How to Successfully Navigate the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) for Your VA Claim

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When it comes to getting the VA disability rating and compensation you deserve, understanding the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) is one of the most critical steps in your journey.

The VASRD is essentially the VA’s guidebook that helps determine how much compensation you receive based on the severity of your service-connected condition.

Governed by Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 4 the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities provides VA raters with a framework for evaluating over 800 physical and mental health conditions for VA disability benefits.

This article will break down exactly how to use the VASRD, step-by-step, so you can ensure you’re armed with the right information to potentially win your VA claim faster.

Summary of Key Points

• The VASRD: The VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) is the guidebook the VA uses to assign ratings and compensation based on the severity of service-connected conditions. It is governed by Title 38 CFR, Part 4 and lists over 800 conditions across 15 body systems.

• Diagnostic Codes and Rating Percentages: Each condition in the VASRD is assigned a diagnostic code (DC), with percentage ratings ranging from 0% to 100%. These percentages reflect the average impairment in earning capacity caused by the condition.

• Analogous and Equivalent Ratings: When a condition is not specifically listed in the VASRD, the VA assigns an analogous rating by evaluating it under a closely related condition with similar symptoms and effects, ensuring veterans receive appropriate ratings for rare or unique disabilities.

• The Importance of Strong Medical Evidence: To secure a favorable rating, veterans must provide comprehensive medical documentation, including diagnoses, nexus letters, and lay evidence, to support their claim and match their symptoms to the VASRD criteria. Don’t ever forget: Medical evidence wins VA claims!

What is the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD)?

The VASRD is the law that governs 15 body different body systems and over 800 VA disability conditions, and their ratings based on the severity of your symptoms.

It’s a comprehensive guide designed to translate medical diagnoses into percentage ratings, which reflect the average impairment of earnings capacity that a condition has on a veteran’s ability to function in the civilian workforce.

These percentages range from 0% to 100% in increments of 10%.

The higher your VA rating percentage, the more compensation you’ll receive.

Each condition is assigned a diagnostic code (DC), and under that code, you’ll find the specific criteria the VA uses to determine your rating percentage.

The rating percentages are designed to represent the average impairment in earning capacity for veterans with that condition.

The VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) is organized by 15 body systems as follows:

• Cardiovascular System

• Dental and Oral Conditions

• Digestive System

• Endocrine System

• Genitourinary System

• Gynecological Conditions and Disorders of the Breast

• Hemic and Lymphatic Systems

• Impairment of Auditory Acuity

• Infectious Diseases, Immune Disorders, and Nutritional Deficiencies

• Mental Disorders

• Musculoskeletal System

• Neurological Conditions and Convulsive Disorders

• Organs of Special Sense

• Respiratory System

• Skin

Key Concepts and Principles of the Veterans Affairs Rating Schedule

Here’s a list of 22 key concepts and principles that are revealed and explained in the VASRD:

1. Purpose and Structure of the VASRD

The VASRD is designed to quantify the impact of service-connected disabilities on a veteran’s ability to work, based on average impairment in earning capacity. The ratings range from 0% to 100%, assigned in 10% increments. Ratings reflect the severity of the disability and determine the level of monthly compensation a veteran is entitled to receive.

2. Diagnostic Codes (DCs)

Each service-connected condition is assigned a diagnostic code (DC), which provides specific criteria to evaluate the severity of the condition. The VASRD contains over 800 diagnostic codes categorized by 15 body systems, including the Musculoskeletal, Cardiovascular, Neurological, and Mental Disorders systems. Diagnostic codes ensure that conditions are rated consistently based on their symptoms and functional impact.

3. Analogous Ratings

Not all conditions are explicitly listed in the VASRD. When a condition lacks a direct match, the VA assigns an analogous rating under a DC for a closely related condition with similar symptoms or effects on function. This ensures that rare or unique conditions are still fairly evaluated and rated.

4. Combined Ratings

Veterans with multiple service-connected conditions receive a combined rating using the VA’s Combined Rating Table under 38 CFR §4.25. This process is not a simple addition of ratings but follows a formula that accounts for the cumulative impact of each condition. The combined rating reflects the overall level of disability and its effect on earning capacity.

5. Painful Motion Principle

Under 38 CFR §4.59, the VA must consider the painful motion principle when evaluating musculoskeletal conditions. If pain is evident during movement, even if the range of motion is normal, the VA must assign a minimum compensable rating. This principle ensures that veterans receive compensation for functional loss due to pain.

6. Functional Loss and Pain

The VA also evaluates functional loss due to pain, weakness, or instability under 38 CFR §4.40 and §4.45. These sections require the VA to consider how pain affects a veteran’s range of motion and overall functional ability. For musculoskeletal disabilities, this principle ensures that even if objective measurements (like range of motion) are normal, the VA must factor in the veteran’s subjective pain experience.

