How Can I Qualify For A Higher Va Disability Pay Rate
To qualify for a higher VA pay rate, you must get one or more individual condition ratings increased, which will then increase your total combined rating.
If your conditions have worsened since you last applied and now qualify for a higher rating, you can submit a new claim on VA.gov by checking the box for an increased evaluation.
Heres the deal fellow veterans
So many veterans are stuck, frustrated, and underrated by the VA.
And were on a MISSION to change it so you and your family get the VA disability benefits you deserve for serving our country.
If youre ready to increase your VA rating, regardless of past denials, checkout my brand-new FREE video training for 2023:
VA CLAIM SECRETS: Top 3 Strategies to WIN Your VA Claim, PROVE Service Connection, and INCREASE Your VA Rating in Less Time!
Reveal SECRET VA Claim Tips & Strategies for Veterans
Click the button below to launch the FREE training:
A Background On Va Ratings
Veterans with an injury or illness related to their military service file a claim with the VA to receive compensation and other related benefits. When filing, veterans frequently provide evidence of the severity of their condition and explain how it is connected to their military service. Sometimes, the VA requests a medical exam to get additional information.
A service-connected mental or physical condition will receive a rating between 0-100%. The rating determines what benefits will be provided to the service member.
Many veterans receive benefits for multiple conditions. When a veteran has more than one impairment, the VA gives a rating for each and uses a special formula to combine them. This VA math is hard to follow, but we have a calculator to help. In short, two 60% ratings wont equal a 120% rating.
A veteran can have up to a 100% rating for a single condition, which is called a total disability, or a combined rating of 100%. The VA assigns a 100% rating to a single condition when the severity of the impairment would prevent an average person from employment.
About Va Disability Ratings And Va Disability Compensation
If you were injured or became seriously ill while serving in the military, you may be eligible for certain veterans benefits, including VA disability compensation. The VA pays this benefit to certain military veterans based who became ill or injured while serving on active duty.
Certain veterans may also be eligible for VA health care benefits.
You May Like: How To Apply For Pregnancy Disability
Va Disability Compensation Rates
The VA disability compensation rates are set to increase for 2022. If youre a veteran, this will have an impact on your monthly benefits. Its important to understand the new rates so that you know what to expect, beginning with the payment you will receive at the end of December 2021. As a reminder, VA pays benefits in arrears , so your December 2021 payment will be deposited either on or near the last day of that month.
Disability benefits are offered to veterans who have a service-connected injury. The amount of the veterans disability compensation depends on their individual circumstances, what type of disability they may have, and the severity of that disability. The compensation is also increased if the veteran has any dependents.
Add An Additional Service
As veterans age, disabilities that happened during service may develop into new conditions such as arthritis or heart disease. If you have disabilities you believe are related to your service-connected disabilities, you can file secondary claims to receive additional benefits. Veterans who receive disability benefits have an average of 5.7 service-connected disabilities.The VA usually gives veterans with multiple service-connected disabilities a rating for each and combines the rating. Unfortunately, it isnt as straightforward as adding each rating together.Essentially, as your rating climbs, additional conditions have an increasingly diminished impact on your overall rating, so think of it as a steepening curve, said Zack Evans, a VA-certified disability benefits lawyer.It is still possible to receive a 100% combined rating. In 2021, 8.3% of veterans with service-connected disabilities had a combined rating of 90%, while 16.9% had a combined rating of 100%.
Also Check: Short Term Disability For Pregnancy
Va Disability Compensation Cola Raises
Note: Increases in VA Service-Connected Disability Rates are tied to the same Cost of Living Adjustments provided by the Social Security Administration. These are the same rates the government uses for determining the cost of living increases for Social Security recipients, military retirees, and federal civilian retirees.
2014 was the first year the VA included amounts above a flat dollar amount. In previous years, the amount was rounded down to the nearest dollar. This change wont make a huge difference now, but if the policy remains in place, it will compound over time.
Here are the most recent COLA raises:
| Year |
|---|
How Does The Va Disability Retro Calculator Work
The VA disability retro calculator calculates your retroactive benefits by asking several straightforward questions. Veterans simply type in the answers to get an immediate estimate. The first question asks the veteran to enter the date on which he or she should have gotten a larger disability payment than was received. If there is a stop date to indicate a staged rating, the veteran enters that date in the following field. The VA disability retro calculator then asks the veteran to specify the benefit rate VA should have been paying at that time. Rating percentages, ranging from 0 to 100 in 10 percent increments, are presented in a drop-down list. Next, the calculator asks the veteran to indicate the benefit rate he or she was actually receiving. Answer choices are again presented in the above-mentioned drop-down list format.
The final questions ask about marital status along with the number of dependent parents and children, if any. Once completed, the veteran clicks Submit and the VA disability retro calculator displays an approximate dollar-figure amount he or she is owed in disability back pay.
