percentages, the adjuster would convert the 52 percent rating to the nearest whole number divided by 10, which would be 50.

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    Wan To Speak With A Va Disability Claim Expert

    At VA Claims Insider, we help fellow Veterans celebrate LIFE CHANGE by getting them the VA disability rating and compensation YOU DESERVE by law.

    And, youll get to work with a Veteran Coach who will lead you to VA claim success.

    • Were a company OF Veterans, BY Veterans, FOR Veterans! FOR Veterans, BY Veterans. Were the largest community of Veterans Helping Veterans Worldwide
    • 15,000+ disabled veterans served in our Elite Membership program since 2016 with and average VA disability rating increase of > 30%
    • Better Business Bureau Accredited Business
    • 4.8/5.0 Google Reviews rating across 2,000+ total reviews

    What To Do When Applying For Va Compensation For Service

    It is best to apply for VA compensation before your final out-processing appointment, but this is not always possible. In any case, service members will need to supply copies of discharge paperwork such as the DD Form 214 for active duty military members, medical records, supporting documentation for the medical claim, and a completed VA Form 21-526.

    Depending on the type of claim you are making, it may be necessary to get supporting evidence that shows how your condition affects your ability to work, socialize, pursue hobbies, etc. This may come in the form of medical records, but also personal statements from yourself, family, co-workers, etc.

    You may also need to show how your condition has worsened over time. All medical records pertinent to the condition, and even those that are not, should be submitted as evidence.

    Keep in mind that your family status may play a role in how the VA approaches your compensation claim. If you are awarded a VA disability rating of 30% or higher, changes in your family status may result in changes to your payments.

    Never pass up the opportunity to get additional consideration for your condition, especially if you are entitled to more from the VA as a result of having a family.

    You will be required to notify the Department of Veterans Affairs in such cases changes to your claim or payments of the claim in these circumstances are never automatic.

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    Making The Case For A Rating Increase

    There may come a point after youve received VA benefits for a period of time that your disability begins to worsen. You may experience greater pain, suffer broader or more challenging symptoms, or find that your day-to-day functioning has decreased. You may even find that its getting harder to work and sustain gainful employment. If this happens, you may feel that the percentage rating you were assigned when your claim was first approved is no longer high enough to represent the deterioration and regression in your health due to your disability. Ultimately, you may want to ask the VA for a rating increase.

    The process for making this request isnt difficult. However, the outcome of this request may not be exactly what you expect or intend. Its possible that making a request for this change can actually lower your disability rating. Thus, its helpful to hire a lawyer who can explain why a request for an increase can mean a higher rating without an increase in financial compensation and why it can ultimately decrease your percentage rating.

    Who Is Hill & Ponton

    100 Percent VA Ratings: What It Means To Be a 100% Disabled Veteran

    At Hill & Ponton, a team of va disability lawyers, we have reviewed our veterans ratings by hand over the last 8 years. We finally developed a disability rating calculator to combine all the veterans ratings and give the final combined rating. After the calculator determines the rating, then you can put in the number of dependents and it gives you the monthly compensation rate that VA should be paying you. This calculator has helped us a lot when we can double-check the ratings of our veterans. As a result, we decided to put it on our website so that others can benefit from it too. The calculator cannot make the VA get the right rating but it can help you understand where you stand. A foundation of where you are in your claim will better help you get to where you want to go.

    Please call for an appointment before visiting:

    Mail Processing Center: P.O. Box 449, Deland, FL 32721

    Orlando, FL: 605 E. Robinson Street Suite 635, Orlando, FL 32801Deland, FL: 1607 South State Road 15A Suite 12 Deland, FL 32720

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    Compensation And Pension Exams For Ptsd

    The above background is important because the veteran will be asked to attend a C& P evaluation to decide whether you have a valid diagnosis of PTSD.

    VA requires that your PTSD diagnosis is made by a health professional who is specifically qualified to diagnose PTSD in a veterans case. These examiners will be board-certified or board-eligible psychiatrists or licensed doctorate-level psychologists, or other credentialed or qualified mental health professionals acting under the close supervision of a board-certified or board-eligible psychiatrist or licensed doctorate-level psychologist.

    The long and short of it is, if you file a PTSD claim for disabilityeven if you already have an outside doctors diagnosis of PTSDthe VA will likely require you undergo the C& P exam for PTSD. The examiner will be trained and proficient in the DSM-5 diagnostic requirements and evaluation methods for PTSD.

    Lets look at the DSM-5 guidelines for PTSD.

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