A Plainspoken Guide
The VA Disability Rating System, Explained Simply
If you’ve ever looked at your VA rating decision and wondered how the VA came up with that percentage, you’re not alone. The VA disability rating system is one of the most misunderstood parts of the benefits process, and one of the most important.
Your rating doesn’t just determine your monthly compensation, it can also affect healthcare eligibility, education benefits, tax exemptions, and retirement options.
At Good Attorney, we help veterans across the country, and especially here in Utah, understand and challenge unfair ratings through the VA disability appeal process.
What a VA Disability Rating Really Means
The VA assigns a percentage from 0% to 100% to reflect how much a service-connected condition impacts your ability to work and live normally.
Each percentage corresponds to a specific monthly payment rate and level of benefits.
Disability Rating
0%
10-40%
50-90%
100%
100% Permanent & Total (P&T)
What It Means
Service connection recognized, but no compensation
Partial impairment; lower monthly benefit
Significant impairment; higher monthly benefit
Total disability; full compensation and benefits
Total disability expected to last for life; additional family benefits
How the VA Calculates Ratings
VA ratings are based on the Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD), a long list of diagnostic codes assigning percentages for different conditions.
The VA looks at:
- Medical evidence (doctor’s notes, exams, C&P reports)
- Functional impact (how your condition affects daily life or work)
- Service connection (proof the condition was caused or worsened by service)
When you have multiple conditions, the VA uses a confusing formula called “VA math.” It combines ratings in a way that’s rarely intuitive. For example, a 60% rating and a 30% rating don’t equal 90%. The VA uses a combined rating table that can be confusing.
Common Rating Problems We See
At Good Attorney, we often help veterans appeal ratings that were clearly too low or mishandled.
Here are the most common issues:
- The VA underestimated your condition’s severity. Many claims rely too heavily on one brief medical exam. Solution: We help veterans obtain stronger independent medical opinions to counter weak C&P exams.
- The VA ignored secondary conditions. For example, chronic pain or depression caused by a service injury may also qualify. Solution: We identify and document secondary connections the VA overlooked.
- The VA combined ratings incorrectly. “VA math” errors can drastically reduce your compensation. Solution: We re-calculate using the proper Combined Ratings Table and challenge mistakes in writing.
- The VA failed to apply “benefit of the doubt.” By law, if evidence is evenly balanced, the veteran should win. Solution: We highlight where VA adjudicators violated that standard and argue for correction on appeal.
How to Appeal for a Higher VA Disability Rating
If your rating seems too low, you have options:
- File a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence
- Request a Higher-Level Review if the VA made a clear error
- Appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) for a full legal review
Our firm handles all three paths, and we stay with you through each step until the VA gets it right.
You Earned These Benefits. Don’t Settle for Less.
The VA rating system isn’t perfect, but it’s not beyond challenge. With the right evidence, legal strategy, and persistence, you can increase your rating and secure the full benefits you deserve.
If you’re unsure whether your rating is fair, or if you’ve been waiting too long for justice, we’re here to help.
