The VA assigns a percentage to every service-connected condition under the rating schedule in 38 CFR Part 4. That number is not arbitrary — each level ties to a specific description of how much the condition limits you.
The percentages are earned, not guessed
Every diagnostic code lists the exact findings that justify 10%, 30%, 50%, and so on. Your job — and mine — is to make sure the evidence in your file matches the higher criteria you actually meet, not the lower one the examiner defaulted to.
Why the thresholds matter
- 10% — the entry point; establishes service connection and a monthly payment.
- 30% — the level where you can add dependents to your award for additional compensation.
- 100% — total compensation, whether scheduled or through unemployability (TDIU).
Getting from 20% to 30% is not a small cosmetic bump — it can change your entire benefit picture. That is why we fight for the exact rating the evidence supports.