Understanding 100% VA Disability Ratings: Benefits and Qualifications

A 100% VA disability rating can maximize your benefits, but isn’t easy to attain. If you’re pursuing VA disability benefits or are looking to increase your veterans disability rating, your best option is likely to work with an experienced VA disability benefits advocate. At Disabled Vets, our advocates have an in-depth understanding of what is required to secure a 100% VA disability rating and how that rating can benefit you.

The information below offers a general overview of who qualifies for a 100% disabled VA rating, how to secure that rating, when the rating will be considered permanent, how 100% VA disability benefits differ, and which benefits are different depending on whether your rating is temporary or permanent. But there’s no substitute for personalized advice. When you’re ready to act, call 888-373-4722 to learn more about how we can help.

What is a 100% VA Disability Rating?

A 100% VA disability rating is the highest available rating, signifying that the veteran is totally disabled. However, some people who receive veterans disability benefits at the 100% level still earn some income from work. There are two different ways a veteran can qualify for disability benefits at the 100% level: being assigned a 100% VA disability rating and being designated unemployable due to service-connected disability (TDIU).

Receiving a 100% Rating

A disabled veteran may receive a 100% rating by meeting schedular requirements for a single service-connected condition or through combined ratings for two or more service-connected conditions. However, it’s important to note that the VA uses a formula for combining disability ratings. For example, a veteran with two separate service-connected conditions rated at 50% each will not have a 100% disability rating.

Instead, the VA will take the 50% remaining after deducting the initial 50% rating and apply the second 50% rating to that. The result looks like this:

100% – 50% assigned to the first condition = 50% remaining.

50% remaining x 50% disability rating for the second condition = 25%.

50% for the first condition + 25% for the second condition = 75%.

Disability ratings are rounded to the nearest 10, so the rating assigned would be 80%.

What Conditions Qualify for a 100% VA Disability Rating?

A wide variety of conditions may qualify a person for a 100% disability rating. Some common examples include:

Heart disease
Certain amputations
Mental health disorders
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Certain back conditions
Blindness
Severe hearing loss
Certain respiratory conditions, such as chronic bronchitis

Of course, this is nowhere near a complete list of service-connected conditions that may qualify a veteran for a 100% disability rating. And, not everyone who receives VA disability benefits for these conditions gets a 100% rating. It is up to the veteran and their advocate to demonstrate that the condition is severe enough to warrant a 100% VA disability rating.

100% Disability Benefits for TDIU

Some veterans who don’t qualify for a 100% disabled VA rating may still receive benefits at the 100% level. To qualify for a TDIU classification, the veteran must show that they are unable to engage in substantial gainful employment due to their service-connected medical condition or conditions. Note that being unemployed or sporadically employed doesn’t necessarily mean a veteran is considered unemployable. They must be medically unable to engage in substantial work.

Conditions that are not service-connected are not considered, even if the combination of service-connected and non-service-connected conditions leaves the veteran unable to earn a living.

In most circumstances, the claimant must also have a VA disability rating of at least:

60% for a single service-connected condition, or
70% combined disability rating, with at least one condition rated at 40% or higher

In some situations, a veteran may receive an extraschedular determination that they are totally disabled due to individual unemployability. That means they receive a TDIU classification even though they don’t meet the minimum disability rating requirement.

Temporary v. Permanent 100% VA Disability Ratings

Most VA disability ratings are temporary, meaning that the veteran’s medical condition may be reviewed and the disability rating adjusted. In some circumstances, that review is automatic at a fixed point.

For example, a veteran with service-connected cancer will typically receive a 100% disability rating during treatment. However, the rating will be reviewed six months after treatment is completed, and adjusted based on the current symptoms and limitations. Similarly, a veteran undergoing certain types of prosthetic replacements will be assigned a 100% rating, but will be subject to review at a predetermined time.

However, in some cases where the situation is very unlikely to improve, the veteran is found to be permanently and totally disabled (P&T). A permanent 100% rating or TDIU classification offers more than just stability. A veteran whose 100% disability rating or TDIU designation is considered permanent is entitled to some benefits not available to those with a temporary 100% rating.

Benefits at the 100% VA Disability Rating Level

The monthly monetary benefit a disabled veteran receives depends on their VA disability rating. With a 100% disability rating or TDIU classification, a veteran’s base monthly benefit is $3,831.30. That amount increases slightly if the veteran has eligible dependents. A veteran with a 100% rating or TDIU classification is also entitled to no-deductible healthcare services, including prescription medications and dental care.

If the 100% rating or TDIU classification is permanent, the veteran’s dependents may be entitled to additional benefits. These benefits include healthcare coverage for certain dependents, along with educational benefits for the veteran’s spouse and children. These benefits are also available to unmarried widows of qualified veterans.

Get Help to Secure a 100% VA Disability Rating

If you’re preparing to file a veterans disability claim, Disabled Vets can help ensure that your claim is as strong and well-documented as possible. Our advocates have thoroughly educated themselves on exactly what is required to establish your service connection and disability rating, and have helped many veterans like you secure the benefits they deserve.

If you have previously filed a claim and been denied or awarded a lower disability rating than you believe is appropriate, we can help with that, too. To learn more, call us today at 888-373-4722 or fill out our contact form here.