VA Disability Condition Guides

Every condition the VA rates has its own diagnostic code under 38 CFR Part 4, and the rating criteria for each code are surprisingly specific. The difference between a 30% and a 50% rating for the same condition is usually not severity in general — it is whether you meet a particular bullet in the rating schedule (a frequency, a measurement, a documented functional limitation). The guides on this page walk through the actual criteria the VA rater is reading when they decide your claim, so you can see exactly what evidence and language move the needle.

The most-claimed conditions among veterans, in rough order of frequency, are tinnitus (which has a flat 10% maximum but is one of the most consistently granted), hearing loss (rated by audiogram results under DC 6100), PTSD (DC 9411, with the same general formula as anxiety and depression), back pain and other musculoskeletal conditions (rated by range of motion and functional loss), and sleep apnea (DC 6847, often filed as a secondary to PTSD or weight gain from prescribed medications). Each guide includes the diagnostic code, the controlling CFR section, every rating tier with its specific criteria, the evidence the VA expects, and what to say (and not say) at the C&P exam.

Two patterns are worth understanding before you read individual guides. First, conditions in the same body system are usually rated under the same general formula — all mental health conditions share one formula, all spine conditions share another — so rating PTSD also tells you a lot about how anxiety or depression would be rated. Second, the highest leverage move for many veterans is not increasing an existing rating but adding secondary service-connected conditions you have not yet claimed: sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, GERD secondary to medications, radiculopathy secondary to back pain, depression secondary to chronic pain. Once you have the conditions you want to claim, the combined rating calculator will show how they stack under VA math.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I file all my conditions at once?

You can, but you don't have to. Many veterans start with their strongest condition — the one with the clearest service connection and medical evidence — and then file additional claims later. Filing secondary conditions after your primary condition is rated can actually be easier because you already have an established service connection to build on.

What is a secondary condition?

A secondary condition is a disability that was caused or worsened by a condition you're already service-connected for. For example, depression caused by chronic back pain, or sleep apnea caused by weight gain from PTSD medications. Secondary conditions are rated and compensated the same as primary conditions and can significantly increase your combined rating.

What if my rating is too low to live on?

If your service-connected conditions prevent you from working, you may qualify for TDIU (Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability), which pays at the 100% rate even if your combined schedular rating is lower. You generally need at least one condition rated 60% or a combined rating of 70% with one condition at 40%.

Can I get separate ratings for the same body part?

Yes, in many cases. For example, a knee can receive separate ratings for limitation of flexion, limitation of extension, and instability under different diagnostic codes. A spine condition and radiculopathy in the legs are also rated separately. The VA cannot "pyramid" — rate the same symptom twice — but different manifestations of the same injury can each receive their own rating.