7. Prohibition Against Pyramiding

The principle of pyramiding—rating the same disability or symptom under multiple diagnostic codes—is prohibited under 38 CFR §4.14. A single condition or set of symptoms should not be compensated more than once, even if they are related to multiple disabilities. The VA ensures that veterans are not “double-counted” for the same impairment.

8. Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU)

Under 38 CFR §4.16, veterans who cannot maintain substantially gainful employment due to their service-connected disabilities, even if their combined rating is less than 100%, can receive compensation at the 100% level through Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). This provision ensures that veterans who are unemployable due to their conditions receive appropriate compensation.

9. Permanent and Total (P&T) Ratings

A veteran may be awarded a Permanent and Total (P&T) disability rating when the VA determines that their disability is both permanent (unlikely to improve) and total (rated at 100%). Veterans with P&T status are exempt from routine future evaluations and are eligible for additional benefits, including Chapter 35 Dependents’ Educational Assistance and some state-level benefits.

10. Benefit of the Doubt Rule

Under 38 CFR §4.3, when the evidence for and against a claim is in relative equipoise—meaning it’s equally balanced—the Benefit of the Doubt rule requires the VA to resolve the doubt in favor of the veteran. This rule plays a critical role in ensuring that veterans are not unfairly denied compensation when evidence is inconclusive.

11. Staged Ratings

Staged ratings may be assigned when a veteran’s disability fluctuates over time. The VA can assign different ratings for different periods, reflecting the changing severity of the condition. This approach ensures that a veteran is fairly compensated for the periods when their disability was more severe (38 CFR §4.7).

12. Evaluation of Mental Disorders

Mental health conditions, such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety, are evaluated using the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders found in 38 CFR §4.130. These conditions are rated based on the level of occupational and social impairment, with ratings ranging from 0% to 100% depending on the severity and frequency of symptoms.

13. Temporary Total Ratings

Temporary total disability ratings are assigned under 38 CFR §§4.29 and 4.30 for veterans who are hospitalized for more than 21 days or recovering from surgery. These temporary ratings provide compensation at the 100% level for the duration of hospitalization or recovery, even if the underlying condition is rated at a lower percentage.

14. Extra-Schedular Ratings

In exceptional cases where a veteran’s disability presents unusual or unique circumstances not adequately covered by the regular rating criteria, the VA may assign an extra-schedular rating under 38 CFR §3.321(b). This allows the VA to account for disabilities that cause a greater impact than what is considered by the standard rating criteria.

15. Aggravation of Pre-Existing Conditions

If a veteran entered service with a pre-existing condition that worsened due to service, the VA will rate only the degree of aggravation caused by service under 38 CFR §4.22. Veterans are compensated for the additional impairment attributable to their time in service, not for the pre-existing level of disability.

16. Effective Dates and Retroactive Payments

The effective date of a disability rating is typically the date the VA received the claim or when the evidence shows the condition began, whichever is later. 38 CFR §3.400 governs the rules on effective dates, which are crucial for determining the amount of back pay a veteran is owed. Retroactive payments may be awarded if the VA finds that a veteran’s condition has been service-connected for a longer period than originally assessed.

17. Extra Ratings for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)

Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) is awarded under 38 CFR §3.350 for veterans with severe disabilities or a combination of disabilities that result in greater impairment. SMC provides compensation above the standard disability rating, such as for the loss of a limb, loss of use of extremities, blindness, or need for aid and attendance.

18. Marginal Employment Exception for TDIU

Marginal employment (earnings below the poverty threshold) does not preclude a veteran from being eligible for TDIU benefits under 38 CFR §4.16(a). Veterans who can only perform marginal work due to their disabilities can still qualify for TDIU.

19. Avoidance of Reductions in Permanent Ratings

Once a disability is deemed permanent, the VA generally cannot reduce the rating unless there is evidence of fraud or significant improvement under 38 CFR §3.327. This principle helps protect veterans from unjust reductions in compensation.

20. Protected VA Ratings

Under 38 CFR §3.951(b), if a veteran’s disability rating has been in place for 20 years or more, it becomes protected, meaning the VA cannot reduce it unless there is evidence of fraud. Similarly, 10-year protections under 38 CFR §3.957 prevent the VA from severing service connection unless fraud is involved.

21. Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE)

A Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE) occurs when there is an undebatable error in a VA decision. Veterans can file a CUE claim to have a decision reviewed and potentially reversed if such an error is proven under 38 CFR §3.105(a).

22. Sustained Improvement Requirement for Reductions

When reducing a disability rating, the VA must show that the veteran’s condition has demonstrated sustained improvement under 38 CFR §3.344. Temporary or intermittent improvements cannot justify a reduction.

How to Use the VASRD for Your VA Disability Claim

If you’re attempting to navigate the VA disability system, knowing how to use the VASRD is mission critical to getting the VA rating and compensation you deserve faster.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you successfully utilize the VASRD for your VA disability claim:

Step #1: Find Your Condition Name and Diagnostic Code (DC)

The first step to using the VASRD is to find the condition name and diagnostic code (DC) for your service-connected condition.

