The VA updates rating criteria for all disabilities — First update in more than 70 years to improve benefit delivery…

by Dominique Joseph

If you’ve ever wondered how the VA rates disabilities for compensation, you’ll be interested to know that after more than 70 years the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are updating the federal regulations for the rating criteria that is used to make these rating decisions.

The VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities, often referred to as the “VASRD” or rating schedule, directs claims processors on how to assess the severity of disabilities related to military service. While the VA has routinely updated parts of the VASRD, for the first time since 1945, the VA is updating the entire rating schedule to more accurately reflect modern medicine.

Since 2009, subject matter experts, including physicians, reviewed each of the 15 body systems that make up the VASRD. This effort is part of the VA’s continued commitment to improving the delivery of disability compensation benefits to Veterans and modernizing their systems.

On Sept. 10, 2017, the first of 15 body systems will be modernized. Disabilities related to dental and oral conditions will contain updated medical terms, include diagnostic codes for conditions previously rated under other conditions, add or change disability levels where needed, and combine some diagnostic codes. No existing dental or oral conditions were removed.

If you have filed a claim or have an appeal pending for a dental or oral condition before Sept. 10, 2017, the VA will consider both the old and new rating criteria when making a decision. All claims for dental or oral conditions received by the VA on or after Sept. 10 will be rated under the new rating criteria.

It’s also important to know that if you are already service-connected for a dental or oral condition and submit a claim for increase, your disability rating may increase (or decrease) based on the new rating criteria. However, the VA will not change your disability rating just because of the update to the rating criteria.

In the coming months, more body systems will be updated until all 15 are modernized, ensuring the VA provides the most accurate ratings for disability compensation claims based on modern medicine.