Are you a veteran in the US looking for a VA rate? Do you think you could get more for your VA rate? A large number of American Veterans have received a medical classification that is lower than what they should be. So if you don’t know a lot about this field, want to understand it better, and learn how it can be approached, read on!
What is a VA rate?
To know if your current rating is underrated or not, it firstly might be worth establishing what one of these rates are in simple terms.
This type of rating is calculated based on the severity of your disability. The rating is expressed as a percentage, demonstrating how much the disability reduces your health and overall ability to function daily. This rating is then used to determine the compensation rate you will receive, calculating how much money you will obtain per month. We can also use this type of rating to determine if you qualify for other benefits, such as VA healthcare.
Whilst you may already be familiar with what a VA rate is, knowing whether you are underrated or not can be a different matter. Read on to learn more.
Want to find out how much extra you could get?
How do VA ratings work?
The rating is based on numerous factors.
For example, it depends on the evidence you supply, such as medical results or a doctor’s report. It is also based on your VA claim exam results, which will determine if you require this exam or not. This is also known as compensation and pension. Finally, other information you provide from other sources, such as federal agencies, will also help work out your overall VA rating. If you have more than one disability, a method is used to determine a combined rating, ensuring that your total rating does not exceed 100%.
There are also other factors you should be looking out for when trying to establish your rating. You could be entitled to larger monthly payments if you have an incredibly serious disability or have lost a limb, if you have a dependent parent, child, or spouse, or if your spouse has a severe disability.
However, your rating may decrease if you have military retirement pay, separation pay, or disability severance pay. If you are imprisoned in a state, deferral, or local facility for more than two months for conviction of a felony, your rating could also end up being less than it otherwise would have been.
Suppose you had a disability before entering the service, but it worsened because of it. In that case, we need to monitor how much worse your preservice disability became due to your military service. We use aggravation levels to work out a fair rate. For example, if your condition was rated as 20% disabling preservice and became 30% disabling because of your military service, the aggravation level would be 10%.
Ratings
If you are a veteran, you could have struggled to establish a VA rating or obtain a rating increase. Indeed, the current average VA rating is pretty underrated. Indeed, in this current year in the US, those receiving a 10% to 20% disability rating aren’t even able to access a higher rate regardless of if you have a dependent parent, child, or spouse.
Those receiving a 30% to 60% disability rating can access an increase in money and may be able to access a higher rating if they have a dependent spouse, parents, and/or children.
Between the 70% and 100% disability rating range, you have a much bigger chance of being eligible for higher rates – especially if you have a dependent to take care of. For example, if your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits, you could qualify for more money on a monthly basis.
So, is your VA rating underrated? If you feel that your rating is underrated or are struggling to establish one in the first place, taking note of the reasons why this might be the case, and the approaches you can take to reduce your issue, could be really beneficial.
Don’t hesitate to contact us today for a free consultation to determine if you are eligible for an upgrade of your rating. After all, there’s a good chance that you are entitled to more if you’ve not paid much attention to your rating so far. You deserve to get the best rating you can!
Want to find out how much extra you could get?
- Those receiving a 10% disability rating currently get $152.64.
- Those receiving a 20% disability rating currently get $301.74.
If you have one of these disability ratings, you will not be able to access a higher rate regardless of if you have a dependent parent, child, or spouse.
- Those receiving a 30% disability rating currently get $467.39.
- Those receiving a 40% disability rating currently get $673.28.
- Those receiving a 50% disability rating currently get $958.44.
- Those receiving a 60% disability rating currently get $1,214.03
Note that if you receive a 30% to 60% disability rating, you may be able to access a higher rating if you have a dependent spouse, parents, and/or children.
- Those receiving a 70% disability rating currently get $1,529.95.
- Those receiving an 80% disability rating currently get $1,778.43.
- Those receiving a 90% disability rating currently get $1,998.52.
- Those receiving a 100% disability rating currently get $3,332.06
Receiving a 70% to 100% rating also means that you may be eligible for higher rates if you have a dependent. For example, if your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits, you could qualify for more money on a monthly basis.
