Combined Disability Ratings

Date of Publication:

7/2/2015

Definition:

Assignment of disability ratings are based on the Department of Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities as implemented by Part 4 of Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations (also known as the “Department of Veterans

Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD)”) and DOD Manual 1332.18, Volume 1, “Disability Evaluation System (DES) Manual: General

Information and Legacy DES Timelines,” August 5, 2014. An individual with more than one unfitting condition receives a disability percentage rating for each condition, which are then combined using the “whole person concept” into a combined disability rating, as described in paragraph 4.25 of part 4 of Part 4 of Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations (also known as the “Department of Veterans

Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD)”). A rating of 30 percent for unfitting conditions in cases characterized as “in line-of-duty” is required for medical retirement in accordance with chapter 61 of Title 10, United States Code.