If you are suffering from a service-connected disability and have gotten a 90% rating from the VA, you can certainly increase it to 100% in specific situations.
Let’s say you are receiving around $2,172.39 per month for a disability with a 90% VA rating, and your condition has gotten worse. In this case, you can apply for a claim to the VA for an increase in rating to get about $3,621.95 for a 100% disability.
In this guide, we will discuss the specific ways to increase your disability rating to 100% from 90%. You will also learn about the challenges you may face doing this and the best ways to overcome them. Don’t wait for years to get the benefits you deserve – start today!
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Benefits of Increasing VA Disability Rating to 100%
There are several benefits to increasing your VA disability rating from 90% to 100%. Remember, such an increase gives not only more financial compensation but also opens the door for several other benefits, including –
- You can receive nearly $1,500 more in your monthly compensation with a 100% rating compared to a 90%.
- You will be placed in Priority Group 1, which means you can receive the best healthcare benefits from the VA.
- Housing programs benefits are also granted to veterans with a 100% rating, where you can be entitled to VA’s assistance in purchasing a new home or remodeling an old one.
- You are also entitled to the following healthcare benefits from the VA –
- Primary care
- Specialty care
- Preventative care
- Vision care
- Dental care
- Foreign medical care
- Mental health care
- Home health care
- Health care for Dependents such as spouses or children
- Nursing home placement, etc.
- You can take the benefits of the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program that will give your dependents education and training opportunities.
- You can be a part of the Vocational Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits program, which can help you get employment as well as receive coaching, training, and non-paid work experience.
- Space-A flights are another benefit of having a 100% permanent and total disability rating. This program helps you travel with little to no cost.
Ways to Increase VA Disability Rating from 90 to 100
- File for an increase
If your service-connected disability with a 90% rating worsens, you can simply file for an increase by providing evidence to the VA. Medical records, MRI or X-Ray results, and statements from fellow veterans or even family members and coworkers can be used as pieces of evidence.
- Apply for a secondary condition
If your current disability has worsened or brought another condition, you can apply for a secondary condition. In some cases, the combined rating of multiple conditions can be 100%, which is another way to go from 90 to 100.
- Applying for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU)
TDIU is a VA program that can give you the compensation of a 100% rating even if your disability rating is below 100%. This benefit is provided to veterans struggling to get employed due to their service-connected conditions. If your disability of 90% is causing you to be unemployed, you can apply for a TDIU benefit program to receive the same compensation of a 100% rating.
In many cases, going for a TDIU claim can be much easier than applying for an increase in rating.
Potential Barriers and Considerations
When trying to increase your VA rating to 100%, you may face many challenges, as getting the highest disability rating can be a tough process. One of the most common problems veterans face doing this is the length of the appeal process. It takes months, often years, to finally get a decision from the VA.
Secondly, your claim for an increase in rating can backfire, as submitting the wrong evidence may even lead to your current rating being reduced. Preparing well before your claim or appeal is important to avoid such troubles. Knowing the process like the palm of your hand and what evidence to provide for a successful claim can help you greatly during this situation. And if you need help from the experts themselves, you can try contacting us at VA Disability Coach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is It So Hard to Get 100 Percent VA Disability?
The stringent eligibility criteria and the subjective nature of evaluations make getting a 100% VA rating so hard. Moreover, it can be hard to gather sufficient pieces of evidence for the highest VA rating.
Is 90% VA Disability Permanent?
A 90% disability rating does not mean it is permanent, as the VA can change it anytime. If your condition worsens, you may apply for a higher rating. In contrast, having improvements in your health will make VA reconsider your condition to give you an updated disability rating.
What Is the Easiest Way to Get 100% VA Disability?
The easiest way to get a 100% rating is to apply for a Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) program, where your rating will not increase to 100%, but you will get the same compensation as someone with a 100% rating. Veterans with a 70% or more VA rating who face troubles with employment due to their service-connected condition can apply for TDIU.
Final Thoughts
Don’t be afraid to get your disability rating increased, as you are entitled to increased benefits based on the severity of your service-connected condition. Try getting advice from accredited professionals if you want to make sure the claim or appeal goes through smoothly. Remember, you deserve the highest level of care and support!