If you are a US veteran who receives disability benefits, you will have received a disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This rating is critical because it determines what benefits you are legally entitled to. But how exactly does the VA determine your disability rating, and what might you be able to do to change it?
What is a Disability Rating?
A disability rating is a numerical value that is meant to describe how severe a person’s service-related disabilities are. This number is typically expressed as a percentage, so a veteran may be considered anywhere between 0% disabled (with no service-related disabilities) and 100% disabled (meaning they are as disabled as the rating system can measure). The higher a veteran’s rating, the greater the amount of benefits they are able to receive.
How Does the Rating Get Decided?
A veteran’s disability rating is determined based on a number of factors, including what service-related disabilities they have and how severe they are. Ratings from different disabilities are combined, meaning the more disabilities you have, the higher your rating will be. However, only service-related disabilities count towards this calculation, meaning you will not receive benefits for disabilities with no connection to your military service.
How Might Your Disability Rating Change?
There are a few ways your disability rating may change. For example, if your disability gets more severe over time, your rating may increase to reflect your worsening health. However, you may also be able to appeal your disability rating to increase the benefits you receive, such as by providing additional evidence relating your disability to your service, or by showing how severe it actually is.
What Should You Do?
If you have a VA disability rating and want to appeal it, you should speak to a lawyer with experience handling VA disability claims. They can review your circumstances and determine if you may be entitled to higher benefits. The sooner you get in contact with them, the sooner they can get to work for you.
The attorneys of Sullivan & Kehoe place a special focus on assisting disabled veterans. Our veterans’ disability lawyers are still available for remote consultation on your legal issues. Call our office at (800) 395-7830 to schedule a consultation in our New York City, Garden City, Kings Park, Riverhead, or White Plains office, or visit our contact page.
