What is the Criteria for 70% TBI Disability Rating?
What is the Criteria for 70% TBI Disability Rating? After VA grants service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI disability), VA must determine the correct rating percentage. As a result, the rating percentage determines how much money VA must pay to the veteran. Rather than assign percentages subjectively, VA uses criteria in the Schedule of Ratings.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
A TBI is a physical injury to the brain that can impact normal brain function. Because TBIs vary in severity and impact different areas of the brain, there are a great many possible symptoms. Some common symptoms include:
Headaches
Dizziness
Nausea or vomiting
Ringing in the ears
Visual disturbances
Sleepiness or fatigue
Mood changes
Agitation
Memory problems
Balance problems
Light sensitivity
Speech problems
Seizures
Sleep disturbances
These symptoms may occur in different combinations, and may be accompanied by other symptoms. Some symptoms resolve on their own in a fairly short time, while others may be long-term or may lessen slowly over a period of months–or even years. That means some TBIs create lifelong limitations.
How Do TBI’s Happen?
Most traumatic brain injuries are caused by a blow to the head or the head being slammed into an object. Less frequently, they are caused by penetrating injuries, such as a shrapnel entering the brain or a gunshot wound to the head.
In some cases, a TBI happens without anything external making contact with the head. One way this happens is when a strong jolt to the body causes the head to snap forward or back. In that situation, the brain can bang against the inside of the skull. Another way a TBI can occur without physical contact with the head is through blast waves from an explosion.
Since both physical impact and being near an explosion can cause TBIs, it should come as no surprise that they are common among veterans. According to the VA, at least 185,000 veterans who use the VA for healthcare have been diagnosed with at least one traumatic brain injury. The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center reported that 414,000 U.S. service members sustained TBIs between 2000 and 2019.
TBIs aren’t presumed service-connected, so it will be up to you and your VA disability benefits advocate to establish a connection between your military service and your brain injury. The type of evidence required to show this connection will depend on when and how the injury occurred, whether you were diagnosed during military service, and other factors.
VA Schedule of Rating Criteria for 70% TBI Disability Rating
The VA Schedule of Ratings breaks down disabilities into different categories. First, each category contains groups of medical problems. Second, each group contains a list of disabilities. Each disability has its own diagnostic code. Thirdly, every diagnostic code specifies the symptoms required for various ratings. For example, the 8045 diagnostic code covers residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). However, it is important to note that if one or more manifestations of service-connected TBI would qualify the veteran for a higher disability rating when evaluated separately, that higher rating should be assigned.
How is a TBI disability rated?
The VA divides the rating criteria for TBI disability into 10 categories.
Veterans are rated based on the level of severity and impairment in each of these areas:
1. Memory, attention, concentration, and executive functions, including goal setting, planning, self-monitoring, and flexibility in changing actions when they are not productive.
2. Judgment: a veteran’s ability to make reasonable decisions.
3. Social interaction: how often a veteran acts appropriately in social situations.
4. Orientation: a veteran’s awareness of who, where, and when he is.
5. Motor activities: a veteran’s ability to perform previously learned motor activities (such as riding a bike).
6. Visual-spatial orientation: A veteran gets lost, even in familiar surroundings, or cannot point at or name their own body parts.
7. Subjective symptoms: symptoms that cannot be measured with objective tests, such as panic attacks and thoughts of suicide.
8. Neurobehavioral effects: examples include lack of motivation, verbal aggression, physical aggression, and lack of empathy.
9. Ability to communicate: Can the veteran communicate either by spoken or written language or communicate basic needs?
10. Consciousness: Is the veteran in a coma or a vegetative state?
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) residual scale
VA rates TBI residuals on a scale of 0, 1, 2, 3, or total. Each increment corresponds to a disability rating:
0 = 0% (normal functioning)
1 = 10% (mild)
2 = 40% (moderate)
3 = 70% (severe)
Total = 100%
The VA will award a 100% TBI disability rating if any residuals of TBI are rated “total”. Conversely, the VA will assign a percentage based on the highest-rated residual if no residual is rated “total”. For example, let’s say a veteran has TBI residuals in 3 out of the 10 categories. Therefore, he has a 1 for judgment, a 3 for the ability to communicate, and a 2 for orientation. In this example, VA will award 70% because 3 is the highest residual rating.
