If you have served your country, you should already receive numerous benefits for healthcare, tuition assistance, and more. If your service left you with a disability, you may also be able to collect VA disability compensation. VA disability compensation is a benefit paid out to veterans who became disabled due to their military service, and these benefits are tax-free!
The amount of money you can collect from this program varies based on the type of injury accrued and the severity of your disability, and these funds can help you with any number of financial or medical needs. To achieve this contact a VA Disability lawyer today. Learn more about what disability ratings are, common VA disability ratings by condition, and how to claim your benefits below.
What Is a Disability Rating?
A disability rating is a percentage that goes from 0% to 100% at intervals of 10%. Those with more severe disabilities may be assigned a higher percentage, like 50%, 60%, and so on, while those with a less severe disability may be assigned 10% or 20%. Disability ratings can quickly get complicated, as some conditions only allow for certain percentage ratings, while others can vary based on the impact the disability has on everyday life.
It’s also important to note that those with disability ratings of 10-20% cannot receive additional compensation if they have a dependent. Those with 30% or higher disability ratings may be able to claim more per month if they have a dependent spouse, parent, or child.
Compensation rates are updated each year, and you can find current payment rates, along with the rates of past years, on the VA website.
The Top Three Most Common VA Disability Ratings by Condition
There are dozens of conditions that can qualify for VA disability ratings, but some are far more common than others. Three of the most common VA disability conditions include:
- Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a disruptive condition that produces phantom ringing or humming noises in the ears. It is often caused by ear injury, circulatory system problems, or hearing loss. A very high percentage of veterans can claim tinnitus for disability benefits, usually as a secondary disability. Unfortunately, tinnitus only allows for a 10% disability rating, making it a low-paying disability claim.
Even still, if you can claim tinnitus on your VA disability claims, you may be eligible for approximately $150 per month.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common condition in those who served in the military, and it can make it difficult for veterans to adjust to life at home once again. PTSD can be a high-value VA disability claim, but it is sometimes difficult to get the rating that is actually appropriate for the severity of the condition, especially since PTSD symptoms sometimes get worse as time goes on. If your first file for PTSD VA claims gave you a lower rating, you may be able to request an increase if you have proper documentation. Enlisting the help of a qualified attorney may also be warranted.
- Hearing Loss
Hearing loss accrued during service is also eligible for VA disability claims, but it can be difficult to get rated anything above a 0 or 10% disability rating for hearing loss claims. In order to receive any kind of compensation for hearing loss, you’ll first have to prove that your hearing loss was caused by your service. This is the single most important step in attempting to collect hearing loss claims. Next, your hearing will be tested, and it will need to show an objective loss of hearing. Losing hearing in only one ear also makes it less likely that you can receive hearing loss claims, even if you completely lose hearing in that ear.
How to Increase Your VA Disability Rating with an Attorney
There are some conditions that are only allowed to have one rating, like tinnitus at 10%. For other conditions, hiring a qualified VA attorney may prove beneficial, as they may be able to fight for a higher disability rating. This can potentially get you hundreds of more dollars per month on your tax-free VA disability claims, making it a worthwhile endeavor for most.
Your attorney may also be able to look over your filed claims and help you make amendments if you accidentally put in the wrong information or didn’t describe your disabilities in enough detail. This can also potentially increase your VA disability rating, especially since an experienced attorney will know what kind of language is most helpful for claims like yours.
Get in Touch with a Veterans’ Benefits Attorney Today
If your service rendered you disabled, getting in touch with a veterans’ benefits attorney from Vetus Legal LLC is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Your lawyer can help you claim the maximum compensation on these tax-free benefits, which can drastically increase your quality of life.
