Rating Guides
How VA disability ratings work for specific conditions, bilateral factor, pyramiding rules, and combined ratings.
100 articles in this topic
PTSD Rating Criteria: 0% to 100% Breakdown
How the VA rates PTSD at each percentage level and what symptoms qualify.
Tinnitus Rating: Why It Is Capped at 10%
The 10% cap on tinnitus ratings and secondary conditions that add more.
Back Pain Rating Criteria: Range of Motion Chart
How the VA rates thoracolumbar spine conditions by range of motion.
Knee Rating Criteria: Flexion, Extension, and Instability
How the VA rates knee conditions under multiple diagnostic codes.
Migraine Rating Criteria: Frequency-Based Ratings
How 0%, 10%, 30%, and 50% migraine ratings are determined.
Sleep Apnea Rating Criteria: CPAP and Beyond
Rating levels for sleep apnea based on treatment requirements.
Hearing Loss Rating Criteria: Audiogram Tables
How the VA converts audiogram results to disability percentages.
Depression Rating Criteria: General Rating Formula
How depression is rated using occupational and social impairment levels.
Anxiety Rating Criteria: Mental Health Ratings
How generalized anxiety disorder is rated at each level.
GERD Rating Criteria: 10%, 30%, and 60%
How the VA rates gastroesophageal reflux disease.
TBI Rating Criteria: 10 Facets of Dysfunction
How the VA evaluates traumatic brain injury across multiple areas.
Hypertension Rating Criteria: Blood Pressure Levels
How blood pressure readings determine your hypertension rating.
Diabetes Type 2 Rating Criteria: Activity Restrictions
How insulin, diet, and activity restrictions affect your diabetes rating.
Asthma Rating Criteria: FEV-1 and PFT Results
How pulmonary function test results determine asthma ratings.
Eczema Rating Criteria: Body Surface Area
How the percentage of skin affected determines your eczema rating.
Shoulder Rating Criteria: Range of Motion Chart
How the VA rates shoulder conditions by arm motion limitation.
Hip Rating Criteria: Flexion, Extension, and Rotation
How the VA rates hip conditions under multiple diagnostic codes.
Ankle Rating Criteria: Range of Motion and Stability
How the VA rates ankle disabilities by limitation and instability.
Cervical Spine Rating Criteria: Neck Condition Ratings
How the VA rates cervical spine conditions by range of motion.
Radiculopathy Rating Criteria: Nerve Group Ratings
How the VA rates radiating nerve pain by severity.
Peripheral Neuropathy Rating Criteria by Nerve Group
How neuropathy ratings vary by affected nerve and severity.
IBS Rating Criteria: Mild, Moderate, and Severe
How the VA rates irritable bowel syndrome at each level.
Flat Feet Rating Criteria: Bilateral and Unilateral
How the VA rates pes planus by severity and bilateral involvement.
Plantar Fasciitis Rating Criteria
How plantar fasciitis is rated under analogous diagnostic codes.
Carpal Tunnel Rating Criteria: Dominant vs Non-Dominant
How CTS ratings differ for major and minor extremities.
Sciatica Rating Criteria: Nerve Impairment Levels
How the VA rates sciatic nerve involvement.
Sinusitis Rating Criteria: Surgery and Incapacitating Episodes
How sinus condition severity determines your rating.
Allergic Rhinitis Rating Criteria: Polyps and Obstruction
How the VA rates rhinitis based on nasal obstruction.
Erectile Dysfunction Rating and SMC-K
How ED gets a 0% rating with Special Monthly Compensation.
Fibromyalgia Rating Criteria: 10%, 20%, and 40%
How the VA rates fibromyalgia based on treatment response.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Rating Criteria
How CFS is rated based on activity restriction levels.
Scar Rating Criteria: Size, Pain, and Instability
How the VA rates scars by location, size, and characteristics.
Coronary Artery Disease Rating: METs and Ejection Fraction
How the VA rates CAD using exercise capacity and heart function.
Atrial Fibrillation Rating Criteria
How the VA rates AFib and other heart rhythm disorders.
COPD Rating Criteria: PFT Results Chart
How the VA rates COPD using pulmonary function tests.
Varicose Veins Rating Criteria
How the VA rates varicose veins by symptoms and complications.
Hemorrhoids Rating Criteria: Mild to Severe
How the VA rates hemorrhoids at 0%, 10%, and 20%.
Gout Rating Criteria: Active Process and Residuals
How the VA rates gout during active episodes and chronic residuals.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Rating Criteria
How RA is rated as an active process or by individual joint limitation.
Lupus Rating Criteria: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
How the VA rates lupus based on exacerbation frequency.
VA Combined Rating Table: Complete Reference
The official combined rating table showing how multiple ratings combine.
Bilateral Factor Calculation: Step by Step
How to calculate the bilateral factor for paired extremity disabilities.
Pyramiding Examples: When Ratings Overlap
Real examples of how the pyramiding rule affects multiple claims.
Staged Ratings: Different Percentages Over Time
When and why the VA assigns different ratings for different periods.
Protected Rating Timelines: 5, 10, and 20 Years
When your rating becomes protected from reduction.
0% Rating Benefits: What a Non-Compensable Rating Gets You
Benefits available with a 0% service-connected rating.
10% VA Rating: Compensation and Benefits
Monthly pay and additional benefits at the 10% level.
