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VA 100% Disability
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs assigns eligible veterans a disability rating based on the severity of their service-related injuries or conditions. A disability rating affects your monthly compensation and eligibility for other VA benefits. It’s possible to have multiple VA ratings, which are calculated into a combined disability rating. The highest value you can be assigned is a 100% VA disability rating, which means you qualify as completely disabled.
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Content Reviewed by: Matt Coveney
Last Modified Date: October 10, 2025
Disability ratings are assigned based on medical records provided by your doctor, the results of a VA claim physical examination, and any other relevant information. For example, a veteran with cancer linked to military service may get a 100% VA disability rating on diagnosis and while receiving treatment.
What Is the 2025 Cost of Living Adjustment?
Effective January 1, 2025, the VA implemented a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment, increasing the monthly compensation available to eligible veterans. This should also be the same adjustment for Social Security benefits, which veterans can apply for.
How Hard Is It To Get a 100% VA Disability Rating?
Earning a 100% VA disability rating can be challenging. Only about a quarter of veterans who have received a VA disability rating have received a full 100% rating. However, there are concrete steps you can take to strengthen your claim and increase your chances of obtaining this highest level of compensation. With the right preparation and use of available resources, you can put yourself in the best position to secure the full VA benefits you deserve.
Gather Comprehensive Medical Evidence
The VA requires clear evidence that your condition is both service-connected and fully disabling. Thus, you’ll need comprehensive medical records documenting your diagnosis, ongoing treatment, and the ways your condition affects your daily life.
Written statements from treating physicians can further support your claim. In some cases, a nexus letter—a medical opinion that directly links your disability to your military service—can improve your chances of securing a higher rating.
File New Claims for Additional Conditions
If you have multiple service-related conditions, you can file claims for each one. You may even file a claim for any secondary conditions that are caused or contributed to by your primary disability. Even if a single condition doesn’t warrant a 100% rating on its own, the VA may combine them to reach that level.
For this reason, it’s essential to identify and document every service-connected issue, regardless of its apparent severity. Conditions that appear minor on their own can carry significant weight when evaluated together using a VA combined rating calculator, which increases the likelihood of a higher overall rating.
Seek Professional Assistance
The VA disability system is complex, and many claims are denied due to missing evidence or technical errors. Our team is committed to advocating for veterans who have developed a disability from their military service. Founded by veterans and allies, we provide clear, reliable guidance to help you understand the claims process and build a strong case.
Seeking our guidance early can make a meaningful difference in your claim’s outcome. With our support from the start, you’re less likely to miss deadlines, submit incomplete documentation, or overlook secondary conditions that could raise your rating.
Maintain Regular Medical Follow-Ups
Attending follow-up appointments shows the VA that you are taking your treatment seriously and doing your part to manage your health. These records also prove that your condition continues to affect you despite ongoing care, which reinforces that the disability is both persistent and limiting.
Regular visits can also uncover secondary conditions that develop as a result of your primary disability, such as medication side effects or strain on other parts of the body. Documenting these related issues provides an opportunity to file additional claims, which can increase your overall compensation and bring you closer to a 100% rating.
Stay Informed and Proactive
Being proactive means taking the lead in your medical care and disability claim, rather than waiting for problems to escalate. Track your symptoms, keep your medical records organized, and check in promptly with your providers if symptoms change. Stay on top of your claim by reviewing its status frequently, marking important deadlines in your calendar, and responding quickly to any VA requests.
Take Advantage of VA Resources
The VA offers numerous resources designed to assist veterans in their disability claims. These include virtual support and educational materials that can help you better understand the claims process and stay informed about your rights. Take full advantage of these resources when navigating your claim—they’re there to make things easier for you.
Additional Benefits for Veterans Rated at 100% Disabled
In addition to monthly financial compensation, your VA disability rating qualifies you for other benefits and services.
VA Health Care Benefits
The VA health care and services that you are eligible for depend on your VA health care benefits package. Your priority group, the opinion of a VA primary care doctor, and the treatment standards for your health conditions determine the package you get. Veterans are assigned to one of eight priority groups.
Priority Group 1:
With a 100% VA disability rating, you fall into Priority Group 1 because:
- You have a service-related disability that is rated as 50% disabled or higher.
- You are unable to work due to your service-related condition.
- You received the Medal of Honor.
