The VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities: A Veteran’s Roadmap Through the Rating Maze

I’ve been where you are. Standing at the edge of what feels like an endless bureaucratic maze, trying to make sense of a system that sometimes seems designed to wear you down rather than lift you up. The VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) isn’t just another government document – it’s the key that can unlock the door to the benefits you’ve earned through blood, sweat, and sacrifice.

What Is This Beast Called the VASRD?

Think of the VASRD as the VA’s rulebook – the bible they use to translate your pain, your struggles, and your limitations into a percentage. That percentage isn’t just a number; it’s recognition of what service has cost you. It’s the difference between making rent or not, between medication covered or out-of-pocket, between acknowledgment and invisibility. The VASRD catalogs every condition from combat wounds to the invisible scars of PTSD, assigning each a diagnostic code and criteria for different rating levels. Each percentage represents not just severity but the impact on your daily life – your ability to work, to function, to simply exist as you once did.

How the System Actually Works

The Evaluation Dance

I remember submitting my first claim and feeling like I was sending pieces of myself into a black hole. When you file, the VA pores through your service and medical records, matching your conditions to those diagnostic codes in the VASRD. It’s not just about having a condition – it’s about how that condition manifests and limits you.

Those Critical Percentage Ratings

The system runs from 0% to 100% in 10% increments. A 0% rating is the VA saying, “We see you, but not enough to pay you.” A 100% rating acknowledges total disability. Each step between represents a different level of limitation – and a different level of monthly compensation. I’ve seen too many brothers and sisters get hung up on these percentages, seeing them as validation or invalidation of their suffering. Remember: these numbers don’t define your service or your sacrifice. The VA will not validate you but they will compensate you, it’s frustrating I know but that is the system.

The Combined Ratings Shell Game

Here’s where things get tricky – and where I’ve seen countless veterans get confused and shortchanged. If you’re like most of us, you’ve got multiple service-connected conditions. But the VA doesn’t simply add them up. Two 50% ratings don’t equal 100%. Instead, they use a combined ratings formula that feels more like a casino game than simple math. Your 30% and 20% ratings won’t give you 50% – they’ll combine to something less. It’s not about cheating you; it’s about accounting for the whole person. But knowing this ahead of time saves the bitter taste of surprise later.

What This Means for You and Your Family

Understanding this system isn’t just about getting what you deserve – though that matters deeply. It’s about stability. It’s about knowing your spouse won’t have to work three jobs because you can’t work at all. It’s about your kids having opportunities despite the sacrifices your service has demanded.

The Hidden Goldmine of Retroactive Pay

One bright spot in this complex system: retroactive pay. If you’ve been fighting an appeal for years and finally win, or if the VA made an error in your initial rating, those back payments can be substantial. I’ve seen veterans receive checks that changed their lives – covering debts, providing housing security, or simply giving breathing room after years of financial strain.

The Long Road of Appeals

If the VA gets it wrong – and they often do – the appeals process awaits. I won’t sugarcoat it: this process could piss off the Pope. But I’ve walked alongside veterans who fought for years and finally received justice. Your persistence matters. Your advocacy for yourself matters.

Myths That Keep Us From What We’ve Earned

“Higher Ratings Always Mean More Benefits”

Yes and no. While higher percentage ratings generally mean larger monthly payments, certain conditions at lower percentages might qualify you for additional benefits or services. A 50% PTSD rating might open doors that a 60% physical disability doesn’t. The system is more nuanced than many realize.

“I Can’t Work At All To Get Benefits”

I’ve counseled veterans who quit jobs they needed because they thought employment would jeopardize their benefits. The reality is more complex. Programs like Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) recognize that some veterans can work in limited capacities while still being effectively disabled in the competitive job market.

Battle-Tested Strategies for Navigating the System

1. Document Everything Like Your Life Depends On It – Because financially, it might. Every appointment, every flare-up, every medication change tells the story of your disability.
2. Find Your Battle Buddies – Organizations like DAV, American Legion, and yes, communities like HadIt.com, exist because no one should face this system alone. The right Veterans Service Officer can be worth their weight in gold. They are rare, but they are out there.
3. Stay Vigilant About Changes – The VASRD gets updated periodically. A change in criteria could mean a change in your rating – for better or worse. To stay on top of proposed changes consult the Federal Register. Here’s a link to a query that will show you all past and future proposed changes to the Rating Schedule (VASRD). The Federal Register is published daily.

   

4. Don’t Dismiss Mental Health – I’ve seen too many of us focus solely on physical wounds while suffering in silence with PTSD, depression, or anxiety. Your mind deserves healing as much as your body.
5. Embrace the Long Fight – Some of the most significant victories I’ve witnessed came after years of appeals and setbacks. The VA counts on veterans giving up. Don’t.

The Journey Continues

The VASRD isn’t just a government document – it’s a roadmap through a territory that can feel hostile and confusing. Understanding it empowers you to advocate effectively for yourself and for your brothers and sisters. Every percentage point matters. Every diagnostic code represents real human suffering. Every successful claim represents not just financial compensation but acknowledgment of sacrifice. I founded HadIt.com because I believed veterans deserved better than to navigate this system alone. Twenty-eight years later, I still believe that. Your struggle matters. Your persistence matters. And most importantly, you are not alone on this journey. Whether you’re just beginning this process or deep in the trenches of an appeal, remember: this is not charity. These are benefits you’ve earned through service and sacrifice. Stand tall and fight for what’s yours. The battle didn’t end when you took off the uniform. It just changed terrain. And in this fight, knowledge is your most powerful weapon.