How VA Disability Ratings Work: A Plain-Language Guide
What "service-connected" actually means, how ratings are assigned, and what your percentage gets you.
If you've served in the military and have a health condition related to your service, the VA will assign you a disability rating — a percentage that represents how much your condition limits your ability to function. But the system is more complicated than it looks, and understanding it can mean the difference between receiving the benefits you've earned and leaving money on the table.
What "Service-Connected" Actually Means
A service-connected disability is one that was caused or made worse by your military service. This doesn't just mean combat injuries. It includes conditions that developed during training, injuries from accidents on base, illnesses related to environmental exposures (burn pits, Agent Orange, radiation), and mental health conditions like PTSD.
To get a rating, you need to show: (1) you have a current diagnosis, (2) there was an in-service event or exposure, and (3) there's a medical connection between the two. That third element — the "nexus" — is where most claims run into trouble.
How Ratings Are Assigned
The VA uses the Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) — a massive table that assigns percentages to thousands of conditions based on severity. Ratings are typically 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%.
A 0% rating means the condition is service-connected but not currently disabling enough to warrant compensation. It still matters — it establishes service connection and makes you eligible for VA healthcare.
Multiple Conditions: The Combined Rating
If you have more than one service-connected condition, the VA doesn't simply add them up. It uses the "whole person" method. Start at 100%, apply your highest rating, then apply each remaining rating to what's left. This is why 50% + 50% = 75%, not 100%.
Use our Combined Rating Calculator to see exactly how your specific ratings combine, with step-by-step math.
What Your Rating Actually Gets You
Your rating percentage determines your monthly tax-free compensation payment, your eligibility for VA healthcare, and dozens of federal and state benefits — from property tax exemptions to free hunting licenses to federal hiring preferences.
The higher your rating, the more you qualify for. Use our Benefits Finder to see exactly what your rating has earned you.
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