With Priority Group 1 you will be entitled to the following:
- Medical treatment
- Preventative medical care
- Health care for dependents
- Dental, vision, and hearing care
- Therapy to help you improve your ability to function
- Services to improve your quality of life
Social Security Disability Benefits
In addition to your VA compensation payment, you may be eligible to apply for Social Security disability benefits as well. Medicaid and Medicare health benefits can also help supplement your VA health care benefits.
Supplemental Security Income
In addition to your VA compensation payment, you may be eligible to apply for Social Security disability benefits as well. Medicaid and Medicare health benefits can also help supplement your VA health care benefits.
Social Security Disability Insurance
Unlike SSI, you don’t have to meet income requirements to receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. SSDI is available to individuals who can no longer work full-time due to a disabling condition. To receive SSDI, you must also meet certain past work requirements.
Need help applying for your SSDI benefits? Veterans Guide can help you every step of the way. Contact us for help securing the SSDI benefits you deserve.
CHAMPVA Benefits
Spouses and children of disabled veterans may qualify for health insurance through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or CHAMPVA. CHAMPVA benefits cover the cost of some health care services and medical supplies and are available to military dependents who don’t qualify for TRICARE.
Long-Term Care Benefits
Veterans with a 100% rating are eligible to receive VA long-term care benefits without paying any co-pays or deductibles.
VA Life Insurance
Veterans with service-connected disabilities are eligible for Veterans Affairs Life Insurance, or VALife, which provides up to $40,000 in life insurance coverage. According to the VA’s criteria, you are automatically eligible if you have any service-connected disability and are 80 or younger. There is no time limit to apply for coverage. Veterans 81 or older must apply for coverage within two years of receiving a disability rating if they applied for that rating before turning 80 and received it after turning 81.
VALife is not free, but the program offers low-cost coverage that can be purchased in $10,000 increments. It provides guaranteed-acceptance whole life coverage, meaning you won’t have to take a physical to qualify. A cash value component will also become active two years after you begin paying premiums.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, or DIC, is a tax-free, monthly monetary benefit available to eligible surviving spouses, children, and parents of deceased veterans. DIC benefits may be available if the veteran died in the line of duty or died from a service-connected condition, regardless of disability rating. DIC benefits are also available to certain family members of veterans with 100% VA disability ratings who have died from a non-service-related cause if they meet one of the following criteria:
- At least ten years have passed since receiving the 100% disability rating from the VA.
- At least five years have passed since the veteran’s release from active duty.
- For at least one year before their death, the veteran was a former prisoner of war.
The base DIC rate for 2025 is $1,653.07 per month, which includes the 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment. The amount paid to a surviving spouse may be increased based on factors such as the number of children, the length of the veteran’s disability, the length of the spouse’s marriage to the veteran, and whether the spouse is housebound or disabled.
Even when a surviving spouse receives DIC benefits, a surviving, unmarried adult child of a veteran can collect compensation. The monthly payments for children, effective December 1, 2024, are:
- $346.95 for a child between 18 and 23 who is in a qualified school program
- $697.96 for a child over the age of 18 who is permanently unable to support themselves due to a disability that happened before the age of 18
Commissary and Exchange Benefits
As a disabled veteran, you and your dependents can continue enjoying commissary and exchange privileges.
Educational and Employment Benefits
The Veteran Readiness and Employment program provides access to employment and education opportunities. The program can help you get job training and resume-building assistance to seek a new employment opportunity. You can also access resources to help you start a business.
The program also connects severely disabled veterans with independent living and support services, including counseling and medical referrals.
Survivors and dependents of 100% disabled veterans are also entitled to Chapter 35 benefits, also known as the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program, or DEA. This program provides financial support for pursuing further education or training.
To qualify, you must be the child or spouse of a veteran who has died from a service-connected condition or has a 100% VA disability rating. Surviving spouses have 10 years from the date the VA confirms eligibility to use the benefit. Children may use the benefit between the ages of 18 and 26. The amount the VA pays for this educational assistance depends on the type of training and whether it is full- or part-time.
VA Home Loan Guarantee
The VA offers a home loan guarantee program to eligible veterans and military spouses. When you use this program, the VA will guarantee a portion of your loan, which can help you secure better mortgage terms. Some of the benefits of using this program include the following:
- Zero down payment
- Reduced closing costs
- Low interest rates
- No need for private mortgage insurance
Free Tax Return Preparation
The Internal Revenue Service provides free tax preparation assistance to disabled veterans. The IRS website can help you find nearby volunteers participating in this program.
Student Loan Forgiveness
If you received a total and permanent disability discharge, you are exempt from paying back some types of student loans. You are also released from grant service obligations.