You May Like: Is Veterans Disability Income Taxable
Va Disability Compensation Rates For 2022
VA disability compensation rates are adjusted every year based on the cost-of-living adjustment set by Congress. This year, the COLA increase is 5.9 percent, the biggest increase since the 5.8 percent COLA adjustment in 2009.
The new compensation rates, which take effect starting December 1st, 2021, are listed in the table below:
| Combined VA Rating |
Special Monthly Compensation Rates For Veterans With Dependents Including Children
Effective December 1, 2022
Level R may apply if you need daily help from another person for basic needs .
Level S may apply if you cant leave the house because of your service-connected disabilities.
SMC-L through SMC-N
Start with the Basic SMC rates table. Find the dependent status in the left column that best describes you. Then find your SMC letter designation in the top row. Your monthly basic rate is where your dependent status and SMC letter meet.
If you have more than one child or your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits, be sure to also check the Added amounts table, and add these to your amount from the Basic SMC rates table.
| With 1 child and spouse | |
|---|---|
| With 1 child, spouse, and 1 parent | SMC-L |
| With 1 child, spouse, and 2 parents | SMC-L |
| With 1 child and 1 parent | |
| With 1 child and 2 parents |
| Each additional child under age 18 | SMC-L | |
|---|---|---|
| Each additional child over age 18 in a qualifying school program | SMC-L | |
| Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance | SMC-L | 185.21 |
SMC-N 1/2 through SMC-S
Start with the Basic SMC rates table. Find the dependent status in the left column that best describes you. Then find your SMC letter designation in the top row. Your monthly basic rate is where your dependent status and SMC letter meet.
If you have more than one child or your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits, be sure to also check the Added amounts table, and add these to your amount from the Basic SMC rates table.
Read Also: How To Disable Apps On Iphone
With Dependents Including Children
Compensation rates for 30% to 60% disability rating
Find the dependent status in the left column that best describes you. Then look for your disability rating in the top row. Your basic monthly rate is where your dependent status and disability rating meet.
If you have more than one child or your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits, be sure to also look at the Added amounts table, and add these to your amount from the Basic monthly rates table.
| Dependent status | 30% disability rating | 40% disability rating | 50% disability rating | 60% disability rating | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dependent status | Each additional child under age 18 | 30% disability rating | 30.00 | 40% disability rating | 40.00 | 50% disability rating | 50.00 | 60% disability rating | 60.00 |
| Each additional child over age 18 in a qualifying school program | 30% disability rating | 97.00 | 40% disability rating | 129.00 | 50% disability rating | 162.00 | 60% disability rating | 194.00 | |
| Spouse receving Aid and Attendance | 30% disability rating | 56.00 | 40% disability rating | 74.00 | 50% disability rating | 93.00 | 60% disability rating | 111.00 |
Compensation rates for 70% to 100% disability rating
Find the dependent status in the left column that best describes you. Then look for your disability rating in the top row. Your basic monthly rate is where your dependent status and disability rating meet.
Past Rates: 2022 Veterans Disability Compensation Rates
Review 2022 Veterans disability compensation rates. Use our compensation benefits rate tables to find your monthly payment amount. We base your monthly payment amount on your disability rating and details about your dependent family members.
Want to review current rates for Veterans disability compensation?
Also Check: New York State Disability Benefits
How We Assign Smc Levels L Through O
We assign SMC levels based on very specific situations and combinations of situations, including:
- The amputation of one or more limbs or extremities
- The loss of use of one or more limbs or extremities
- The physical loss of one or both eyes
- The loss of sight or total blindness in one or both eyes
- Being permanently bedridden
- Needing daily help with basic needs , also called Aid and Attendance
Select an SMC letter below to learn more about the specific situations and combinations of situations that fall within that designation.
SMC-L
- Youve physically lost both eyes, or
- You have total blindness without the ability to perceive light
Or you have total blindness with only the ability to perceive light in one eye, and:
- Youve physically lost the other eye, and have deafness in both ears , or
- You have total blindness without the ability to perceive light in the other eye, and have deafness in both ears , or
- Youve physically lost the other eye, and have lost the use of one foot , or
- You have total blindness without the ability to perceive light in the other eye, and have lost the use of one foot
Or you have total blindness with only the ability to perceive light in both eyes, and:
- You have deafness in both ears , or
- Youve had one hand amputated, or
- Youve lost the use of one foot, or
- Youve lost the use of one hand, or
- Youve had one foot amputated, or
- Youve lost the use of one foot
Or you have blindness in one eye, and:
SMC-N 1/2
SMC-O
What Is The 2023 Va Disability Increase
2023 VA disability rates are set to increase by 8.7% next year.
Disabled veterans with a 10% VA disablity rating or higher will see an 8.7% COLA increase on their monthly VA compensation payment beginning January 2023.
