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The VA rating decision letter is the letter that outlines the VA’s decision regarding your disability claim. The VA will decide if your impairments are service-connected and eligible for benefits. Your impairments will also receive a VA disability benefits rating. This rating can be anywhere from 0% (not severe enough to be compensable by law) to 100% (so severe they are fully covered). These ratings will determine your monthly payments. This letter will also list the sum of your benefits and when you are going to begin receiving disability payments.

A VA disability rating is a percentage of possible benefits decided by the VA’s rating authorities for a disabled veteran. The disability rating determines the amount of benefits a veteran will receive for service-related conditions. It reflects the severity and impact of the disability. For example, a 0% disability rating is given to a condition that the VA recognizes as a service-related injury but does not qualify for compensation; however, you can still receive some benefits. Disability ratings are rounded to the nearest ten, such as 50%, 60%, or 70%.

The total combined VA disability rating is the combination of all conditions affecting a veteran. After each condition or ailment is given a disability rating, all ratings are calculated to determine the total combined disability rating. This overall rating is then used to determine the exact amount of disability benefits the veteran will receive.

The VA rating decision letter is the letter that outlines the VA’s decision regarding your disability claim. The VA will decide if your impairments are service-connected and eligible for benefits. Your impairments will also receive a VA disability benefits rating. This rating can be anywhere from 0% (not severe enough to be compensable by law) to 100% (so severe they are fully covered). These ratings will determine your monthly payments. This letter will also list the sum of your benefits and when you are going to begin receiving disability payments.

A VA disability rating is a percentage of possible benefits decided by the VA’s rating authorities for a disabled veteran. The disability rating determines the amount of benefits a veteran will receive for service-related conditions. It reflects the severity and impact of the disability. For example, a 0% disability rating is given to a condition that the VA recognizes as a service-related injury but does not qualify for compensation; however, you can still receive some benefits. Disability ratings are rounded to the nearest ten, such as 50%, 60%, or 70%.

The total combined VA disability rating is the combination of all conditions affecting a veteran. After each condition or ailment is given a disability rating, all ratings are calculated to determine the total combined disability rating. This overall rating is then used to determine the exact amount of disability benefits the veteran will receive.

The C&P exam is an important part of the VA disability claims process. It is performed by either a VA physician or a contracted physician to document the severity of the veteran’s medical condition. In some cases, more than one exam may be required. A general physician usually conducts the first exam, but for some conditions, an exam with a specialist may be necessary.

We offer a free consultation to determine if we are a good fit for you. Vetsuccess101 only receives payment when you choose to work with us and successfully receive a claim benefit. We never charge medical consulting fees unless you receive a benefit from our services.

As a service, Vetsuccess101 provides medical consulting to support VA claims with medical evidence. Our professionals assist in acquiring the correct medical evidence to strengthen your claim. Our goal is to help you obtain the highest rating you qualify for, both medically and ethically. However, we do not fill out claims or provide legal or medical advice. Instead, we help you strategize medical evidence to support your claim. Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) assist veterans by educating them about available services, helping with claim filings, and representing individuals at VA hearings. Unlike Vetsuccess101, VSOs are a government service available to veterans at no cost. Vetsuccess101 is a private organization, which means our clients are our top priority. We provide personalized attention, helping you develop strong medical evidence to support your claim.

Yes, we can assist veterans anywhere in the world as long as they have access to high-speed internet.

A good rule of thumb is that the effective date is the date the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) receives your application for benefits. In some cases, it may be the date your specific disability became eligible for benefits. Regardless of processing time, the effective date will default to one of these dates, typically whichever is later.

Veterans have one year from the date of their rating decision letter to file an appeal.

A veteran can receive both VA disability and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits at the same time. However, receiving VA disability benefits may impact eligibility for SSI benefits. If you receive VA benefits for a non-service-related disability, your Social Security benefits are not affected. However, your VA benefits may be reduced if you are receiving Social Security payments.

The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 has restructured the appeals process. If you have received an unfavorable rating decision on an initial VA compensation claim, VA’s new disability appeals process allows veterans to choose from three different review options when filing an appeal:
  • Higher-Level Review: In a higher-level review, veterans request the regional office (RO) issue another decision based on a higher level of review. This review is conducted by a more experienced rating specialist at the regional office. The higher-level reviewer has the ability to overturn a previous decision based on a number of factors including a clear and unmistakable error (CUE). Veterans are not allowed to submit additional evidence in support of their claims.
  • Supplemental Claim: A supplemental claim is the submission of new and relevant evidence. The VA has a duty to assist veterans in gathering evidence to support their claims. When using this appeal, veterans will maintain the same effective dates for their claims when submitting new and relevant evidence as long as the supplemental claim is submitted within one year of their regional office’s initial decision.
  • Notice of Disagreement: Veterans can appeal their cases directly to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals following an unfavorable decision. Now veterans are able to skip the second level of review that previously existed. They are also able to apply for three different appeals: a direct appeal, a hearing, or an evidence appeal.
Additionally, if a veteran receives an unfavorable result, he or she can appeal using the other strategies. For example, a veteran can file a supplemental claim or notice of disagreement after an unfavorable higher-level review.

Veterans’ benefits are excluded from federal taxable income. The following amounts paid to veterans or their families are not taxable:
  • Money for education or training
  • Subsistence allowances
  • Disability compensation for disabilities paid either to veterans or their families
  • Pension payments to veterans or their dependents

The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 has restructured the claims and appeals process. As of its passing:
  • Supplemental Claims: VA’s goal for completing supplemental claim decisions is an average of 125 days.
  • Appeals to the Board of Veterans Appeals: VA lists varying adjudication timelines for each docket.
    • Direct Docket: VA has set a goal to decide claims in this docket within 365 days.
    • Evidence Docket: VA states that claims in this docket may take longer than 365 days.
Hearing Docket: Appeals in this docket are projected to take the longest amount of time to adjudicate, with wait times that may exceed 365 days.

However, typically, to receive an individual unemployability rating or a 100 percent scheduler rating for certain disabilities, a veteran cannot work full time or make over a certain amount of money per year. Click here for more information.