30% VA Rating: Dependent Pay Unlocked
How 30% ratings add dependent compensation.
50% VA Rating: Compensation and TDIU Eligibility
Benefits and pay at 50% with a path to TDIU.
70% VA Rating: Near-Total Disability Benefits
Compensation and benefits at the 70% level.
100% VA Rating: Full Benefits Breakdown
Everything you get at 100% schedular or TDIU.
Permanent and Total Rating: What It Means
How P&T status affects your benefits and dependent eligibility.
Dominant vs Non-Dominant Hand Ratings
How ratings differ for major and minor extremity conditions.
Amputation Ratings: By Level and Extremity
How the VA rates amputations based on level and limb.
General Rating Formula for Mental Health
The occupational and social impairment criteria for all mental health ratings.
Musculoskeletal Rating Principles: DeLuca Factors
How pain, fatigue, and flare-ups affect musculoskeletal ratings.
Range of Motion Testing: What the VA Measures
How ROM testing works and what examiners document.
Painful Motion: Getting a Compensable Rating at 10%
How painful motion guarantees at least a 10% rating for joints.
Functional Loss Ratings Beyond Range of Motion
How the VA considers functional impairment beyond raw ROM numbers.
Flare-Up Documentation for Higher Ratings
How documenting flare-ups can increase your disability rating.
METs Testing for Heart Condition Ratings
How metabolic equivalent testing determines cardiac disability ratings.
PFT Testing for Lung Condition Ratings
How pulmonary function tests determine respiratory ratings.
Audiogram Tables for Hearing Loss Ratings
How Roman numeral designations translate to hearing loss percentages.
Skin Condition Ratings: Body Percentage Method
How to measure and document body surface area for skin ratings.
GI Condition Rating Criteria Overview
How the VA rates digestive system conditions across diagnostic codes.
Endocrine System Rating Criteria Overview
How the VA rates thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary conditions.
Neurological Rating Criteria Overview
How the VA rates nerve damage and neurological conditions.
Respiratory Rating Criteria Overview
How the VA rates all lung and breathing conditions.
Cardiovascular Rating Criteria Overview
How the VA rates heart and blood vessel conditions.
Genitourinary Rating Criteria Overview
How the VA rates kidney, bladder, and reproductive conditions.
Dental and Oral Rating Criteria
How the VA rates dental conditions and jaw disorders.
Eye and Vision Rating Criteria
How the VA rates visual acuity loss and eye conditions.
Ear Rating Criteria Beyond Hearing Loss
How the VA rates ear conditions including vertigo and Meniere's.
Muscle Injury Rating Criteria: Muscle Groups
How the VA rates muscle injuries by group and severity.
Gynecological Condition Rating Criteria
How the VA rates conditions specific to women veterans.
Housebound SMC Criteria and Rating Requirements
When you qualify for housebound Special Monthly Compensation.
Aid and Attendance Criteria and Rating Requirements
Specific criteria for qualifying for A&A benefits.
SMC-K Criteria: Loss of Use and Organ Loss
Conditions that qualify for SMC at the K rate.
SMC-S Criteria: Housebound Rate
How to qualify for SMC at the S (housebound) rate.
SMC-L Through O: Higher SMC Tiers
Understanding the higher levels of Special Monthly Compensation.
Extraschedular Rating Criteria: When Standard Codes Fail
How to qualify for ratings outside the standard schedule.
Temporary Total Rating Criteria: Paragraph 29 and 30
Qualification criteria for temporary 100% ratings.
Rating Reduction Criteria: When the VA Can Lower Ratings
The legal standards the VA must meet to reduce your rating.
Total Disability Ratings and Permanence Standards
How the VA determines whether a total rating is permanent.
Combined Rating Calculator: Step-by-Step Math
How to calculate your own combined rating using VA math.
Rounding Rules for VA Combined Ratings
How the VA rounds combined ratings to the nearest 10%.
Protected Rating Legal Standards
The legal standards behind 5, 10, and 20-year rating protection.
Diagnostic Code Selection: How It Affects Your Rating
Why the DC assigned to your condition matters for your maximum rating.
Analogous Rating Examples: Real Cases
How the VA rates conditions without specific diagnostic codes.
Rating Effective Date Rules for Each Claim Type
How effective dates are assigned for original, increase, and reopened claims.
VA Compensation Rate Tables: All Percentages
Complete monthly pay rates for every rating percentage and dependent situation.
Dependent Rate Calculations: How Family Size Affects Pay
How adding dependents increases monthly compensation at 30% and above.
VA COLA Adjustment: Annual Rate Increases
How annual cost of living adjustments increase VA disability pay.
CRSC: Combat-Related Special Compensation Criteria
How CRSC works for military retirees with combat-related disabilities.
CRDP: Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay
How CRDP allows receipt of both military retirement and VA disability.
Sleep Disorder Rating Criteria Overview
How the VA rates all sleep-related conditions including apnea and insomnia.
Infectious Disease Rating Criteria
How the VA rates service-connected infectious diseases and their residuals.
Autoimmune Condition Rating Criteria Overview
How the VA rates lupus, RA, MS, and other autoimmune conditions.
Burn Injury Rating Criteria: Scar and Tissue Damage
How the VA rates burn injuries by depth, location, and scarring.
Amputation and Prosthetic Rating Details
Detailed rating criteria for amputations at each anatomical level.