Benefits of a 70% VA Disability Rating
From December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2026, the base monthly VA disability benefit for a veteran with a 70% disability rating is $1,808.45. The veteran is also entitled to healthcare services, and may receive increased monthly benefits if they have children.
A veteran with a TBI disability rating may also be entitled to an increased rating based on any medical conditions secondary to the service-connected TBI. Several conditions are presumed to be secondary to traumatic brain injury.
In addition, a veteran with a 70% disability rating who is unable to work due to their service-connected condition may be eligible for a TDIU (total disability due to individual unemployability) classification. A veteran with a TDIU designation receives benefits at the 100% level. In 2026, that’s $3,938.58/month.
Special Monthly Compensation
A veteran may receive special monthly compensation, in addition to a 70% rating, for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). As a result, the question is simple: Does your 70% rated TBI disability render you so helpless that you require the regular aid and attendance of another person?
Disability Help Group Case Study
Disability Help Group represented a veteran of the Army who had TBI at 10%. After increasing his rating to 70% for Traumatic Brain Injury, we continued fighting for him to receive special monthly compensation. We were able to prove that he could not care for himself, because the local VA hospital appointed his mother as his VA caregiver. Among other duties, she assisted with medication management, personal hygiene, reminding him of and taking him to appointments, and paying his bill. Therefore, we proved the veteran had a permanent need for regular aid and attendance due to his TBI.
As a result, VA granted Special Monthly Compensation at the (r)(2) rate, increasing monthly payment from $264.02 to $8,343.91.
Do you believe you meet the criteria for a 70% rating for TBI disability? Be sure you start your claim the right way and apply for all the benefits you deserve. Our team is ranked top 7 disability advocates nationwide, and we’re ready to fight for you!
FAQs: Criteria for 70% TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) Disability Rating
1. What qualifies a veteran for a 70% TBI disability rating? A 70% rating is typically given when TBI symptoms cause significant functional impairment, including major cognitive deficits, severe memory loss, or notable behavioral changes that interfere with daily life and work.
2. How does the VA evaluate TBI severity for a 70% rating? The VA looks at medical records, neuropsychological testing, and evidence of functional limitations. Key factors include cognitive dysfunction, emotional instability, neurological deficits, and the ability to perform daily activities independently.
3. Can a veteran’s TBI rating increase over time? Yes. If symptoms worsen or new impairments develop, veterans can request a reevaluation or submit a secondary claim. The VA may adjust the rating to reflect increased disability, including potentially moving from 70% to 100% if warranted.
Permanent and Total disability (P&T) has some benefits that not everyone on VA disability receives. Some are practical, such as freedom from periodic reviews of their medical conditions. Others are actual VA benefits, such as educational and healthcare benefits for dependents and survivor benefits. Here’s what you need to know about getting a permanent and total disability designation for PTSD.
“Permanent” and “Total” are Separate Considerations for VA Disability
Although the terms “permanent” and “total” are often discussed together, it is possible to have a permanent disability that is not totally disabling. “Permanent” means that the VA does not expect the condition to improve. “Total” means that the person is considered completely disabled, either with a 100% VA disability rating or a TDIU designation. Either can be assigned without the other. For example, a veteran may have a permanent disability (such as PTSD) at 70%. Her PTSD is not “Total” because it is less than 100%. Likewise, it is possible to have a total disability that is not permanent. For example, the same veteran’s PTSD may be temporarily rated at 100% during hospitalization for a suicide attempt, but not be designated as permanent because the VA expects that the condition may improve.
Permanent and Total disability requires both a 100% rating or TDIU designation and an expectation that the condition will not improve.
VA Disability Rating Schedule for PTSD
PTSD is rated according to the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. If the veteran also suffers from other service-connected mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety, the symptoms of PTSD and the other disorders will be considered together.