Property Tax Break
Many states offer property tax exemptions to disabled veterans, which can save them thousands of dollars annually. For example, resident veterans in Florida with a 100% disability rating can receive a full property tax exemption. Veterans living in Texas with a 100% rating are also eligible for a full property tax exemption with no limits.
Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay
The Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay program enables retired service members to receive both military retirement pay and Veterans Affairs compensation simultaneously. You qualify if you have a disability rating of 50% or greater.
Free Space-A Flights
Veterans with a permanent and total service-connected disability rating are eligible to travel for free or at a reduced cost with Space-A Program flights. The Space-A Program fills extra space on Department of Defense aircraft with eligible passengers.
Free or Discounted Hunting and Fishing License/Tags
According to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Association, 34 states offer active-duty service members and veterans discounted hunting and fishing license fees. For example, disabled veterans in Illinois who receive a 10% or greater service-connected disability rating aren’t required to have a hunting license.
National Parks Access
The federal government offers disabled veterans discounts and free entry at national parks and federally owned lands. The America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass gives everyone in your vehicle free access to national parks and federal lands. It also provides 50% off camping in federal parks. Some state and county parks also honor the pass.
The program was previously called the “Golden Access Passport.” If you have one, hold onto it because the government won’t reissue a new one.
Adaptive Housing Grants
Housing grants are available for disabled veterans who need to remodel their existing homes or plan to build a specially adapted home to make it handicap-accessible for a service-connected disability, such as the following:
- Loss or loss of use of more than one limb
- Loss or loss of use of a lower leg with lasting effects of a natural disease or injury
- Blindness in both eyes
- Some severe burns
- Loss or loss of use of a foot or leg after September 11, 2001, that makes it difficult to balance or walk without the use of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair
An additional benefit of a 100% VA rating is that since the VA has determined you are permanently disabled, there is very little chance of the VA reexamining you and adjusting your rating.
This is not a complete list of all the benefits you can receive if you have a 100% VA disability rating. Contact your local VA for a full explanation of your VA disability compensation package and the benefits you can access.
Independent Living Services Program
This VA benefit assists disabled veterans with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, accessing the community, and interacting with others. It’s available if your service-connected disability limits your ability to perform these activities and you can’t work.
To receive these benefits, you must apply for Veteran Readiness & Employment, or VR&E, where you will work with a vocational rehabilitation counselor. You can apply online if you have already received your VA disability rating.
Travel Pay
The VA will pay 41.5 cents per mile in travel reimbursement for scheduled VA appointments if your service-connected disability rating is 30% or higher. The VA will also pay for travel on a “needs basis,” meaning reimbursement may be available for scheduled visits if your income is below the maximum annual VA pension rate.
You may also be eligible for reimbursement of travel costs associated with VA claims exams, VA-approved transplant care, or an appointment to get a service dog.
Types of 100% VA Disability Ratings
In 2025, veterans with service-connected conditions may qualify for several different types of 100% VA disability ratings, each designed to address specific circumstances. These ratings reflect varying levels of need and permanence, providing tailored support to veterans and their families.
100% Schedular VA Disability Rating
The 100% Schedular VA disability rating is the most straightforward type of total disability rating. This rating is given when a veteran’s disability or combination of disabilities meets the VA’s rating schedule for total impairment. Essentially, it means that the veteran’s condition(s) are severe enough to prevent them from functioning in daily life.
For example, if a veteran has a single condition, such as a severe spinal injury, that causes total impairment, they could be rated 100% disabled under the schedular system. If a veteran has multiple conditions that collectively prevent them from working or living independently, the combined disability rating can also equal 100%, even if no one condition individually meets the criteria. The schedular rating is based on a specific set of criteria laid out by the VA, so it’s important for veterans to ensure their conditions are properly evaluated to get the correct rating.
Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU)
While the 100% schedular disability rating is a direct rating for veterans whose conditions meet the VA’s impairment criteria, TDIU is for veterans who cannot secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to their service-connected disabilities.
If a veteran doesn’t have a 100% rating based on the VA’s schedule but their disabilities prevent them from working, they may still qualify for a 100% compensation rate through TDIU. This allows veterans who may not meet the specific schedular requirements to receive compensation at the 100% rate, providing financial stability despite their disabilities. It’s especially helpful for veterans who may have a combination of conditions that, when rated individually, don’t add up to a 100% schedular rating but are still severe enough to render them unable to work.
