A 60% disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) indicates that a veteran has a service-connected disability that is considered 60% disabling. This means that the veteran’s earning capacity has been reduced by 60% due to injuries or illnesses that were incurred or aggravated during active military service.
How VA disability ratings work
The VA uses a schedule of ratings to determine the severity of a veteran’s disability and how much it impacts their ability to work and earn an income. Disability ratings range from 0% to 100% in 10% increments:
- 0% – a condition is service-connected but does not impact earning capacity
- 10% – earning capacity is impaired by 10%
- 20% – earning capacity is impaired by 20%
- 30% – earning capacity is impaired by 30%
- 40% – earning capacity is impaired by 40%
- 50% – earning capacity is impaired by 50%
- 60% – earning capacity is impaired by 60%
- 70% – earning capacity is impaired by 70%
- 80% – earning capacity is impaired by 80%
- 90% – earning capacity is impaired by 90%
- 100% – totally impaired earning capacity
So a 60% rating indicates the VA has determined that the veteran’s ability to work and earn income is reduced by 60% because of a service-connected condition.
How the VA calculates disability ratings
The VA uses medical evidence, like doctor’s reports and test results, to determine how much a condition impacts functioning and assigns a diagnostic code. Each diagnosed condition is assigned a percentage rating based on the VA’s rating schedule. If a veteran has multiple service-connected conditions, the VA calculates a combined disability rating, which is not simply an average of the individual ratings but a more complex calculation that takes into account how the conditions impact one another.
What types of disabilities may qualify for 60%
There are many types of disabilities that may warrant a 60% rating if the evidence shows they cause a 60% reduction in earning capacity. Some examples include:
Mental health conditions
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – 60% if symptoms like flashbacks, panic attacks, memory issues cause deficiencies in work, school, or social situations
- Major depressive disorder – 60% if symptoms like appetite changes, sleep issues, fatigue, and mood disturbances cause deficiencies in work and relationships
- Anxiety disorders – 60% if anxiety causes deficiencies in thinking, mood, and work
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue conditions
- Amputation of a lower extremity – 60% for amputation of the thigh, leg, or foot
- Arthritis – 60% if severe pain, weakness, and motion loss in a major joint or joint group (like the back or knee) limits physical activity
- Intervertebral disc syndrome – 60% if the back condition causes incapacitating episodes lasting at least 6 weeks over the past year
- Bone fractures – 60% if the fracture causes difficulties with weight-bearing, motion, or other functional use of the affected part
Nervous system conditions
- Epilepsy – 60% for an average of at least 5 minor seizures weekly
- Parkinson’s disease – 60% for severe symptoms like tremors, muscle rigidity, and impaired motion
- Chronic fatigue syndrome – 60% for debilitating fatigue, cognitive impairment, and other immune dysfunction symptoms that restrict routine daily activities
Cardiovascular conditions
- Heart disease – 60% for conditions like coronary artery disease or heart valve problems if there is evidence of congestive heart failure
- Hypertension – 60% for blood pressure readings predominantly showing diastolic pressure over 120 which requires continuous medication for control
Respiratory conditions
- Asthma – 60% for frequent asthma attacks (one or more per week), marked by shortness of breath, wheezing, respiratory distress
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – 60% for pulmonary function tests showing Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV-1) of 40 to 55% predicted, or FEV-1/Forced vital capacity (FVC) of 40 to 55%
Cancer
- Leukemia – 60% during treatment phase for disorders like chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- Lymphomas – 60% for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma during treatment phase with symptoms like fatigue, fever, night sweats
VA disability rating table
This table summarizes the VA disability rating scale:
| Disability Rating | Percentage of Earning Capacity Remaining |
|---|---|
| 0% | 100% |
| 10% | 90% |
| 20% | 80% |
| 30% | 70% |
| 40% | 60% |
| 50% | 50% |
| 60% | 40% |
| 70% | 30% |
| 80% | 20% |
| 90% | 10% |
| 100% | 0% |
As shown, a 60% rating means the veteran retains 40% of their earning capacity.
Benefits of a 60% VA disability rating
A 60% disability rating makes a veteran eligible for several VA benefits, including:
- Disability Compensation – Monthly tax-free payments to compensate for lost earning potential. Payment amounts depend on the rating percentage and number of dependents.
- Vocational Rehabilitation – Services like job training and resume development to help veterans work within limits of their disabilities.
- Property Tax Exemption – Many states and municipalities exempt a portion of a disabled veteran’s property tax bill based on their rating percentage.
- VA Pension – Additional tax-free supplemental income for low-income veterans or surviving spouses.
- Federal Hiring Preference – Eligibility for preferential hiring treatment for most federal and state government jobs.
