It becomes unfortunate when a veteran gets injured and subsequently gets disabled. While they receive compensation based on their disability, but it depends on the size of the family and percentage of disability they have incurred. This article will oversee more on the 90% disability in VA while touching the qualifying criteria, the additional benefits and would explore the options to increase the disability rating.
What is the 90% disability in VA?
When a veteran gets injured in the war or during the service and if the injury gets worse, then it may result in disability. The 90% disability rating indicates the combined disabilities coming from various situations. Accordingly, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides compensation and various benefits to those having 90% disability in VA.
Benefits ranges from healthcare services, aid in education and finances. They get benefits of home loans, life insurance and support in business. The main aim here is to make a smooth transition for them from a war veteran to a normal civilian life and further help in restarting their next career. It will eventually lead them in receiving the right care and recognition.
Eligibility criteria for 90% disability in VA
Let’s see how a veteran can qualify for 90% disability in VA:
- Disability resulting from service: Disability occurred during the service tenure in army, naval or air service. It also includes reserve forces and national guard members.
- Nature of disability: Those veterans, while serving in Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after 9/11 got exposed to biochemical toxins resulting in sickness or organ damages and other injuries which resulted in disability. The disability can also come from the following:
- Disability during the active military career.
- Illness or injury which got worse during the service.
- Disability which occurred post the active service.
- Medical Proof: The disability condition must be proven through recognized private health cares or VA medical exams. The veteran must also pass the compensation and pension (C&P) exam for further benefits.
How to determine the 90% VA disability rating?
The process to determine if the veteran is having the 90% VA disability rating comes from the “Schedule for Rating Disabilities” (38 CFR Part 4) which is the official rulebook used by the VA which states that:
- The disability will come from multiple conditions incurred during active service as it is rare to a single reason for disability.
- The individual disability ratings, which is determined by giving specific criteria of ratings for various conditions, like severity of the injury or disability, medical proofs, results from C&P exam and statements from buddy and family members.
The combined rating is done through VA math. VA math takes your highest disability rating, and then it processes the next disability ratings with the remaining efficiency.
Let’s say, if you have following disability ratings coming from depression (70%), spine issues (40%) and hearing loss (10%). Then, taking the highest rating (70%), it would subtract it from the 100% which will then give the remaining body efficiency (100% – 70% = 30%).
Then, it will apply the next rating, 40% on the remaining body efficiency (40% of 30% = 12%). This will then be combined with your disability rating (12% + 70% = 82%). Now your remaining efficiency is only 18%. Now, combine the next rating with the remaining body efficiency (20% of 18% = 3.6%). Adding this to the combined disability rating will result in 85.6% (82% + 3.6%)
The VA rounds off the final combined disability rating to nearest 10%. If the decimal ends with 0.5 or above, then it rounds up. Otherwise, it rounds down. In this case, the decimal ends with 0.5 or above, so the final combined disability rating will be rounded off to 90%.
Additional benefits
If the veteran is having 90% VA disability with no dependents, then he/she would be getting $2,297.96 every month, which can change if there are any dependencies. Other than this, they will be eligible for Priority Group 1 VA healthcare which is free medical care and medicines. They would also be eligible for educational support like post-9/11 GI Bill for tuition fees for higher studies and Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) for job trainings. They would also enjoy tax exemption on property and concession on housing loans. Additional benefits include travel allowances for medical reasons and discounts on essential items.
Payment mode and dates for 90% disability in VA
The primary payment mode is direct deposit which gets transferred to the bank accounts on 1st day of every month (if that is a holiday, then it will be transferred to the preceding day). Another method is by mailing the checks to veteran’s home address. The next payment date is on 1st July 2025 (Tuesday).
Is it possible to increase disability rating from 90% to 100%?
Yes. One can increase their 90% disability in VA to 100% by appealing against the initial combined ratings. Adding other eligible disabilities through medical proofs will increase the combined disability rating to 100%. This is done by submitting a new claim on secondary service-related condition which is caused by worsening of the already rated disability. If the secondary service-related condition prevents from doing job, then the veterans can apply for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU), which provides full compensation even if the combined disability rating is less than 100%.
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