To qualify for TDIU, veterans must show they cannot engage in “substantially gainful employment.” This could be due to physical limitations, such as chronic pain or mobility issues, or mental health conditions like PTSD. The VA looks at factors such as the veteran’s education, work history, and the severity of their service-connected disabilities to determine eligibility for TDIU.
Permanent and Total (P&T) VA Disability Rating
A Permanent and Total rating is used for veterans who have disabilities that are not only rated at 100% but are also considered to be permanent. In other words, there is little to no chance that the veteran’s condition will improve over time.
This rating ensures that veterans with lifelong conditions receive consistent financial support without the risk of their rating being reduced in the future. For example, if a veteran suffers from a severe condition like the loss of both legs, they may qualify for a Permanent and Total rating.
P&T status can offer significant benefits, such as lifetime access to VA health care and eligibility for additional benefits, including Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for survivors if the veteran passes away due to service-connected conditions. Veterans with a P&T rating also don’t have to worry about re-evaluation of their conditions, which can be a source of peace of mind.
Temporary 100% VA Disability Rating
A Temporary 100% VA disability rating is often granted when a veteran is recovering from surgery or undergoing treatment for a severe service-connected condition. This rating is designed to help veterans while they are temporarily incapacitated, ensuring they continue to receive the benefits they need during recovery.
For example, a service member diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma due to military exposure to Agent Orange may be granted a disability rating of 100% while undergoing treatment. Once treatment ends, a permanent disability rating would be established based on the veteran’s ongoing needs.
The temporary 100% disability rating can also apply in cases where a veteran’s condition is expected to improve, but immediate and intense treatment is necessary. In these situations, the VA grants a temporary 100% rating to cover the period of illness or recovery. This ensures that veterans don’t face financial difficulties while receiving treatment.
100% Disability Ratings for Cancer
Veterans who are diagnosed with cancer and have a service connection for the condition are typically granted a 100% disability rating as long as the cancer is active. The VA recognizes the seriousness of cancer and the intense treatment needed to manage it, so it automatically provides a 100% disability rating for veterans with active cancer.
For veterans undergoing cancer treatments like chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation, the 100% rating will continue as long as the cancer remains active. Once the cancer is in remission, the VA will reevaluate the veteran’s condition to determine if they still qualify for a 100% rating based on any residuals. In some cases, this may involve factors such as ongoing treatments, side effects from the treatments, or long-term physical limitations caused by the cancer.
After a veteran’s cancer treatment is complete, the VA continues the 100% disability rating for six months to ensure the veteran has time to recover and adjust. After six months, the VA re-evaluates the veteran’s condition and assigns a new disability rating based on any residuals, such as scarring, organ damage, or other lasting effects of the disease and its treatment.
Each of these ratings reflects the VA’s commitment to addressing the unique challenges veterans face. Understanding the differences can help veterans navigate their benefits with confidence and clarity.
Veterans Guide Is Here to Help
At Veterans Guide, we understand how important it is to secure the benefits you deserve, especially when trying to prove a 100% VA disability rating. If your claim for a 100% disability rating has been denied, or if you feel your current rating doesn’t fully reflect your service-connected conditions, we’re here to assist.
Our experienced team is dedicated to helping veterans navigate the complex process of appealing denied claims or requesting a rating increase. We’ll work with you to gather the necessary evidence, including medical records and expert opinions, to build a strong case for why you deserve a higher rating. We know that a 100% disability rating can significantly improve your quality of life, and we are committed to making sure you receive the support you need to achieve that goal.
Veterans Guide partners with top legal professionals and advocates with deep experience handling VA disability claims and navigating the intricate appeal process. Don’t face the VA alone—contact us today and let us help you take the next steps toward achieving the 100% VA disability benefits you deserve.
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“My experience with Mr. Mathew Coveney has been absolutely amazing. I am a disabled Army Veteran and I was stuck at 80% for my injuries. Mr. Coveney has been patient, helpful, and my Hero. I am thankful and forever grateful for his help and guidance. My denials were reversed and I’m blessed to have my 100% VA Disability Appeal updated and approved. If you need help do not be afraid to reach out Mr.Coveney will guide you through. Words can never express my gratitude for his help for me and my family.”
ANN WILLIAMS
Brian helped me fill out the paperwork needed. I was absolutely amazed at how excellent he did and how much patience he had with me because I do have some brain damage and I think very slowly. He was more than patient and went over everything. I am very, very impressed and I thank you from the bottom of my heart! Thank you so much for you Brian and the rest of the team there. It means the world to me and it gives me some hope!!. EXCELLENT SERVICE!!
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