To receive a 100% VA disability rating for mental health conditions alone, the veteran must meet the following criteria:
Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.
As you can see, that’s a high bar. And it will be up to you to provide sufficient medical documentation and supporting statements from people in your life to establish the level of severity of your condition.
If you are preparing to file for VA disability for PTSD or seeking to increase your VA disability rating, you should know that efforts are underway to change the rating formula for mental health conditions. Those changes were expected in 2025 and have not yet been implemented, but are still anticipated. Most experts believe the new rating formula will benefit veterans, so it’s a good idea to talk to an experienced VA disability benefits advocate about your options.
Other Ways to Secure a Total Disability Rating
If you don’t meet the criteria for a 100% VA disability rating for PTSD alone, there are other ways to qualify for a Permanent and Total disability rating.
One way is to combine your PTSD rating with disability ratings for other service-connected or secondary conditions. You should be aware, though, that the VA uses a formula for combined disability ratings. For example, a 50% VA disability rating for PTSD and a 50% rating for a physical condition don’t add up to 100% as you might expect. Instead, they combine to 75%.
The other way is a TDIU designation, also known as individual unemployability. A TDIU designation is assigned when a veteran has a VA disability rating of less than 100%, but is nonetheless considered unemployable due to the limitations of one or more service-connected conditions. A minimum VA disability rating is typically required for this designation (at least 60% of one condition or at least 70% for a combination of conditions with at least one rated at 40% or higher), but occasionally the VA makes an extraschedular determination of TDIU.
If one of these three conditions is met, you meet the “total” prong of the test for P&T disability.
Determination of Permanent Disability for PTSD
Whether a total VA disability rating for PTSD or a combination of conditions is “permanent” is a medical question for the veteran’s treating doctor. Will this condition ever improve during the veteran’s lifetime? If the doctor’s answer is no, then the veteran should submit the doctor’s written opinion to VA, with documentation of the reasons for that belief.
The VA may or may not accept the treating physician’s assessment. In some cases, they may require a C&P exam or additional information to make their determination.
Can a Permanent and Total Disability Rating Ever Be Changed?
A Permanent and Total disability rating is considered permanent, and the veteran is not subjected to periodic rating reviews. However, there are unusual circumstances in which a P&T rating can be altered. For example, if you were considered permanently disabled but a new treatment later emerged that cured or significantly mitigated your disability, your rating could be altered to reflect that.
The VA Will Award Permanent and Total Disability (P&T) for PTSD
The veteran’s PTSD meets the criteria for a 100% rating, and
Medical evidence shows that the PTSD is not likely to improve during the veteran’s lifetime.
Case Study 1: Permanent and Total Disability (P&T) for PTSD
A 40 year-old Gulf War combat veteran filed a claim for PTSD in 2011. In 2012, VA denied the claim despite the Combat Action Ribbon noted on his DD Form 214. After significant development, DHG representatives won the case on appeal. The medical evidence proved that he met the criteria for a 100% rating. His symptoms included unprovoked irritability with periods of violence, impaired impulse control, and audio hallucinations. They were so severe that he could not hold a job. In addition, his doctor wrote that his symptoms would only get worse throughout his lifetime. Consequently, VA awarded a Permanent and Total disability for PTSD.
Case Study 2: Permanent and Total Disability (P&T) for PTSD
A 45 year-old Peacetime veteran received a 70% rating for his PTSD. After service, he worked in a Ford Motor Company manufacturing plant for 15 years. After a workplace injury to his back, he was medically retired. A VA medical exam found that his PTSD was unlikely to improve. However, there was no medical evidence to support a 100% rating. But for his workplace accident, he would be able to work. VA decided to keep his rating at 70%, which is less than total. Consequently, he was not entitled to Permanent and Total disability for PTSD.
