Ratings, payments and benefit status
Separate a percentage, payment rules and special benefit status.
Payment and status concepts
Individual unemployability concerns payment at the 100% rate under its own requirements. Special monthly compensation addresses specified circumstances such as certain losses or care needs. Permanent-and-total status describes a disability determination. The combined-rating calculator does not decide any of these.
Read the individual award
VA decision and benefit letters state the individual award and status. Current payment information is published separately.
Example
Fictional example: Cameron has a decision letter and wants to understand a percentage and the award’s other status statements. Cameron reads the actual letter and official payment/status references; a combined-rating result does not decide IU, SMC or P&T.