As a U.S. service member, you put your civilian life on hold to serve your country. Depending on your role in the military, your physical and mental well-being may have been compromised during service.
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If you develop a disability that resulted from military service, you may be eligible for monthly, tax-free compensation based on the rating the VA assigns to your disability. Although a 10% disability rating may seem insignificant, it can have a real impact. In this article, we explain what VA disability is, what a 10% VA disability rating means for you, and why a 10% VA disability is worth pursuing.
In this article about 10% VA disability ratings:
What is VA disability?
VA disability compensation is a monthly tax-free benefit paid to veterans who are at least 10% disabled because of injuries, health conditions, or other diseases that were incurred or made worse due to military service. This includes veterans who participated in active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.
A physical or mental disability caused or worsened by military service may be considered related to service and can be service connected.
To determine the amount of monthly compensation a veteran receives, the VA assigns a rating between 0% and 100% depending on criteria listed in the Schedule for Rating Disabilities in the Code of Federal Regulations. These compensation ratings are assigned in 10% increments.
This rating, expressed as a percentage, typically represents how much the veteran’s disability decreases their overall health and ability to function, and determines what the veteran’s monthly compensation is. Monthly compensation ranges from [VArating10] to [VArating100].
Although there is no compensation for a 0% rating, the VA recognizes that you have a condition caused by service – it’s just not significant enough to warrant payment.
In this blog, we’re focusing on the lowest compensable, or payable, rating: 10%.
How to calculate combined ratings using VA math
If you have just one disability rated at 10%, it’s easy to look at the compensation chart and determine how much monthly compensation you’ll receive.
However, veterans who are getting disability payments are service-connected for over 6 conditions on average. If you have multiple service-connected conditions, the VA uses its combined ratings table to calculate your overall rating.
To combine ratings, the VA does not simply add your ratings together and use that number. It uses what we call “VA math”.
The VA looks at disability ratings in two ways:
- Disability: The amount of economic impact that has been removed from your working capacity due to a service connected condition.
- Efficiency: What remains of your working capacity
If you have no disabilities, you are 0% disabled 100% efficient. If you are 10% disabled, your efficiency is 90%. This means, you still have 90% of your working capacity left. We explain more about how the calculation works in our video below.
Because VA ratings for multiple conditions are combined, it’s possible for a 10% disability rating for one condition to increase a veteran’s overall combined rating. However, it’s important to note that the less remaining efficiency you have, the less effect a 10% rating for a single condition will have on your combined rating.
If calculating your combined rating seems difficult, that’s understandable. VA math is notoriously tricky and frustrating. We have created a calculator to help.
How much is 10% VA disability worth?
A veteran must have a combined disability rating of at least 10% to qualify for VA monthly compensation. The current monthly payment for a 10% disability rating is [VArating10].
The current rates for a veteran with no dependents are listed in the table below.
| Disability Rating | Monthly Payment (veteran only) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $175.51 |
| 20% | $346.95 |
| 30% | $537.42 |
| 40% | $774.16 |
| 50% | $1,102.04 |
| 60% | $1,395.93 |
| 70% | $1,759.19 |
| 80% | $2,044.89 |
| 90% | $2,2297.96 |
| 100% | $3,831.30 |
10% VA disability and dependents
VA payments typically increase when the veteran has a spouse or dependent children or parents. However, vets with a total combined VA disability rating of 10% will not be paid any additional amount for dependents. Only combined ratings of 30% or higher pay extra if the veteran has dependents.
Is it worth it to get a 10% VA disability rating?
Now you might be wondering if getting a 10% disability rating is even worth it. As we previously mentioned, when the VA combines ratings, a 10% rating doesn’t move the needle very far. This is especially true the higher your combined rating gets. In fact, in some cases, adding a single 10% rating for a condition doesn’t change a total combined rating at all.
However, getting a 10% rating can be worthwhile, and can even be significant.
10% VA ratings and secondary conditions
Perhaps most importantly, a 10% rating could create a pathway to VA disability for secondary conditions.
One example of this would be getting your tinnitus service connected. 10% is the only rating possible for tinnitus.
VA disability lawyer Zack Evans explained, “When it comes to being rated for your tinnitus by the VA, the max rating is only 10%. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but don’t be fooled. The impact can be significant, and sometimes it can serve as a useful bridge to other conditions.”
If your tinnitus is causing headaches, by service-connecting your tinnitus, you’ve now created a path to getting secondary VA disability for your headaches.
This is just one example. Many conditions that can be service connected may seem insignificant on their own, but could be causing additional health issues. These secondary health issues may also be eligible for VA compensation, but you need to be able to show they are linked to your service or another service-connected condition.
“Everyone was extremely professional and seemed to be very concerned with my case. They always keep me informed about my case and the process. I would recommend in a minute.”
M.S., an Army vet in Oklahoma
From a Google review for Woods & Woods
10% VA ratings and worsening health conditions
Another reason getting a 10% VA disability rating for your condition can be worthwhile is because the process is slow and health changes. Applying now for a condition that may only be 10% disabling can help you establish service connection early when it’s often easier to gather evidence to support your claim. Also, if the condition worsens over time, as many health conditions do, it may be easier to appeal for an increased rating than to start your claim from scratch.
Overall, it’s worth it to go after a 10% rating. Even if it’s for just one disability, filing a claim and receiving a 10% rating means that the VA recognizes that you have a disability that was caused by military service. And now, you have a pathway to file a claim if the condition worsens or for a potential secondary disability down the road.
How Woods and Woods can help
Our team of VA-accredited attorneys, legal analysts, case managers, and intake specialists help veterans nationwide get the benefits they deserve. If you’re tired of appealing one VA decision after another, call us today for a free case evaluation.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A veteran with a single 10% VA disability rating receives [VArating10] per month, and their compensation does not increase even if the veteran is married or has dependents.
It’s worth it to go after a 10% rating. Even if it’s for just one disability, filing a claim and receiving a 10% rating means that the VA recognizes that you have a disability that was caused by military service. You also now have a pathway to file a claim for a potential secondary disability down the road. It is also easier to file for an increased rating after service connection is already established.
Neil Woods
VA disability attorney
Woods & Woods
Neil Woods is the firm’s owner and president. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