Case Study 3: Permanent and Total Disability (P&T) for PTSD
A 22 year-old Air Force veteran witnessed a deadly parachute accident. It happened 3 months into his active duty service. As a result, he was diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety disorder. Unfortunately, he turned to drugs and alcohol to self-medicate his symptoms. Within 2 years of his discharge, he was homeless. When he filed a PTSD claim, VA denied it for insufficient evidence. At the local VA hospital, he met another veteran who referred him to DHG. DHG then developed medical evidence, a lay statement from the veteran, and legal arguments. In response, VA scheduled a PTSD medical examination. VA’s own examiner recommended a permanent 100% rating. Shortly afterwards, VA awarded a Permanent and Total disability rating for PTSD.
FAQs On Permanent and Total Disability for PTSD
What is the difference between Permanent and Total?
Permanent means the condition is not expected to improve. Total means the veteran is considered completely disabled, either with a 100% rating or a TDIU designation. When both apply, the veteran is considered Permanent and Total (P&T).
Can I qualify for P&T if my disability rating isn’t 100%?
Yes. Veterans who cannot work because of their service-connected conditions may qualify for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), which counts as “Total.”
Can the VA change a Permanent and Total rating?
It is rare, but possible. A P&T rating can be changed only if new medical evidence or treatment shows the condition has significantly improved.
Call for a Free Case Review
If you’re unsure whether your condition qualifies as Permanent and Total, our accredited advocates can review your case, gather evidence, and fight for the benefits you’ve earned. Are you eligible for Permanent & Total disability? For a FREE CASE REVIEW, call 800-800-3332 or click here.
Unless there are special rules that apply, the VA will deny service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) unless the Veteran can prove a:
Current diagnosis,
In-service event, disease or injury, and
Medical nexus between the first 2 elements.
Reason for TBI C&P Exam
It is the veteran’s burden to prove he deserves the VA benefits. In certain circumstances, the VA must help the veteran meet his burden. A compensation & pension (C&P) exam is one example of how the VA helps veterans develop evidence. In a C&P exam, the VA asks a qualified professional to answer medical questions related to your claim.
When Should I Expect a TBI C&P Exam?
If you file a claim for a Traumatic Brain Injury based on sudden head trauma during service, then you should expect the VA to schedule a C&P examination.
A C&P exam can help VA answer the following medical questions:
Does the veteran have a confirmed diagnosis of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Is it at least as likely as not that the TBI was caused or aggravated during active duty service?
How severe are the residuals of the Traumatic Brain Injury?
Who Can Conduct a TBI C&P Exam:
Neurologist,
Neurosurgeon,
Physiatrists, or
Psychiatrist.
Diagnosis of A Traumatic Brain Injury
A Traumatic brain injury occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. According to the Department of Defense, more than 313,816 service members have sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury in training or combat. Common causes of this kind of head trauma include blast-related concussion events resulting from training or combat. A Traumatic Brain Injury is known as a signature injury of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars due to the frequency of IED attacks. However, a simple fall down a 10-foot ladder could also damage the brain.
Always Document Your Injuries
If you cannot prove that your that your Traumatic Brain Injury is related to service, then the VA may assume that it happened after discharge. For this reason, it is critical that service members document any and all head injuries. Your case is much easier to win if head trauma is clearly documented in your service medical records. In the absence of official records, statements from witnesses would be helpful. If you file a claim for Traumatic Brain Injury without a confirmed diagnosis, then VA may refer you for a C&P exam.
Medical Nexus for TBI
After a TBI C&P exam confirms a diagnosis, the next question is: what caused it? Is it at least a 50/50 chance that the TBI was caused by in-service head trauma? If your doctor’s answer is “Yes” and he provides a reasonable explanation, then you have your medical nexus. If the doctor answers “No”, then you should consider a second opinion from a private doctor.
What Are Residuals Of A Traumatic Brain Injury?
Veterans with a Traumatic Brain Injury may experience problems long after the initial head trauma. These problems are known as residuals. During a TBI C&P exam, the doctor will determine which TBI residuals are present.
Traumatic Brain Injuryresiduals are broken down into the following 10 categories:
Memory, attention, concentration, and executive functions–
Judgment
Social interaction
Orientation
Motor functions
Visual-spatial orientation
Subjective symptoms
Neurobehavioral effects
Ability to communicate
Consciousness
TBI Rating, TBI C&P Exam
After the TBI C&P exam, the doctor will send a written report to the VA. The report will include how severe your residuals are. If the VA approves your claim, it will likely use this report to assign a percentage rating. VA rates TBI residuals on a scale of 0, 1, 2, 3, or total.