- State Benefits – Such as free passes and discounts for parks, transportation, education etc. State benefits vary.
Additionally, a 60% rating provides health care enrollment priority in the VA. Veterans with disabilities rated 50% or more can access VA health care benefits with lower co-pays.
Can you work with a 60% disability rating?
Yes, it is possible to work full-time or part-time with a 60% VA disability rating. The rating is not meant to measure employability, but rather to compensate for lost earning capacity. Some veterans are able to work successfully despite their disabilities, while others cannot.
Individual Unemployability
If a veteran cannot secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, they may be eligible for a 100% disability rating based on individual unemployability (IU) even if their rating is less than 100%. For IU, the veteran’s service-connected conditions must meet the schedular rating requirements of either:
- One disability rated 60% or more disabling
- Two or more disabilities with one rated at least 40% disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more
So a veteran with a 60% rating could potentially qualify for IU and be considered 100% disabled if the evidence shows their disabilities render them unable to work.
Can a 60% rating be permanent?
VA disability ratings are generally not considered permanent because conditions can improve or worsen over time. However, veterans who have held a total rating for 10 continuous years or more are considered “permanently and totally disabled” by the VA. This provides protection against future rating reductions and makes them eligible for maximum VA benefits.
While a 60% rating alone does not confer permanent status, if a veteran also receives a 100% IU rating that remains in effect for over 10 years, they would then be considered permanently and totally disabled. So it is possible to obtain permanent status from an initial 60% rating, but only if IU is also granted long-term.
Presumptive Permanency
For veterans aged 55 and older, the VA assumes some conditions are permanent once they have been rated at a certain level for 5 years or more. A 60% rating for PTSD in a veteran 55 or older would likely be considered an established permanent rating by the VA.
How long does a 60% rating last?
As long as the service-connected disability remains 60% disabling, that rating will stay in effect. The VA is required to periodically review disability ratings to determine if they should be adjusted based on changes in the severity of the condition.
There is no fixed duration for a 60% rating. Some veterans may have that rating for life if their condition does not improve, while others may see their rating increased or decreased over time as appropriate.
Review Frequency
How often the VA reviews a rating depends on the likelihood of improvement for that condition:
- Static disabilities (unlikely to improve) – Less frequent review, every 3 to 5 years
- Dynamic disabilities (may improve) – More frequent review, every 6 to 18 months
For example, an amputation would be considered static while PTSD would be dynamic. Veterans can submit new evidence at any time to request an increase if their condition worsens.
Can you get 100% with a 60% rating?
There are two potential paths to obtaining a 100% rating if you already have a 60% rating:
- Increased Schedular Rating – File a claim for an increased rating and submit medical evidence showing your condition is now 100% disabling based on the rating schedule.
- Individual Unemployability – File for IU showing you are unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful work due to your service-connected disabilities.
Of these two options, IU is likely the easier path to 100% since you would not have to prove your condition is now totally disabling, but only that it prevents you from being able to work when considering your education and experience.
Combined Rating Method
It is also possible to achieve a 100% combined rating with multiple service-connected conditions even if no single condition is rated 100% disabling. The VA uses a combined ratings table to determine overall rating. For example, consider a veteran with these ratings:
- 60% PTSD
- 40% back injury
- 30% knee injury
Using the combined ratings formula, those three ratings would result in a combined overall rating of 90%. Adding even one more 30% rating for another condition like diabetes would push the veteran to 100% combined.
Appealing a 60% VA Disability Rating Decision
Veterans who believe their rating does not accurately reflect their disability level or lost earning capacity have the right to appeal for a higher rating. Reasons to appeal include:
- Condition worsened since last rating decision
- VA overlooked or misinterpreted evidence
- VA failed to schedule a new exam despite condition worsening
- Evidence supports higher rating under rating schedule
The VA appeals process has multiple steps including filing a Notice of Disagreement, VA review, Board of Veterans’ Appeals review, and finally appeal to U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Working with an accredited veterans advocate or attorney experienced in appeals maximizes the chances of success. Gathering updated medical evidence and treatment records is also key.
Clear and Unmistakable Error
Another option is to file a Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE) claim alleging the original rating decision contained obvious errors which would have resulted in a higher rating when correctly applied to the evidence. CUE claims can potentially allow for an earlier effective date for benefits.
Conclusion
A 60% VA disability rating reflects moderately severe impairment of earning capacity due to service-connected disabilities. While not as high as a 100% rating, a 60% rating still provides access to valuable VA compensation, health care, vocational training, and other benefits. Veterans with a 60% rating may be able to obtain a higher rating via an increased schedular rating, IU, or combined rating if their disabilities worsen or new evidence is presented. Working closely with an accredited advocate improves the chances of succeeding with a VA disability claim or appeal.
