VA benefits are provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, part of the U.S. federal government, and are intended to help veterans, National Guard members, and reservists claim special assistance later in life after they leave the military.
The Veterans Benefits Administration reported that there were about 1.7 million disability compensation and pension claims in 2022, a record high and 12% higher than the 2021 total, showing how frequently veterans’ benefits are being called upon for help.
But how hard is it to go from 90% VA disability to 100%? Here’s how.
How do I get my VA disability pension from 90% to 100%?
First, it’s important to know that you’ll be assigned a rating based on the severity of your impairment, which ranges from 0% to 100%, with 0% representing that your impairment isn’t particularly severe and won’t require much help.
Each assessment represents a monthly compensation amount and is intended to help each veteran offset the impact that impairment or disability has on their economic life.
100% compensation means the veteran is totally disabled, 90% means severely disabled. As of 2021, 90% veterans receive $1,998 per month, and 100% veterans receive $3,332 per month, plus an additional $1,000 or more per month along with other benefits.
There are several ways to apply for the increase from 90% to 100%, including filing an assessment increase claim for public service-related conditions.
According to VA disability lawyers, adding additional conditions is another way to see if you can claim additional assistance.
To get additional benefits from the VA, you can apply for Total Individual Disability (TDIU), which is not the same as a 100% rating, but it makes no difference which you get, as you will be paid the same amount. However, you cannot apply for a 100% rating and TDIU at the same time.
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Are 90% of VA disabilities permanent?
No. As mentioned above, the 90% rating can go up or down depending on how a veteran’s quality of life and mobility impacts their income, but because it’s difficult to increase a rating score, attorneys recommend TDIU instead.
“It’s often more effective to pursue TDIU benefits than trying to stack a number of 10% rating terms to get to 100%,” attorney Zach Evans says. “TDIU pays the same as a total 100% rating, so you can receive more compensation than you would with a 90% rating.”