0 = 0% (normal functioning)
1 = 10% (mild)
2 = 40% (moderate)
3 = 70% (severe)
Total = 100%
Every C&P exam involves the doctor asking questions of the veteran. The doctor relies on the veteran to explain his symptoms, some of which may not be present or observable on the day of the exam. Because memory deficits are common TBI residuals, a veteran should attend C&P exams with a spouse, family member, or friend who knows them well. They can fill in the blanks if the veteran is unable to either remember or communicate certain residuals during the exam.
A Veterans Disability Advocate Can Help You!
Working with the VA as a disabled veteran can be frustrating. Our expert Veterans Disability Advocates are here to help you through your VA Disability benefits process. Call us today at 800-800-3332 or click here to get in touch with a disability expert NOW.
How To Increase Your VA Disability Rating From 70% To 100%
If you currently have a 70% VA disability rating, you may already understand how VA ratings work.
A 100% VA disability rating is the maximum allowed by law and with some diligent work and, the help of a disability advocate the road to a 100% rating is accomplishable.
Single Disability Rated at 70%
If your 70% VA disability rating is for a single disability and you’re looking to raise it to 100%, your first step is to find the ratings criteria for that single disability you are rated for.
The Schedule of Ratings contains the ratings criteria for all disabilities in various categories. Each category contains groups of medical problems, each group contains a list of disabilities, and each disability has its own diagnostic code.
Every diagnostic code specifies the symptoms required for various ratings. For example, the 9411 code applies to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). VA rates PTSD –along with many other mental health conditions – under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. Depending on the symptoms, a veteran may receive either 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70% or 100%.
Develop Medical Evidence to Increase Your VA Disability Rating
You must develop the evidence to match the criteria for a 100% rating. The rating criteria lays out what it takes to get a higher rating.
For example, let’s say you have a 70% rating for PTSD. According to the Schedule, the only PTSD rating higher than 70% is 100%. A 100% rating for PTSD is warranted when the veteran is totally impaired both occupationally and socially.
One or more of the following symptoms would yield a 100% VA disability rating:
Gross impairment in thought processes or communication
Persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior
Persistent danger of hurting self or others
Intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene)
Disorientation to time or place
Memory loss for names of close relatives’ own occupation, or own name.
The Best Evidence To Increase Your Rating From 70% To 100%
To increase your VA disability Rating from 70% to 100% it is vital that you provide medical records to the VA that show your symptoms.
Not all doctors will provide records to show your symptoms. Fortunately, the VA provides rating tools such as Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs) on their website. Doctors can check boxes off that apply to your symptoms and submit this form to the VA.
The DBQ forms apply to every kind of disability. For example, the VA provides a DBQ for PTSD that simplifies rating decisions. If the symptoms noted in a DBQ satisfy the criteria for a higher rating, then VA will likely grant that rating.
70% Combined Rating with Multiple Disabilities
If you have a 70% overall rating for a combination of conditions, then getting to 100% is much tougher. This is mostly because of the VA Combined Ratings table.
VA Combined Ratings Table
The VA Combined Ratings table provides that, after individual conditions are separately rated, the disabilities are then all combined using a specific formula. See 38 C.F.R. § 4.25(b). VA first considers the most disabling condition – that is, the one with the highest rating – then less disabling conditions in order of severity. This method captures the residual efficiency of a veteran with more than one service-connected condition. The purpose is to prevent an overall rating higher than 100%.
When the combined value ends in a number from 5 through 9, VA rounds up to the next highest multiple of 10. If the combined value ends in 1 through 4, VA rounds down to the lower multiple of 10. Or, if the combined value ends in 0, then rounding is unnecessary.
To get higher ratings for each disability, follow these steps:
Read the specific rating criteria,
Ask your doctor whether you meet the criteria for higher ratings, and
Develop medical evidence to support your request for higher ratings.
