If you are preparing to go on VA disability for the first time, you probably have many questions about how VA disability is determined, and want to achieve the highest disability payment possible. There are several factors that go into determining your monthly payment. Read on to learn all of them.
Rates Change Once a Year
The VA base rate is updated annually to account for changing costs of living. This base rate is multiplied by your modifiers to determine your payment. Since this is the only factor that changes typically, you don’t have to jump through a lot of hoops every year for this change. It should factor in when the rates are adjusted.
It Starts With Your Exam
The disability base rate is the same for every veteran. Your exam will determine your percentage disability that will then be multiplied by that base rate to determine how much you receive.
In your exam, your VA doctor will determine your total level of disability across each area of your body, whether that be physical injuries to limbs, internal conditions like heart disease caused by chemical exposure, or mental conditions like PTSD.
Disability Calculators Make it Easier
After you have your exam, you will use the ratings assigned to each of your injuries to figure out your total level of disability. These injuries are not additive, so you can’t just combine them. If you have three different injuries, each of which equals 20 percent disability, that does not equal a 60 percent disability. Because of the way the VA figures these injuries, that equals a total disability of 52 percent.
You can do all of the math to reach this yourself if you desire. Subtract the largest disability from 100 percent, then multiply the remaining number by the second largest percentage. Subtract that number from the first remaining percentage, then continue the process with the third-largest disability, then the fourth, until you have included all the injuries.
If that process seems overwhelming to you, you are not alone. To avoid the human error factor in determining your disability rating, you can use a disability calculator to determine your actual amount. These simple online tools do the math for you, saving several steps, and guaranteeing you don’t miss a number.
Factor in Your Dependents
You will need to account for your dependents. This includes your total number of children (and they factor differently depending on age). You will also include your marital status, and whether or not you have dependent parents.
Now that you have the disability rating and your dependent information you are ready to look up your payment based on the VA disability rates 2021 table. You will look up your percentage disability on the chart with your marital status. Once you find it on the table, there will be modifiers for dependents.
Seek Help When You Need It
This is a fairly straightforward process, as long as you agree with the assessments of the VA. there might be instances where you disagree, and you will need to appeal. This could be because of several factors.
If you disagree with the doctor’s initial assessment, you can seek a second opinion that might change your disability rating. If the doctor’s ratings are less than 100 percent, you might qualify for TDIU. This program is for those whose injuries, while less than 100 percent disabling, make them unable to achieve gainful employment. TDIU claims are often denied, so you are likely to need a disability attorney if filing for TDIU claims.
In closing, understanding all of the factors that go into determining your VA disability payment is the most important element to knowing what your rate will be. With the right knowledge and a little help when it is needed, you can get your full disability payment.