The Bilateral Factor & Your VA Disability Rating (2024)

FAQs

What does bilateral mean for the VA? ›

The bilateral factor refers to when a veteran has a disability that affects both arms, both legs, or paired skeletal muscles. In these instances, the ratings will be combined, for the left and right sides, and 10 percent will be added.

30% – minimum rating.

Ratings For Plantar Fasciitis

30% – Veterans can receive the 30 percent rating for plantar fasciitis that affects both feet and is not responsive to treatment. 20% – Veterans can receive the 20 percent rating for plantar fasciitis that affects one foot and is not responsive to treatment.

The VA Schedule of Ratings Disabilities shows that mild or moderate hearing loss can range from 0% to 10%, while severe hearing loss may range from 30% to 50%. The rating for tinnitus is 10%, which is assigned regardless of whether it affects one or both ears.

VA's Bilateral Factor Rule: When Both Knees Have Disabilities. VA recognizes that if veterans have a disability that affects both knees, the ability to function on daily basis is going to be even more limited. In this case, VA will combine the ratings of the left and right knees and add an additional 10 percent.

VA Ratings for Cervical and Lumbar Radiculopathy

Most veterans receive a rating of 10 to 20 percent. Higher ratings are reserved for more severe cases.

But arthritis can also be presumptively service-connected. According to the VA regulations, if your symptoms of arthritis appear within one year of discharge from service and qualify for at least a 10% VA disability rating, the presumption of service connection applies.

Can I get VA Disability for shoulder pain? Yes, as long as the shoulder pain is service-connected, you can qualify for VA Disability. It will be rated the minimum 10% unless there is limited motion that qualifies for a higher rating.

For one year following a hip replacement operation, the VA's degree of disabled for hip pain caused by the hip replacement schedule is 100%. You qualify for at least 30% VA disability compensation for hip pain after a knee or joint surgery. If you have a hip replacement, the VA will consider you disabled for one year.

VA disability rating for hip pain caused by hip replacement schedule is 100% for one year following the hip replacement surgery. A hip replacement surgery qualifies you for a minimum 30 percent VA disability rating for hip pain. As noted, the VA considers you totally disabled for one year after your hip replacement.

Can hip pain be secondary to knee pain? ›

Knee pain is very common among veterans, often due to the physicality of military service. Knee pain can also cause hip pain, or other hip conditions.

If you have plantar fasciitis in one foot, you may be eligible for VA disability rating for foot pain of 20%. If both of your feet are affected, you may qualify for a VA disability rating of 30%.

As of February 2021, plantar fasciitis now has a Diagnostic Code and ratings that range from 10% to 40%. The breakdown of these ratings is as follows: 10% – this rating is applied to cases of plantar fasciitis classified as otherwise and can apply to one or both feet.

TDIU for Plantar Fasciitis

Because the maximum rating for this foot injury is 40 percent, veterans applying for TDIU must have at least a 60 percent disability rating from one or more primary or secondary conditions to qualify for TDIU.

Bilateral hearing loss refers to loss of hearing in both ears. For VA purposes, veterans must undergo a hearing exam by a licensed audiologist in order to be diagnosed with hearing loss through the VA and then subsequently service-connected. That audiologist is going to administer two separate tests for VA.

The 70 percent disability rating criterion for depression and anxiety is the most inclusive insofar as it represents a wide array of symptoms, including a progression of symptoms noted in the lower disability ratings.

Typical disability ratings for hearing loss range from zero to 10 percent. However, more severe hearing losses may qualify for higher ratings. Zero percent disabilities are commonly assigned for hearing loss. Zero percent doesn't mean there is no hearing loss, however.

The VA rates knee replacements under 38 C.F.R. § 4.71a Code 5055. The rating criteria ranges from 100 percent to 30 percent disabling. The 30 percent rating is the minimum rating for a knee replacement, meaning if you had a knee replacement and it is service-connected, you will be rated at least at 30 percent.

VA disability ratings for back pain can range from 10% to 100%, depending on the severity of the pain, the range of motion the veteran is left with, and the frequency of the pain.

Yes. The sciatic nerve, which is one of the spinal nerves, connects from your low back, through your leg into your knee. Sciatica feels like a shooting pain running from your lower back, down your leg, and can contribute to knee pain.

How do you prove radiculopathy? ›

Radiculopathy is the term used to describe the symptoms of nerve root irritation, which can include pain, numbness, tingling and weakness. Sciatica refers to a common type of radiculopathy that results in pain from the back to the buttocks and or legs.

