The VA generally awards disability ratings incrementally and only rarely gives an initial 100% rating. Veterans who are awarded smaller percentages may be surprised to discover that they must work to get the increases. If they can reach an 80% rating, they may then ask themselves, “How do I get from 80% to 100% VA disability?”
Getting to 100% is a painstaking process. Veterans usually reach 100% either by increasing their schedular rating through new or worsened service-connected conditions, or by qualifying for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). Here, we’ll discuss your options.
Why Moving From 80% To 100% Is Difficult
An 80% VA rating already reflects significant service-connected impairment, and VA’s “combined ratings” math makes each additional percentage harder to earn. Instead of simply adding numbers, VA combines each new condition with what is left of your “non‑disabled” percentage, then rounds to the nearest 10%.
For many veterans, at 80%, VA math often requires another very high rating or several additional moderate ratings to reach a 100% combined rating.
Because of this, many veterans at 80% ask, “How do I get from 80% to 100% VA disability,” and are steered toward TDIU if working is no longer a possibility. There are a few steps a veteran can take to move up to a higher rating.
Option 1: Ask VA to increase an existing rating
One way to increase a VA disability rating from 80% to 100% is to file for an increased rating on conditions that have worsened.
- You can submit a claim for an increase (often on VA Form 21-526EZ) showing that your service-connected condition now meets the criteria for a higher percentage.
- Offer strong evidence, including updated medical records, DBQ forms, detailed lay statements, and documentation showing that your symptoms match the higher rating level in VA’s rating schedule.
If VA underrated you in a recent decision, you can also appeal that rating instead of, or in addition to, filing a new increase claim.
Option 2: Add New Or Secondary Service‑Connected Conditions
Another route to a higher combined rating is to add to your claim additional service-connected conditions, especially those that are linked to what VA has already granted.
- You may qualify to increase your VA disability rating by claiming new primary conditions from service or “secondary” conditions that result from existing service-connected disabilities, such as depression that is secondary to chronic pain.
- When granted, these additional ratings are combined using VA math, which may move you from 80% closer to a schedular 100% rating, though you often need substantial additional percentages to get there.
In practice, some veterans only reach 100% schedular when a single very severe condition is rated 100% on its own.
Option 3: Apply for TDIU (paid at 100%)
If your service-connected disabilities prevent you from holding substantially gainful employment, TDIU can pay you at the 100% rate even if your combined rating stays at 80%.
- Generally, you qualify schedularly for TDIU if you have one disability rated 60% or more, or one disability at 40% with a combined rating of at least 70%—which many veterans at 80% already meet.
- To apply, file VA Form 21‑8940, explaining how service-connected conditions limit your ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful work and supporting that with medical and vocational evidence.
For many veterans asking, “How do I get from 80% to 100% VA disability,” TDIU is the most realistic option when working full-time is no longer an option.
Practical Next Steps For Houston And Texas Veterans
Veterans who want to move from 80% to 100% should take a strategic, evidence-driven approach:
- Review VA’s rating criteria for each of your service-connected conditions and gather medical and lay evidence that documents how your symptoms meet a higher level.
- Talk with a local disability attorney or accredited representative about whether to file for an increase, pursue new or secondary conditions, appeal a recent rating, or seek TDIU based on your work limitations.
Herren Law, a disability law firm, can help you choose the best path to increase your VA disability rating from 80% to the 100% level, or to 100% pay through TDIU, while protecting your existing benefits.
If you are at 80% and wondering, “How do I get from 80% to 100% VA disability?”, you do not have to face the VA alone. A Houston disability law firm can review your ratings, medical records, and work history to build a focused strategy for increasing your VA disability rating and avoiding common filing mistakes.
Contact a Houston-based VA and disability attorney today for a free consultation about your path from 80% to 100%. The legal team can explain your options, handle the paperwork and deadlines, and fight for the full benefits you earned through your service.
Herren Law Fights For Veterans
If you are at 80% and asking yourself, “How do I get from 80% to 100% VA disability?”, you do not have to face the VA on your own. Herren Law can review your ratings, medical records, and work history to build a clear strategy to increase your VA disability rating and protect the benefits you already have.
Reach out today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your options. Our dedicated legal team can explain the best path forward, handle the paperwork and deadlines, and fight for the full compensation your service-connected disabilities deserve.
