How does DOD Rating work

To get a DOD retirement you have to have 30%
Now is that a combined rating of other disabilities which equal 30% or just one disability has to be rated 30%.
 
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It can be one unfitting condition that is rated at 30% or greater or a combination of unfitting conditions that combine to a rating of 30% or greater.
 
gsfowler said:
It can be one unfitting condition that is rated at 30% or greater or a combination of unfitting conditions that combine to a rating of 30% or greater.
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Does the DOD rating use the same table as the VA for rating purposes? Can the same condition be rated different between DOD and VA?
 
The DOD doesn't rate anything, it merely copies what the VA rates you for the unfitting conditions.
 
@Naughim if the DoD copies the VA's ratings, how come the percentages are different?
 
blaqspeed_13 said:
@Naughim if the DoD copies the VA's ratings, how come the percentages are different?
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They are not different, the DoD uses the rating that is given by the VA during the C&P process. What you may be confusing is that the DoD is only going to rate you on the conditions that are unfitting, the VA rates you for all conditions that occurred while on or where aggravated while on active duty service.
 
Sgt.G said:
Does the DOD rating use the same table as the VA for rating purposes?
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If this is a reference to how the VA math works for combining disabilities, yes. When you're down below around 30%, the funky VA math won't cause a problem, but at higher %s the same oddities will appear. 10% + 20% + 30% = 40% and not 50%, for both the VA and the DoD.
 
Let me give you some examples and see if it clears things up (others can correct me if I'm wrong). This is what was told to me at VA and my physician.

DoD rating is typically lower. That is because DoD rating is only for your referred condition. For example: Let's say you were in battle and injured your left knee to a point where your physician feels that you should be sent to a medical board. At the medical board, they feel that you're unfit to continue thus sending it up to IPEB. During the process, you go get your medical evaluation where they find that you lost some of your hearing, you also have back issues, few scars, etc. When you're found unfit, VA will give you two ratings; one rating for your knee and another for everything combined. DoD will then take the VA rating for your knee and determine if you are medically separating (less than 30%), or if you'll be on either PDRL or TDRL.
Now, going back to square one, let's say that your knee problem also caused problems to your right knee and back pain along with PTSD because of the event. It is at that point you decide to go to see your physician and he sends it up to Med Board and so on and so forth. Because your initial referred conditions are right knee, left knee, back pain, and PTSD, those are what will determine your percentage for DoD when found unfit.

To understand the percentage and how it adds up:

You will start your military career at 100% fit. When they begin to rate you, each individual issues will have their own rating (there's a whole instruction for ratings that they use). Let's say problem A is rated at 20%, problem B is rated at 10%, and problem C is rated at 10%. Problem A will be rated from 100%, thus making you 80% fit. Problem B will be rated from the 80% (10% of 80% is 8%), so you'll now be at 72% fit (But I heard they round up, but for argument sake, it's keep it where it's at, and at whole numbers). Problem C will be rated from 72% (10% of 72% is 7.2%), so you'll now be at 65% fit or 35% disabled.

To my understanding, DoD does not do any of the rating. They just take what VA rated you as and go with that.

If I made any mistakes or anyone else can make this better, feel free do fix it or what not.
 
I was rated 30% by the va for syringomyelia. DOD rated me 30% also for it.
 
Ok, I hope some one can help me . I got out the Army with 10% , for my knee, but the Army didn't evaluate me for Ptsd but just gave me the medication while I was in Afghanistan and when I came to state side. When I got out and the I told the VA about the Ptsd and how the army gave me the meds but never put PTSD n black in white. As years go by I see doc after doc and was put in a Ptsd program for 90 days. With n those 90 days I welt like a test rat. When I got out I was 100 permanent and total due to IU by the VA. I then had a VA Rep . Go thru my medical records to find out that a part of my Afghanistan records are missing and that's when my traumatic event happened. Can't find them any where. But the medication list. To make a long story short the VA gave me 100 will the dod match as well? I'm going thru PDBR and it's been 3 years 3 mths now and it's in adjudication phase
 
This is what I know about ratings. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

Your package will go from Medical Evaluation Board from local clinic to determine if you need to go through IDES process. Once they determine that you do, you will go through various tests to determine the validity of the claim that initiated the IDES process (your referred condition) AND every other conditions that comes with it. DoD does not rate you at all. It's the VA that rates you. DoD just takes what VA rated you at and gives you that percentage. But the reason why there's a difference between DoD rating and VA rating is that DoD only takes your referred condition rating while VA does rating for everything. For example, let's say that I was referred to IDES for back pain. But during the physical exam and VA appointments, I tell them that I also have ringing in my ears. Once PEB determines that I am no longer able to reasonably serve with my back pain, they submit my record to VA for rating determination. Let's say VA rates my back pain at 10% and my combined back pain and ringing in ear at 20% (back=10%, ringing in ear at 10%). The way it comes back is that DoD will give you 10% because that was the rating for the referred condition and VA will give you 20% because that's the total rating.

Does that make sense?
 
Okay I'm new here as well and since we are on the topic of percentages I need help. I have tried to do the majority of my research on my own using the resources provided here.

I understand that to be considered retired you have to be 30%+ rated, I think I'll be there since my condition starts at 50% automatic. Aside from the retiree benefits what does your dod % matter? From my understanding the money will come from the va side. This is all new to me and with a wife and 3 kids it's quite scary so any help I can get is amazing.
 
The percentage dictates whether or not you are separated from the military with a severance pay or retired (as if you did 20 years). With 50%, it's as if you did 20 years and left the military. This also means that you will have full benefits of TriCare as if you were a retiree, you will have your retirement pay, and have access to base for PX/NEX and commissary benefits. Does this answer your question?
 
Kind of but it also brings up More questions. My plan as of now is to wait until I start the process itself and ask my Peblo. I just want to be as educated as possible before the inevitable happens.
 
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