Therefore, the disability will be rated by analogy to mental health disorders. 38 C.F.R. § 4.20 (2013). In an October 2012 rating decision, the RO granted an increased disability rating of 10 percent for insomnia, effective July 9, 2012.

Degenerative arthritis, caused by overuse of the joints or an injury, is the most common form of arthritis in veterans and is rated under Diagnostic Code 5003. Veterans receive either a 10% or 20% rating depending on the severity of their symptoms and the number of joints affected.

Yes, Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a VA disability and is assigned a 0% rating under Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) Category K. Normally, the VA will grant a 0% service connected VA rating for Erectile Dysfunction unless you are eligible under the other Diagnostic Codes (DCs) listed above.

Degenerative Arthritis (Diagnostic Code 5003)

Degenerative arthritis will be rated at 10 or 20 percent based upon the number of joints/joint groups affected and the level of incapacitation. VA requires that limitation of motion be confirmed by observations such as swelling, muscle spasms, or evidence of painful motion.

If you need to have your shoulder replaced, you will likely receive 100% disability for one year after your surgery. After you've healed, the VA will give you a permanent disability rating based on your level of function. This rating could be 30% - 60%.

The default rating for a full-thickness rotator cuff tear is five percent, according to Table 15-5, page 403. The default rating for an impingement syndrome is three percent, according to the same table at page 402.

Ratings for neck pain can be anywhere from 10-percent to 100-percent, if the condition is severe enough and involves the entire spine, rather than only the cervical spine. Most neck ratings fall between 10-percent and 30-percent, depending on your range of motion limitations, including painful motion.

Limitation of Flexion of the Knee (Diagnostic Code 5260)

This refers to the range of motion a person has when their knee is moving towards the body. This is the most common knee problem eligible for VA disability benefits, with ratings that typically range from 10% to 30%.

What is secondary to knee pain? ›

TDIU and Conditions Secondary to Knee Pain

TDIU, is a monthly VA benefit that compensates veterans at the 100 percent level if they are prevented from finding or maintaining substantially gainful employment because of their conditions.

Does Your Impairment Meet a Disability Listing? While there is no specific disability listing for a degenerative hip joint, the condition is likely to be considered an abnormality of a major joint, which is the subject of listing 1.18 of Social Security's listings.

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) grants VA disability to those who have arthritis, yet the degree of benefits varies depending on the type and intensity of the arthritis. If you experience arthritis due to your time in the service, you may be eligible to make an arthritis claim and be awarded compensation.

SSA recognizes inflammatory arthritis could qualify as a disabling disease if it is accompanied by the following findings. Deformity or swelling of an ankle, knee, or hip joint with: At least two of the following symptoms: fever, loss of weight, fatigue, or a general feeling of discomfort.

How Is Hip Pain Rated Secondary to Back Injury? Hip pain can be related to back injury due to several pre-existing injuries, like degenerative disc disease (also called osteoarthritis of the spine). However, any major back injury may lead to hip injury over time.

Sciatica. This one is often the most common cause of hip pain being funneled down your leg. Sciatica refers to the sciatic nerve that runs between your hip and down each leg. To be exact, it runs down the back or your hip and the front, back, and sides of your leg.

The most likely is a condition called iliotibial (IT) band syndrome. This condition can cause pain from the hip to the knee on the outside of your leg, but it can also cause several other symptoms, too.

The most common causes are bursitis, osteoarthritis, sciatic-piriformis syndrome and tendonitis. Other causes include injury to your muscles or soft tissues, pregnancy, the position you sleep in and your bed or pillows.

A maximum 50 percent disability rating is assigned where the bilateral flat foot is shown to be pronounced with marked pronation, extreme tenderness of plantar surfaces of the feet, marked inward displacement and severe spasm of the tendo Achillis on manipulation, not improved by orthopedic shoes or appliances.

50% Flat Feet Rating

Veterans who have pronounced bilateral flat feet are rated at 50 percent. Veterans with pronounced unilateral (only one foot), are rated at 30 percent.

How Much Does VA pay for plantar fasciitis? ›

30% – Veterans can receive the 30 percent rating for plantar fasciitis affecting both feet and is not responsive to treatment. 40% – Veterans who lose the use of a foot because of plantar fasciitis can be awarded a 40 percent rating under diagnostic code 5167.

