How To Go From 90% to 100% VA Disability Rating
Knowing how to get a 100 percent VA disability rating can help you to temporarily or permanently maximize your monthly compensation and get priority access to programs such as VA health care. The VA can assign you a 100 percent disability rating based on one condition or a combination of two or more service-related conditions based on how much your condition affects your overall health and ability to function.
As a U.S. military veteran with a 90% disability rating, you’re eligible for monthly payments and access to several programs administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. However, increasing your disability rating to 100% opens the door to a wider range of benefits and a larger monthly check.
Going from a 90% to a 100% VA disability rating isn’t easy. You must demonstrate that your service-connected condition meets the agency’s strict eligibility guidelines. You may need to prove a worsening in your condition or that you’ve developed new disabilities stemming from your service time. Veterans Guide explains what the process entails and how to strengthen your application.
Understanding VA Disability Ratings and the Gap Between 90% and 100%
When you file a VA disability claim, the VA will thoroughly review your medical records and other evidence to determine your condition’s impact on your life and its connection to your service. It uses the findings to assign a disability rating to reflect the extent of the impact of your service-related condition on your life and ability to function.
If you have more than one service-connected condition, the VA will assign a combined disability rating to calculate your benefit payments.
The ratings range from 0% to 100%. The VA rounds your total rating to the nearest 10%. For example, a rating of 93% receives benefits equivalent to a 90% rating, as does an 86% rating. The higher the rating, the greater the benefits you’re eligible for, and the more monthly disability compensation you’ll receive.
There are a few paths to increase your rating. You may file claims for multiple conditions or seek a rating increase by demonstrating your original disability has worsened. Alternatively, you can demonstrate that your conditions prevent you from holding substantial gainful employment.
How To Go from 90% to 100%
Option 1: Seek a Rating Increase for Your Rated Condition
Some veterans find their service-connected disability worsens over time. New pain, additional physical limitations, or increased difficulty performing work duties are all signs of a deteriorating condition. You can submit a VA claim for increased benefits based on the changes, which may help you
To file for an increase, complete VA Form 21-526EZ online or on paper. Submit your form via the VA’s website, by mail, in person at your nearest VA regional office, or by fax. Include documentation that supports your request, such as medical records and statements from your physician. The VA may ask you to undergo a Compensation and Pension, or C&P, exam with an appointed doctor before deciding on your request.
You can have your physician complete a Disability Benefits Questionnaire, or DBQ, to boost your chances of success. DBQs include in-depth questions that the VA uses to assess your condition’s severity, which may go beyond what’s noted in your medical records. Detailed insights from a DBQ may help examiners during the review process.
Option 2: Increase Your Combined Rating Through Additional Claims
Sometimes, veterans develop a disabling condition stemming from their service after they have already received a disability rating. If you have another service-connected condition, you may qualify for a claim for that condition to increase your disability rating if you can establish the connection to your service and its impacts on your life.
To file a claim for a new condition, you must complete VA Form 21-526EZ and submit medical records establishing the new condition’s service connection and its effects on your daily activities. The VA may request that you undergo a C&P exam. In addition, a DBQ may be helpful.
When you file claims for multiple conditions, the VA evaluates each condition separately and uses its combined rating charts to calculate a single disability rating.
Option 3: Secondary Service-Connected Disabilities
It’s not unusual to develop a secondary condition stemming from an existing service-connected disability. For example, you may develop sleep apnea that’s secondary to a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis or migraines caused by a traumatic brain injury. Other commonly overlooked secondary conditions that show up in later months and years include:
- Arthritis
- Chronic back pain
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Depression
Qualifying for a higher VA disability rating in this circumstance requires you to demonstrate a connection between the pre-existing service-connected disability and the new one. Including medical records or a physician’s statement that substantiates the connection may improve your chances of success.
Option 4: Apply for TDIU – Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability
Veterans who can’t meet the schedular 100% disability rating may qualify for Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability, or TDIU. This program provides eligible recipients with benefits equivalent to those of someone with a 100% disability rating, even if their actual rating is lower.
To be eligible for TDIU, you must meet one of the following requirements:
- You have a single service-connected disability with a VA disability rating of 60% or higher.
- You have a combined rating of 70% or higher for multiple conditions, with one rated at least 40%.
You must also establish that your service-connected disability prevents you from securing or keeping gainful employment. The VA defines substantial gainful employment as a steady job with a financially stable income. If you engage in odd jobs, the income won’t count against you unless it exceeds poverty thresholds set by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.
Common Mistakes When Trying To Go from 90% to 100%
The VA carefully considers all requests for disability rating modifications. However, it’s common for veterans to make mistakes that prevent them from obtaining a 100% rating. Working with an experienced veteran’s disability advocate can help you avoid serious errors.
1. Insufficient Medical Evidence
Make sure your application includes medical records that demonstrate the severity of your disability and connect it to your time in service. Review all physician statements, laboratory tests, and other supporting documentation to verify the accuracy. Including a DBQ completed and signed by your physician provides the VA with additional details to fully evaluate your condition.
2. Filing Too Many Unrelated Claims
Additional conditions may help you reach a 100% disability rating. However, only service-connected disabilities count. Non-service-related claims do not. Overloading the VA with frivolous claims may cause them to doubt the sincerity of your application and deny your request for a rating increase.
3. Failing To Prove Unemployability
The VA will deny a TDIU claim if the veteran fails to prove their condition prevents them from holding substantial gainful employment. Unemployment isn’t enough to meet the agency’s requirements. Instead, the VA expects you to prove you’re medically incapable of obtaining and maintaining steady employment. Factors such as frequent hospitalizations or functional limitations can help you meet the work requirements for TDIU.
How Veterans Guide Can Help You Reach 100%
Making the jump from a 90% to a 100% disability rating isn’t easy. Even small mistakes can lead to the VA denying your application. Collaborating with an experienced veteran’s disability advocate can help you avoid errors and obtain the benefits you qualify for, including VA Disability and Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI.
We can connect you with a qualified attorney who can advocate for your best interests throughout the application process. Your advocate can help you gather appropriate evidence, connect with medical experts, and appeal unfair decisions.
To schedule a free claims consultation, contact us today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Combine More Than One Claim To Reach 100%?
Yes, you can combine multiple claims to reach a 100% VA disability rating. Each additional claim helps increase your final rating to meet the VA’s schedular requirements. However, the VA only considers service-connected claims in its review process. It disregards claims unrelated to your military service. However, it will assess secondary conditions that develop because of or are exacerbated by a service-connected condition
How Long Does It Take To Go From 90% to 100%?
As of May 2025, the average processing time for a VA disability claim is 114.2 days. Including robust medical evidence in your application may help avoid delays caused by requests for more information.
If I’m Still Working, Can I Get 100%?
Veterans seeking 100% VA disability pay through the TDIU program won’t meet the eligibility requirements if they can hold a steady job. However, there are no work limitations on veterans seeking a 100% rating through the schedular process.
What’s Better for Me: Schedular 100% or TDIU?
It depends. Veterans with a rating of nearly 100% may find it easier to qualify through the schedular process, especially if they can prove they have new or secondary conditions that increase their rating potential. However, TDIU may be a better option for veterans whose conditions prevent them from securing steady employment.
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