The Social Security Administration just announced its official Cost of Living Adjustment announcement, which affects more than 75 million Americans who receive Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits, VA disability and pension benefits, military retirement pay, and other government benefits.
Don’t Miss: Short Term Disability For Mental Health
Are There Downsides To Appealing For A Higher Rating
There are three negatives to consider when deciding if you should attempt to go from a 90% to 100% VA rating.
First, be prepared for a lengthy appeal. The VA backlog of appeals has been as high as 475,000. The cases in the backlog are claims that have been in the queue for more than 125 days without a decision.
There is also the possibility the VA will request unwarranted examinations despite a veteran qualifying for exclusions.
Lastly, appealing for a higher rating always runs the risk that the VA will lower a veterans rating.
Free Space-A Travel & Other Special Benefits for 100% Disabled Veterans
Potential 2023 Va Disability Pay Rates
To calculate the estimate for 2023 VA disability payments, we must use the 2022 compensation rates as a baseline. However, since the Social Security Administration has not yet determined the 2023 cost-of-living adjustment , we can only determine tentative figures based on reliable projections.
The pay rates in the chart below reflect changes in the compensation over the years based on a single veteran with no dependents. Since the SSA has yet to release the 2023 COLA, the rates listed use the most recent COLA projection of 8.7%.
| Combined VA Rating | |
| $3,332.06 | $3,146.42 |
To calculate the above rates, take the most recent 2023 COLA estimate of 9.6%, multiply it by each 2022 compensation rate, and add that number to the 2022 COLA rate. The adjusted figures are potential 2023 VA disability monthly payments.
Also Check: Can You Get Disability For Ibs
Deserve A Va Rating Increase This Year We Can Help
- VA Claims Insider is a highly-rated, veteran-owned and operated business.
- 20,000+ disabled veterans served in our membership programs since 2016.
- 30% average VA rating increase for veterans who complete our #1 rated Elite program.
- Employs 144 teammates comprised of 44 veterans and 12 military spouses.
- Better Business Bureau accredited.
- 4.7/5.0 average rating out of 3,000+ total reviews over 2,000 5-star reviews.
Military Disability Pay Chart The Insiders Guide
I hope you enjoy reading this blog post.
If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, to speak with a VA claim expert for free.
In this post, I break down the official 2022 Military Disability Pay Chart in detail.
The official 2022 COLA increase is 5.9%, which is the largest pay increase for disabled military veterans since 1983.
The Military Disability Pay Chart for 2022 is effective December 1, 2021 and includes a 5.9% COLA as determined by the Social Security Administration report of September 2021 inflation data).
You might also be interested in the following high-value blog posts:
You May Like: Short Term Disability Pregnancy Pre Existing Condition
How Ssdi And Va Compensation Can Work Together
Fast-track applications
If you have a 100 percent P& T rating from the VA, Social Security will speed up processing of your SSDI claim. To get expedited handling, enter Veteran 100% P& T in the Remarks section of your online application and provide Social Security with the notification letter the VA sent you about your rating.
Regardless of your P& T rating, you may qualify for expedited processing under Social Security’s Wounded Warrior program, which prioritizes claims for veterans who became disabled while on active duty on or after Oct. 1, 2001.
No ‘offset’
Workers compensation and some other types of public disability benefits can trigger what the SSA calls an offset that reduces your Social Security payments. VA disability benefits don’t affect your SSDI or vice versa if you qualify for both programs, each will pay the full amount to which you are entitled.
Health care coverage
If you get SSDI and VA disability benefits, you can receive medical coverage through both.
SSDI recipients are eligible for Medicare, although in most cases there is a two-year waiting period for coverage to begin. Veterans are eligible for coverage under the military’s Tricare program.
If you’re getting both benefits, Medicare becomes your primary payer and Tricare serves as a supplement, covering some cost-sharing, such as copayments and deductibles.
Va Aid And Attendance Eligibility
You may be eligible for this benefit if you get a VA pension and you meet at least one of these requirements.
At least one of these must be true:
- You need another person to help you perform daily activities, like bathing, feeding, and dressing, or
- You have to stay in bedor spend a large portion of the day in bedbecause of illness, or
- You are a patient in a nursing home due to the loss of mental or physical abilities related to a disability, or
- Your eyesight is limited
Read Also: Free Exercise Equipment For Disabled
Assistance With Claims And Appeals
Veterans may work with an accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Services Officer to file your claim or appeal. These professionals are trained and certified in the VAs claims and appeals processes, making them well-equipped to answer your questions, meet your needs, and get you the disability compensation you deserve.
VA Disability Group PLLC is ready to take on your claim to get you the compensation you qualify for. Contact us online or call us at 1-844-VET-LAWS to request a consultation now.