Far from being a permanent or chronic condition, plantar fasciitis typically responds well to treatment. Most people recover completely with a few months of conservative treatment. And, you have lots of options available to you. Many cases of plantar fasciitis respond positively to conservative treatment strategies.

Under that code, foot injuries are rated at 40 percent for actual loss of use of the foot, 30 percent if injury is severe, 20 percent if moderately severe, and 10 percent if moderate.

A VA rating for anxiety, depression, and/or adjustment disorder is stated as a percentage, from 0% to 100%. These ratings mainly look at your occupational and social functioning, although your ability to take care of yourself (hygiene, grooming) is also considered.

An initial disability rating of 50 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted.

Plantar fasciitis is diagnosed based on your medical history and physical examination. During the exam, your health care provider will check for areas of tenderness in your foot. The location of your pain can help determine its cause.

If you developed sleep apnea during your military service, you could be eligible to receive disability benefits. But there are several challenges to winning veterans (VA) disability for sleep apnea, and many veterans receive denials after they apply.

You start with your efficiency rate of 100, multiply it by your disability rating, then subtract the result from your original rating. In this case, you would multiply 30% times 100 and get 30. You subtract that from 100 and come up with 70. Your new efficiency rating is 70, and your disability rating is 30.

VA disability rating for hip pain caused by hip replacement schedule is 100% for one year following the hip replacement surgery. A hip replacement surgery qualifies you for a minimum 30 percent VA disability rating for hip pain. As noted, the VA considers you totally disabled for one year after your hip replacement.

Can I get VA Disability for shoulder pain? Yes, as long as the shoulder pain is service-connected, you can qualify for VA Disability. It will be rated the minimum 10% unless there is limited motion that qualifies for a higher rating.

Why does VA combine claims? ›

The secret to understanding combined ratings is this: VA does not add each of a veteran's ratings together, it combines them to determine what percentage of the veteran is disabled, and what percentage is not disabled.

The 70 percent disability rating criterion for depression and anxiety is the most inclusive insofar as it represents a wide array of symptoms, including a progression of symptoms noted in the lower disability ratings.

Per VA's rating criteria, a 70% PTSD rating reflects that you display impairment in most areas such as, work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. 70% PTSD rating lists several symptoms that affect occupational and social function.

About 80 Percent VA Disability Ratings

Veterans that obtain an 80 percent VA Disability rating receive $1,778.43 a month from the Veterans Administration. Eligible disabled veterans may also be able to receive extra monthly compensation for dependent children and parents.

Yes, Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a VA disability and is assigned a 0% rating under Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) Category K. Normally, the VA will grant a 0% service connected VA rating for Erectile Dysfunction unless you are eligible under the other Diagnostic Codes (DCs) listed above.

How Arthritis Is Rated. Degenerative arthritis, caused by overuse of the joints or an injury, is the most common form of arthritis in veterans and is rated under Diagnostic Code 5003. Veterans receive either a 10% or 20% rating depending on the severity of their symptoms and the number of joints affected.

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) grants VA disability to those who have arthritis, yet the degree of benefits varies depending on the type and intensity of the arthritis. If you experience arthritis due to your time in the service, you may be eligible to make an arthritis claim and be awarded compensation.

VA disability ratings for back pain go from 10% to 100% depending on how severe your symptoms are, including your range of motion and pain frequency and level.

If you need to have your shoulder replaced, you will likely receive 100% disability for one year after your surgery. After you've healed, the VA will give you a permanent disability rating based on your level of function. This rating could be 30% - 60%.

The default rating for a full-thickness rotator cuff tear is five percent, according to Table 15-5, page 403. The default rating for an impingement syndrome is three percent, according to the same table at page 402.

Does VA decide all claims at once? ›

What we recommend is filing all of your claims when you initially file. This way the VA will make multiple decisions at or near the same time. This is a clear advantage over waiting and filing multiple claims over time. What can-but not necessarily will-slow your case down is filing claims over time.

Even after veterans reach full retirement age, VA's disability payments continue at the same level. By contrast, the income that people receive after they retire (from Social Security or private pensions) usually is less than their earnings from wages and salary before retirement.

How to Tell if Your VA Disability Rating is Permanent. Take a look at the decision letter VA sent you when granting benefits (your Rating Decision). On some Rating Decisions, there is a Permanent and Total box that will be checked if your 100 percent disability rating is permanent.