The Rating Schedule Index
The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) uses the Schedule For Rating Disabilities in conjunction with the M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual to determine what disability evaluation to award Veterans depending upon the severity of their disability and any other applicable policies and regulations.
DO NOT misuse the schedule! To misrepresent the severity of your condition is a CRIME!
DO NOT treat the schedule as a check list of things to say or do!
Please use the schedule more as a means to understand what the VA is looking for. So you have a better understanding of how to explain your impairment or to simply learn how your condition is rated.
Organization
Due to the sheer size of the schedule, this page has been broken up into major section and then broken down further into the various sub-sections.
Alternatively, if you would like to search the rating schedule by condition name click HERE to view the Master Condition List; which links conditions directly to how it is rated in the schedule.
Advanced users can also search by VA Diagnostic Codes by clicking HERE.
Rating Schedule Major Sections
| Major Section |
Description |
|---|---|
| The Cardiovascular System | Heart, blood, vein, and artery issues |
| Conditions that the VA will NOT Rate | Things the VA will not service connect/rate |
| Dental and Oral | Jaw, jaw joint, palates, and teeth |
| The Digestive System | Abdomen & peritoneum, cancers & tumors, esophagus, gallbladder, hepatitis, hernias, and intestines |
| The Endocrine System | Adrenal conditions, cancers & tumors, diabetes, parathyroid conditions, pituitary conditions, pluriglandular syndrome, and thyroid conditions |
| The Female Reproductive System | Breasts, cancers & tumors, endometriosis, fallopian tubes, fistulas, ovaries, uterus, vagina, vulva, and cervix |
| The Genitourinary System | Cancers & tumors, renal conditions, penis & testis, tuberculosis, urinary conditions |
| The Hematologic and Lymphatic Systems | Blood and Breasts (integrated with other systems) |
| Infectious Diseases and Immune Disorders | Self explanatory |
| Mental Disorders | Anxiety, eating disorders, MDD, MST, PTSD, etc. |
| The Musculoskeletal System | Bones, tendons, joints, cancers & tumors, and muscle issues |
| The Nervous System | Nerves of the body. Also contains traumatic brain injuries (TBI) |
| Nutritional Deficiencies | Bacterial infections, cancers & tumors, fungal infections, lung diseases, nose & sinuses, sleep apnea, throat, and tuberculosis, etc. |
| The Respiratory System | Bacterial infections, cancers & tumors, fungal infections, lung diseases, nose & sinuses, sleep apnea, throat, and tuberculosis, etc. |
| The Senses |
Your traditional five senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. |
| The Skin | Acne & chloracne, cancers & tumors, pores & hair, psoriasis, dermatitis & eczema, hives, keratin diseases, lupus, scars, skin discoloration, and skin infections, etc. |
Historical Rating Schedules
Frequently Asked Questions
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For existing evaluations:
The Veteran will be grandfathered under the older schedule and nothing will automatically happen.
If the new schedule just so happens to be better, the Veteran would need to file for an increase.
If the Veteran files for an increase, they will be evaluated based upon the NEW schedule.
In the event it is found that the Veteran has improved under both the new AND the grandfathered schedule, the Veteran will then have their rating reduced and rated per the current rating schedule (if their evaluation is not Protected).
For ongoing claims/appeals during a new schedule becoming active:
The VA will look at both schedules and will use the most favorable one for the Veteran.
Do know that if the new schedule is used, the effective date can be NO earlier than the day the new schedule became active.
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