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Service-Connected Disability Ratings
How does the VA calculate overall service-connected disability ratings?
The Veterans Benefits Administration calculates disability rating using a weighted average approach. The overall rating is very rarely the sum of Individual ratings for specific disabilities. The weighted average system is codified in federal regulations and represents how all your disabilities affect your entire life.
What is Total Disability Individual Unemployment (TDIU)?
TDIU is commonly called “unemployable” and is listed on a VBA decision letter or on your annual award letter. Veterans with a TDIU rating have an overall rating less than 100%, but are paid at a 100% rating. TDIU-rated veterans are not allowed to attain gainful employment; usually, their income is capped at $10K/yr.
What if I need more money? Can I get more money?
You may have several avenues for additional compensation from other programs. This has nothing to do with the sum of individual ratings.
- Special Monthly Compensation (SMC): Your VSO can file a claim for SMC, which is usually from loss of use or organ or body part.
- Social Security Disability: VSOs do not handle these claims.
- State Pension for Blind and Amputee veterans: Your VSO can assist you.
- Combat-Related Special Compensation: For veterans who were medically retired from disabilities related to combat. Eligibility for this program is limited and can sometimes be found on military discharge paperwork. Your VSO can help you apply.
Maintaining your rating: It is important you seek our assistance for your service-connected disabilities through the VA or a private medical provider since payment can only be given for presently existing disabilities.
For example, each time you see you doctor, you should be sure to list your service-connected disabilities and that they still bother you and ensure they put it in their visit notes.
What about increases?
Some conditions and body parts have maximum ratings and it is not possible to get multiple ratings for the same vital organ. Remember, if you request an increase, your entire claim is reviewed “de novo” meaning “as a totally brand new claim” and you equally run the benefit of an increase as well as a decrease for existing items. If you seek an increase, your VSO will advise you of the potential risks. Be ready to show with evidence how every condition you are service-connected for is the same or worse. If the risks exceed the potential gains, a VSO will NOT file the claim on your behalf.
0% to 20%
- Certificate of Eligibility for Home Loan Guaranty
- Home Loan guaranty fee exemption
- Vocational Rehabilitation & Counseling under Title 38 USC Chapter 3 I (must be at least I 0%)
- VA medical treatment for priority groups three through seven but fully paid for connected disabilities
- Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (maximum of $10,000 coverage). Must file w/in 2 yrs of award.
- 10-point Civil Service Preference (10 points added to Civil Service test score)
- Clothing allowance for veterans who use or wear a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance (artificial limb. braces, wheelchair) or use of prescribed medications, a skin condition. which tend to wear, tear. or soil clothing
- Temporary total evaluation (100%) based on hospitalization for a service-connected disability in excess of 21 days; or surgical treatment for a service-connected disability necessitating at least 1 month of convalescence or immobilization by cast, without surgery of one or more major joints.
30% - In addition to the above
- Additional allowance for dependents (spouse. children, stepchildren, helpless children, full-time students between the ages of 18 and 23 and parents)
- Additional allowance for spouse who is a patient in a nursing home or helpless or blind or so nearly helpless or blind as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person
- VA medical treatment for priority group two
- Non-competitive Federal employment
40% - In addition to the above
- Automobile grant and/or special adaptive equipment for an automobile provided there is loss or permanent loss of using one or both feet, loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or permanent impaired vision of both eyes with central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in better eye.
50% - In addition to the above
- VA medical outpatient treatment for any condition except dental
- Preventative health care services
- VA medical treatment for priority group one
- Hospital care and medical services in non-VA facilities under an authorized fee basis agreement
60% to 90% - In addition to the above
- Increased compensation {100%) based on individual unemployment (applies to veterans who are unable to obtain or maintain substantially, gainful employment due to service connected disability)
- VA medical treatment for priority group one
100% - In addition to the above
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COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION
Uniformed Service Retirees who have 20 years or more of service and/or have been deemed to have a combat-related disability may be eligible for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC). Combat-related disabilities would include a VA or Military Department disability rating of at least 10% if retirees has been awarded a Purple Heart or a current combined disability rating of at least 60%. The disabilities must be determined to be combat-related. This is a Department of Defense (DoD) benefit, not a VA benefit and applications must be sent to the respective Military Department from which the member retired. Speak to your accredited Veteran Service Officer.·