VA disability ratings are governed by a set of fundamental principles designed to ensure fair treatment of veterans. The most important principle is that all reasonable doubt is resolved in the veteran favor. When the evidence for and against a claim is approximately equal, VA must decide in your favor. This is not just a suggestion but a legal requirement. Another key principle is that VA must rate your condition based on the overall impairment it causes, not just the specific symptoms listed in the rating criteria. If your condition causes functional limitations that are equivalent to a higher rating level, VA should assign the higher rating. VA must also consider the impact of your condition during flare-ups and after repeated use, not just how you present on a single examination day. Conditions that worsen with activity must be evaluated in that context. The rating schedule is designed to compensate for the average impairment in earning capacity caused by each condition. While individual circumstances vary, the rating percentages represent the degree to which a typical person with that level of severity would be impaired in their ability to work. Understanding these principles helps you argue for the rating the evidence supports.
Note: This article references sections of the VA's M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual. The VA periodically reorganizes the M21-1 and section numbers may have changed since this article was written. For the most current section references, visit the VA's public M21-1 Web Automated Reference Material System (WARMS).