Temporary 100% VA disability ratings provide total compensation to veterans during specific times of need. Veterans undergoing qualifying surgeries, cancer treatments, lengthy hospitalizations, or who are newly discharged with an unstable condition may all be able to receive temporary 100% ratings. After these periods, the VA will reevaluate the condition to determine any changes to the disability rating.
We explain more about what a temporary rating means and when the VA will assign a veteran one.
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In this article about temporary 100% VA disability:
What is temporary VA disability?
Service-connected disabilities can change throughout a veteran’s life. Injuries can heal, infections can worsen, and new conditions can develop as a result of old ones. Because of these changes, most VA disability ratings are actually considered temporary.
Temporary ratings can change as the disability changes. While the VA may have a specific follow-up plan to monitor changes in your condition, it often relies on veterans to report changes in their condition.
Additionally, temporary 100% VA disability ratings may be awarded in special cases, like during a hospitalization or during cancer treatment, which we will focus on below.
When is a VA disability NOT temporary?
Permanent disabilities are not expected to change or improve during the vet’s lifetime. Additionally, veterans who are 55 or older are also exempt from routine future examinations, as well as veterans who have had a continuous rating for a condition for 20 years or more.
There are also total and permanent disabilities. These conditions are unlikely to change. Veterans with a permanent and total (P&T) rating get monthly benefits at the 100% level for life, with no reductions or reevaluations.
Examples of temporary 100% VA disability
While many VA ratings are technically temporary, there are specific situations where a veteran may be assigned a temporary total, or 100%, VA disability rating.
The VA designed these temporary ratings to provide full compensation benefits when a veteran’s condition is expected to be particularly severe or debilitating but will likely only last temporarily.
Here are four main scenarios where you might receive a temporary 100% VA disability rating.
Temporary 100% VA disability after surgery
Recovering from surgery can be a tough and lengthy process. The VA recognizes this and provides temporary 100% disability ratings for veterans undergoing surgeries related to their service-connected disabilities. The benefit is designed to help them through their recovery.
You may qualify for this rating if you need surgery for a service-connected condition or require a cast, and your recovery time is expected to be a month or more. The other criteria to receive this rating is that the surgery must have resulted in severe complications or issues.
The VA considers severe issues to be wounds that aren’t healing properly, recent amputations, or severely limited mobility that makes it hard to leave your house. This includes the need for a wheelchair or crutches during your recovery.
In these cases, the VA may grant you a 100% rating ranging from one to three months. If your condition is particularly severe, you can request an extension of up to three additional months.
Temporary 100% VA disability for hospitalization
Even without undergoing surgery, you may be eligible for a temporary 100% disability rating. If you’ve been hospitalized for 21 days or more due to a service-connected condition, you may qualify for a temporary 100% disability rating. This rating applies whether you’re receiving treatment or simply under hospital observation.
A temporary 100% rating can also help cover additional expenses and provide peace of mind during your hospital stay.
Once you’re discharged from the hospital, your rating will typically revert to its previous level until your next evaluation.
Temporary 100% VA disability for cancer
Temporary ratings for cancer work a little differently than those for hospitalization or surgery complications, but they still provide 100% disability on a temporary basis.
If you’re diagnosed with service-connected cancer, you qualify for a temporary 100% disability rating as long as the cancer is active. This rating continues through your treatment and for six months following your last treatment session.
Six months post-treatment, the VA will reevaluate your condition.
“After the cancer treatment has concluded and six months has past, cancers are usually rated on the residuals the veteran experiences because of either the cancer itself or the treatment they endured to treat the cancer,” said VA disability lawyer Lori Underwood. “For example, chemotherapy is known to cause a number of permanent secondary side effects that could be ratable in and of themselves, including hearing loss, nerve damage, and heart conditions.”
Occasionally, other conditions like restrictive lung diseases will have similar stipulations about temporary total ratings, but cancer is by far the most common.
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Prestabilization temporary VA disability
Another type of temporary VA disability comes in the form of prestabilization ratings. When you have recently completed active military service and are dealing with an ongoing, unstable condition, the VA offers a prestabilization temporary disability rating to support you during the uncertain period immediately following your discharge. This rating is designed to assist you while your condition may still be changing.
Unlike the previously mentioned temporary ratings, a prestabilization rating is not always a total VA disability rating – it may be either 50% or 100%, depending on the severity of the condition. To qualify, your condition must be labeled as “unstable,” meaning it hasn’t been fully treated and its long term impact isn’t clear. A doctor must also indicate that they’re unsure how long the condition will last.
This rating lasts for one year after your discharge from active service. At the end of the year, the VA will reevaluate your condition. Based on your progress and any changes in your health, they will assign a new rating.
How to file for temporary 100% VA disability
As with other service-connected health issues, veterans can file online, by mail, in person, or with the help of trained professionals like the team at Woods & Woods.
Filing a claim includes providing medical evidence, documentation, and records that support your claim for a temporary 100% disability rating or a prestabilization rating. Once submitted, the VA will review your claim and notify you of their decision.
How Woods & 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
The amount you receive for a temporary 100% VA disability rating is the same as the standard 100% disability compensation rate. The current monthly payment for a 100% disability rating is approximately $3,938.58. This amount will increase with the addition of spouses, children, or other specific circumstances.
You may be eligible to receive a temporary 100% VA disability rating for a knee replacement if the condition is service-connected. After undergoing knee replacement surgery, the VA typically grants a temporary 100% rating to cover the recovery period. This temporary rating is generally given for one to three months following the surgery. If your recovery takes longer, you may be eligible for an extension of up to three additional months. After this period, the VA will reevaluate your condition to determine your new disability rating based on your recovery and any residual effects from the surgery.
Neil Woods
Neil Woods is a VA disability attorney and the owner and president of Woods & Woods. He received his law degree from Western Michigan University.
