Veterans Rating
When people hear of a Veterans rating, they have no idea as to how much a tiny word can benefit or adversely affect their way of living.
After applying for your disability benefits AND the Department of Veterans Affairs has agreed that your disability is related to your military service, you’ll need to be assigned a rating for your disability. The rating is the indicator that states how severe your disability is, if you can work at al, what exactly you’re entitled to, and how much you’re entitled. Even with all of the paperwork in place, if you complete your application incorrectly or fail to include everything, your rate can vary and turn out to be an unfair rating that gives you an unfair amount of benefits.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, less severe disabilities receive lower ratings and more severe disabilities receive higher ratings.
The VA has developed a Schedule of Rating Disabilities, which are based on the average impact on earning capacity that each disability has in civilian occupations. Ratings range from 0% to 100% in 10% increments and the VA breaks down disabilities into different categories based on the part of the body that was injured during service. Each category contains groups of medical issues that contain a list of diagnoses. Each diagnosis has its own code, which specifies the symptoms that are required for various ratings of disability. The ratings are divided into percentage levels of mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe. Each percentage level will list the symptoms you have to be suffering from in order to qualify for a mild, moderate, moderately severe, or severe rating.
To sum things up, in order to rate your disability, the VA will start at the body system category, locate your diagnosis, and then find the diagnostic code which best matches with your symptoms. They’ll also review the medical evidence in your file for what they consider to be a fair rating.
Even if one disability could satisfy more than one diagnostic code, you can only get rated and paid under one code. Where two or more codes apply, the VA must choose the diagnostic code that will give the highest rating.
Listed below is an estimated amount you could receive based on your rating. Keep in mind that the compensation rates change and this a guideline:
A 0% rating will not qualify you for disability compensation but you may qualify for healthcare and other VA benefits.
The monthly payment for ratings of 10% or higher will vary based on whether the veteran has any dependents.
If you are a single veteran with no dependents, you’ll receive a monthly benefit of:
- $395 for a 30% rating
- $810 for a 50% rating, or
- $1,503 for an 80% rating
If you are married with one dependent child, your monthly payment rate will be:
- $476 for a 30% rating
- $946 for a 50% rating, or
- $1,720 for an 80% rating
These rates increase if you have more than one dependent child.
When filling out an application for benefits compensation, it’s important to fill it out correctly and make sure that you use the correct terminology to avoid walking away with a rating less than what you should be receiving. This rating is often an overlooked part of the process but when it comes to keeping food on the table, kids in college, a roof over your head, or a lifetime of quality healthcare, this rating is the most important factor.
At VRC, we specialize in obtaining the highest rating for your injuries and/or disabilities and have helped veterans and their families obtain over $1,000,000 in benefits compensation. Let us help you by calling 423-305-0517, or 706-622-2175, or 973-419-5652 for an immediate response as to how we can help you do everything right the first time! To find out more, log onto www.getyourvabenefits.com or send an email to cdouglas@getyourvabenefits.com.
