Learn About VA Disability Rating Processes

Understanding VA Disability Ratings: The Basics

The Department of Veterans Affairs assigns disability ratings to veterans based on how service-connected conditions affect their ability to work and daily life. These ratings range from 0% to 100% in 10% increments. A 0% rating means the VA has found a service-connected condition but determined it causes no current disability. A 100% rating means total disability. The rating system helps determine the monthly compensation amount a veteran may receive.

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The VA uses a specific guide called the Schedule for Rating Disabilities to evaluate conditions. This schedule contains detailed descriptions of thousands of medical conditions and how they are rated. Each condition has criteria that describe symptoms and functional limitations at different rating levels. For example, a knee condition might be rated differently depending on whether the veteran can walk without limping, experiences pain with activity, or cannot bear weight at all.

Rating decisions are made by Raters—trained VA employees who review medical evidence and match it to the rating schedule. They look at clinical findings, test results, and statements about how the condition affects daily activities. The process is standardized across all VA regional offices, though individual cases vary based on the evidence presented.

In fiscal year 2023, the VA processed over 1.2 million rating decisions. Approximately 5.1 million veterans were receiving compensation benefits based on disability ratings. The average rating for all veterans receiving compensation was around 40%, though this varies widely by individual circumstances and the types of conditions being rated.

Takeaway: VA disability ratings are numerical values assigned after the VA reviews medical evidence showing how a service-connected condition impacts functioning. These ratings determine compensation amounts and may affect access to other benefits.

How the VA Evaluates Service-Connected Conditions

A condition must be "service-connected" before it can be rated. Service-connected means the VA has determined the condition was caused by or made worse by military service. The veteran must provide evidence connecting the condition to their service. This evidence might include military medical records, service records, current medical records, and statements describing when the condition started and how it relates to service duties.

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The VA uses three main standards for establishing service connection. First, there must be a current medical diagnosis of the condition. Second, there must be credible evidence the condition existed during service or was noted in military records. Third, there must be a medical nexus—a connection showing the current condition is related to what happened during service. For example, a veteran with lower back pain must show they either injured their back during service or that service duties caused the condition to develop.

Some conditions are presumptive, meaning the VA assumes they are service-connected without requiring a nexus statement if certain conditions are met. Examples include conditions on the VA's list of presumptive conditions for burn pit exposure, Agent Orange exposure, or radiation exposure. A veteran exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam who develops diabetes type 2 does not need to prove the connection—the VA presumes it exists.

The VA accepts medical evidence from VA doctors, private doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Veterans may also submit Statements in Support of Claim (Form 21-4138) describing their condition and its connection to service. These personal statements carry weight, especially when medical records are limited or when describing how a condition affects daily functioning.

Secondary conditions—conditions that develop as a result of a service-connected condition—may also receive ratings. For instance, a veteran with service-connected knee damage might develop arthritis in that knee, or a veteran with service-connected PTSD might develop depression. These secondary conditions can be rated if medical evidence shows they resulted from the primary service-connected condition.

Takeaway: Service connection requires current medical evidence, evidence the condition existed during or was caused by service, and a medical connection between the two. Once service connection is established, the VA then assigns a rating based on severity.

The Rating Schedule and Disability Percentages Explained

The VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities is a detailed manual containing evaluation criteria for virtually every medical condition the VA rates. For each condition, the schedule lists criteria for 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% ratings. These percentages correspond to functional impairment levels rather than medical severity alone.

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A higher percentage does not always mean a more serious medical condition—it means greater impact on functioning. For example, chronic sinusitis might be rated 0%, 10%, or 20% depending on frequency of episodes and impact on work and daily life, not based on how severe individual infections are. Similarly, mild arthritis that prevents all work is rated higher than severe arthritis that has minimal functional impact.

The rating criteria emphasize functional limitations. The schedule asks: Can the person walk? Can they lift? Can they concentrate? Can they maintain employment? How often do symptoms interfere with activities? A 20% rating typically indicates some functional limitation but ability to work. A 50% rating suggests significant functional impairment. An 80% or higher rating indicates substantial inability to work or engage in daily activities.

Combined ratings work differently than simple addition. If a veteran has multiple rated conditions, the VA does not add the percentages together. Instead, it uses a combined ratings table. For example, a veteran with a 40% rating for one condition and a 30% rating for another receives a combined rating of 64%, not 70%. A veteran with a 50% rating and a 40% rating receives a combined rating of 70%. The highest-rated condition is combined with the next condition, then those combined results are combined with the next condition, and so on.

Most veterans receive ratings between 20% and 60%. The VA reported that in 2023, approximately 2% of veterans receiving compensation had a 100% rating, while about 8% had ratings between 80% and 90%. About 35% had ratings between 40% and 60%, and about 55% had ratings of 30% or lower. These percentages have remained relatively stable over recent years.

Takeaway: Rating percentages reflect functional impact rather than medical severity. The schedule provides specific criteria for each percentage level, and multiple conditions combine using a special table rather than simple addition.

The Evidence VA Raters Review During Evaluation

When a rater reviews a claim, they examine all available medical evidence in the veteran's VA file and any evidence the veteran submitted. This includes VA medical records if the veteran received treatment at a VA facility, private medical records, military service records, and personal statements. Strong evidence clearly describes current symptoms, test results, and functional limitations.

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Medical records should include clinical findings from exams—what the doctor observed and measured. For joint conditions, this might include range of motion measurements. For pain conditions, it might include descriptions of what causes pain and when it occurs. For mental health conditions, it might include descriptions of flashbacks, anxiety, sleep problems, or difficulty concentrating. Objective findings (measurements, test results) carry weight, but subjective symptoms (what the person reports) also matter.

VA Compensation & Pension (C&P) exams are medical evaluations the VA schedules to gather evidence about conditions under review. These exams are performed by VA doctors or contract physicians. The examiner asks about symptoms, performs tests, and documents findings. The exam report becomes part of the medical evidence the rater reviews. Veterans should be thorough during these exams—explaining all symptoms, functional limitations, and how conditions affect daily activities and work.

Statements from the veteran describing their condition and how it affects them are valuable evidence. These should be specific and detailed. Rather than writing "my back hurts," a stronger statement explains "my back pain prevents me from sitting longer than 30 minutes, I cannot lift more than 10 pounds, and I cannot walk more than half a mile without pain." Statements should describe what the condition prevents the person from doing, not just that symptoms exist.

Treatment records showing ongoing medical care support ratings. Records showing the veteran sees a doctor regularly, receives prescriptions, undergoes therapy, or requires assistive devices strengthen a claim. However, lack of current treatment does not automatically result in lower ratings—some conditions are rated based on residual effects even when not currently receiving treatment. Veterans with limited access to medical care should submit detailed personal statements about symptoms and functional limitations.

Takeaway: Raters review military records, medical records, C&P exam findings, and personal statements. The strongest evidence includes specific descriptions of current symptoms, functional limitations, and how conditions affect daily activities and work capacity.