Although, it is not as simple as getting an additional 30% rating. This is because VA does not add your ratings; it combines them.
For example, a veteran with only PTSD at 50% and asthma at 30% has a combined value of 65%. A 65% value rounds up to a 70% combined rating. To get to 100% overall, this veteran must either (1) win a 100% rating for PTSD or asthma, or (2) win at least a 90% rating for an additional disability (or group of disabilities) rated at 90%.
Contact A Disability Advocate
If you have more questions about how to increase your VA disability rating from 70% to 100%, please reach out to us at (800) 800-3332 or contact us here. We will provide a 100% free VA case review and are always happy to answer any questions you may have.
Since 1991, American forces have served in the Southwest Theater of Operations. To dispose of nearly all forms of waste, the military dug large burn pits. Every forward operating base (FOB) in the region used burn pits. See map below.
This region stretches from Somalia up to Uzbekistan, and all the countries in between.
The burned waste products include, but are not limited to:
Plastics,
Metal cans
Rubber
Chemicals,
Petroleum products,
Munitions
Wood waste, and
Medical and human waste.
Jet fuel (JP-8) is used as the accelerant. However, the burn pits do not properly burn the volume of waste generated. As a result, smoke blows over bases and into living areas.
The most infamous burn pit is at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. In 2008, the military found several deadly toxins in the air at Balad. They detected some of the same toxins found in Agent Orange and the groundwater at Camp LeJeune.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Over a quarter of a million veterans have reported an illness they link to the burn pits.
I’ve never filed a VA claim before. How do I start a Burn Pit claim?
If you never filed a VA claim before, then you’ll need to file an Original claim. Per VA rules, you can only file an original claim using a VA Form 21-526EZ. The form asks for your Social Security number, dates of active duty service, branch of service, and other biographical information. Most importantly, you must briefly explain why your disability is related to your burn pit exposure.
In addition, you should also submit evidence to meet the 3 basic elements of any VA claim:
In-service event, disease or injury,
Current diagnosis of a disability, and
Medical nexus between the first 2 elements.
Is my condition related to Burn Pit exposure?
According to VA, toxins in burn pit smoke may affect the following body systems:
Skin,
Eyes,
Respiratory,
Cardiovascular,
Gastrointestinal, and
Internal organs.
However, this general information is not enough to prove a link to burn pits.
In most cases, this will be a medical question for your doctor. But remember: most civilian doctors are unfamiliar with burn pit exposure. You, the veteran, will need to provide context. This context will help your doctor figure out a link between your condition and the burn pit.
The following factors are critical:
Proximity, amount of time, and frequency of exposure
Military specialty
Pre-existing respiratory conditions
Wind direction and other weather factors
Types of waste burned.
If you were only exposed to burned human waste, then it is easy to research those toxins. There is a lot of science on this topic. However, a pit that also burned munitions, Styrofoam and chemicals requires more analysis. Likewise, a soldier who personally visited the burn pits has more exposure than one who did not.
New presumptive conditions
As of August 5, 2021, veterans don’t need to prove a link to burn pit exposure for these 3 conditions:
Asthma,
Rhinitis, and
Sinusitis.
For veterans with a qualifying period of service, VA no longer requires specific proof of exposure to burn pits. If you served in the Gulf War, Iraq, Syria, or Afghanistan, then you qualify. All you need to prove is a current diagnosis.
VA denied my burn pit claim. What now?
Hire an accredited VA representative.
There are so many rules and exceptions that apply to burn pit claims. Without a representative, you may not know if VA was wrong to deny your claim. Too many VA decision-makers deny claims if there is any doubt at all. However, this is not the correct standard.
Further, when VA denies a claim, it MUST explain why. VA must explain to the veteran which elements he successfully proved. With that knowledge, a veteran should focus on getting evidence for the unproven element(s). For example, if VA says you were never exposed to burn pits, then you need to develop evidence to the contrary.
An experienced representative can make all the difference in your case.
Are you entitled to VA compensation for burn pit exposure? The experts at Disability Help Group are standing by. Contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION.