You can also hit the “Ctrl + F” function on your keyboard to search the VASRD by the name or keyword of your condition.

Step #2: Understand the Rating Criteria for Your Condition

Once you’ve found the correct condition and diagnostic code, it’s time to understand the rating criteria for your condition.

The VASRD assigns percentage ratings based on how severe your condition is and how it negatively impacts your work, life, and social functioning.

Some conditions have simple rating criteria (like tinnitus, which is rated at 10%), while others, such as PTSD or back conditions, have more complex criteria that involve symptoms and the frequency or severity of flare-ups.

Here’s how the VA generally breaks down different rating levels:

• Mild: Often rated at 0%-10%. These ratings are for conditions that are present but don’t severely impact your ability to work or carry out daily activities.

• Moderate: Typically rated from 20%-50%. These conditions show more frequent or severe symptoms that do affect your quality of life.

• Severe: Ratings from 60%-100%. These conditions significantly impair your ability to work, perform daily activities, or require hospitalization.

Let’s take PTSD (Diagnostic Code 9411) as an example:

• 100% rating: Total occupational and social impairment (e.g., persistent danger of hurting oneself or others, grossly inappropriate behavior, memory loss for names of close relatives, or disorientation to time or place).

• 70% rating: Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas (e.g., near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, suicidal ideation, impaired impulse control).

• 50% rating: Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity (e.g., panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty in understanding complex commands, impaired judgment).

• 30% rating: Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (e.g., depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment).

• 10% rating: Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency and ability to perform tasks only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication.

• 0% rating: A diagnosis of PTSD is present, but symptoms do not interfere with occupational and social functioning or require continuous medication.

Pro Tip: Always match your symptoms with the rating criteria in the VASRD. Be honest, but don’t downplay your symptoms—document everything in your records!

Step #3: Use Both 38 CFR Part 4 and M21-1 to Strengthen Your Claim

One of the most important parts of navigating the VASRD is knowing how to use 38 CFR and M21-1 to your advantage.

• 38 CFR, Part 4: This is the regulatory authority that outlines all the rating criteria. It’s essential to reference the specific sections of 38 CFR that relate to your condition.

• M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual: This manual guides VA raters on how to evaluate and decide claims. Understanding the M21-1 can give you insights into how VA raters are trained to assess your condition, helping you build a stronger case.

You can cite specific parts of the M21-1 to argue that your condition deserves a higher rating based on the evidence you provide.

Pro Tip: When gathering evidence, make sure to refer to 38 CFR, Part 4 and M21-1 to ensure you’re meeting all the requirements. This can make or break your claim!

Step #4: Ensure You Have Strong Medical Evidence

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): Medical evidence wins VA disability claims!

Your final VA rating will be based on how well your medical evidence supports the criteria outlined in the VASRD.

This is why having comprehensive medical evidence can literally make or break your VA claim.

Here’s what you should aim to include:

• Medical Diagnosis: Ensure your condition is diagnosed in a medical record.

• Nexus Letter: This is a key piece of evidence from a private healthcare provider that helps explain the connection between your current condition and your military service.

• VA Form 21-4138: This is a statement in support of your claim, where you can explain how your condition affects your work, life, and social functioning.

• Lay Evidence: Statements from family, friends, and buddies you served with can be important to help fill in gaps in your records.

Step #5: Appeal If Your Claim Was Previously Denied or Underrated

If your VA claim was denied or underrated according to the VASRD criteria, you have multiple options to appeal the rating decision.

You can:

• Request a Higher-Level Review (HLR): If you believe the VA made a mistake in applying the law. This is a good first step.

• File a VA Supplemental Claim: If you have new and relevant evidence that wasn’t considered in your initial claim. This is a good second step unless you have critical evidence to provide the VA that wasn’t available at the time of the denail or underrating.

• File a Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) appeal: This is a good last resort if neither the HLR nor Supplemental Claim options are successful.

Limitations of the VASRD

The VASRD, while comprehensive, has its limitations.

For example, it does not list analogous or equivalent diagnostic codes (DCs) for all conditions.

There are actually over 900 conditions eligible for VA disability benefits, but some—especially rare or unique conditions—aren’t directly listed in the VASRD.

In such cases, the VA assigns an analogous rating, using a condition with similar symptoms.

This can lead to subjectivity and inconsistent ratings.

To ensure accurate ratings, veterans must provide detailed medical documentation to help the VA make the best analogous determination.

Conclusion & Wrap-Up

Navigating the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) is crucial for veterans seeking the disability compensation they deserve.

By understanding how to find your diagnostic code, interpret the rating criteria, and use the 38 CFR and M21-1, you can make a strong case for your VA claim.

Remember, it’s not just about what’s written in your medical records—it’s about how well you can connect those records to the rating criteria.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure about how to proceed with your VA disability, we got your six!

Don’t leave your rating to chance—get the rating and compensation you’ve earned for your service to our country by making sure your VA claim is rock solid from the start!

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