The VA can recognize you have a disability related to your military service and still not award you a rating that results in a disability payment. These are 0% VA disability ratings. If you receive a 0% VA rating, you’ll want to understand what it means and which benefits you’re still eligible for.
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You served your country, and you have the physical and mental health issues to prove it. But the VA decides that none of your service-connected disabilities are severe enough to constitute payment. Despite this, you may still be able to collect VA disability benefits if you have more than one 0% rating. You’ll also want to know how to increase a 0% VA disability rating. This post explains.
In this article about how to increase a 0% VA disability rating:
What is a non-compensable rating for VA disability?
A non-compensable VA disability rating is when the VA recognizes that you have a service-connected disability, but they don’t believe it’s severe enough for a rating and, therefore, compensation. This means the disability rating is 0%.
Put simply, the VA may give you a 0% disability rating for any condition that doesn’t impair your ability to work or function regularly in your daily life.
However, even if you think your disability may be non-compensable, it may still be worth filing a claim for VA disability benefits. That’s because when the VA recognizes you have a service-connected disability, you can get other VA benefits like health care, dental insurance, vision care, life insurance, and travel reimbursements.
Multiple 0% VA ratings
What happens if you have multiple service-connected disabilities that are all rated at 0%? This can happen, and the VA determined that when it does, you should get some compensation if your service-connected disabilities start adding up.
According to the Schedule of Ratings, a veteran can receive a 10% rating if they have two or more separate, permanent service-connected disabilities that, when combined, interfere with normal employability, even if those ratings don’t allow for compensation when considered on their own.
However, the Schedule of Ratings also says this 10% rating can’t exist in combination with any other rating. So, the above rule only applies if you have multiple 0% VA ratings and no other compensable ratings.
For example, let’s say you experience minor tinnitus, knee pain, and some slight scarring on your knee from an injury during service. None of these conditions are bad enough on their own for the VA to assign you a compensable rating, but they recognize them as disabilities and grant you a 0% VA disability rating for each. You may still be able to get a 10% rating if the VA determines your knee pain makes it difficult for you to do certain tasks in your warehouse job.
“I had tried for 3 years to get my VA rating and got denied every time, til I called Woods & Woods. They took my case and kept me informed all along the process and they were able to get me the rating I deserved, 100%. It would’ve never been done if I wouldn’t have called Woods & Woods. Anyone needing help to achieve the rating you are entitled to, call them and they will fight for you.”
J.G., a Marine veteran in Texas
From a Google review for Woods & Woods
How to increase a 0% VA disability rating
If you received a 0% VA disability rating but you think the rating is inaccurate, you may be able to increase it by appealing the decision and providing new evidence showing that your condition has worsened or significantly affects your daily life.
You can also use other evidence to support your claim to increase your 0% rating. You can include lay statements, which are statements from family members or friends who have witnessed how your symptoms impact your life. Additionally, you may submit a buddy statement from a fellow service member who can speak to how the injury impacted you when it happened.
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.
Talk to Us About Your Claim:
(812) 426-7200
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A non-compensable VA disability is when the VA recognizes you have a service-connected disability, but they don’t think it’s severe enough for a rating or compensation. The VA rates these disabilities at 0%.
You can file a claim for an increased disability rating if you can prove that your condition is worsening, resulting in it having a significant impact on your daily life or ability to work.
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.
