It’s one of the most common frustrations we hear from veterans: “The VA lowballed my rating. I can’t work. I’m in pain. And this rating doesn’t even come close to what I’m dealing with.”
You’re not imagining it—and you’re not alone.
Every year, thousands of veterans are assigned disability ratings that don’t reflect the true severity of their service-connected conditions. Sometimes it’s due to errors. Sometimes it’s a lack of strong evidence. And sometimes, frankly, it’s just the VA being stingy.
Whatever the reason, you don’t have to settle for a lowball rating. Here’s how to spot it—and what to do next.
How to Know If the VA Lowballed You
Some ratings are obviously too low. But many lowball decisions are subtle, buried in confusing language and VA jargon. Watch for these signs:
1. Your Life Is Severely Impacted—but Your Rating Doesn’t Show It
If your condition affects your ability to work, sleep, maintain relationships, or care for yourself—and you’re rated at 30% or lower—something may be off. For example:
- You have PTSD and can’t hold down a job, but the VA gave you 50%.
- You’ve had multiple knee surgeries and chronic pain, but they rated you at 10%.
That’s a disconnect worth challenging.
2. They Ignored or Missed a Secondary Condition
Many veterans don’t realize that the VA should consider conditions caused by a service-connected issue. For example:
- Back problems causing sciatica.
- PTSD leading to sleep apnea.
- Diabetes leading to neuropathy.
If these secondary conditions weren’t considered, your combined rating is probably too low. Tucker Disability Law’s proven Veteran’s Victory Blueprint™ strategy is designed to take all your conditions into account to ensure you get the correct VA rating. You can read more about it on our VA Disability Claims page.
3. Your C&P Exam Was a Joke
Let’s be honest: some VA C&P exams feel like a checkbox formality. If the examiner barely looked at you, didn’t ask about how your condition impacts your daily life, or failed to document your symptoms properly, the result can be a rating that doesn’t match reality.
4. They Used the Wrong Diagnostic Code or Missed a Rating Bump
The VA rates conditions based on very specific criteria. But they can—and do—make mistakes. They might:
- Use the wrong diagnostic code.
- Miss that your range of motion qualifies for a higher rating.
- Overlook a condition that should be rated separately (not lumped together).
Unless you know how the VA rating system works, these errors are easy to miss.
What You Can Do if the VA Lowballed Your Rating
If something feels off about your decision letter, don’t just accept it and move on. You have options—but you also have a deadline. You typically have one year from the date of the decision to challenge it.
Here are three main paths forward:
Higher-Level Review
Best when: You believe the VA made a clear error and don’t need to submit new evidence.
A senior VA reviewer will take a second look at your case and may overturn the decision if the original one was incorrect.
Supplemental Claim
Best when: You have new evidence—like updated medical records, a more detailed nexus letter, or a private doctor’s opinion.
This lets you strengthen your case with added documentation the VA may have missed or misunderstood.
Appeal to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals
Best when: Your claim is complex, or the previous reviews didn’t go in your favor.
You can request a hearing with a Veterans Law Judge, and your case gets a full review. It takes longer—but for many, it’s worth the wait.
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A Real-World Example:
John, a Navy Veteran, was rated at 30% for major depressive disorder. But he couldn’t hold down steady work, had severe insomnia, and rarely left the house. After reviewing his file, we found the VA overlooked key parts of his medical record. We helped him appeal, submitted updated records and a statement from a treating therapist—and his rating was increased to 70%.
This happens more often than you’d think. You served your country. You shouldn’t have to fight this hard to get what you’ve earned—but when you do, we’re ready to fight with you.
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The Bottom Line: Don’t Settle for Less
If you’re saying to yourself, “The VA lowballed my rating,” listen to that instinct. Your health matters. Your compensation matters. And you deserve a team that understands how to take on the VA and win.
At Tucker Disability Law, we focus on helping veterans appeal denied claims and low disability ratings. We know the VA’s playbook—and we know how to beat it.
If you think your VA rating is too low, let us take a look. We’ll review your decision letter and medical records and tell you if we think you have a strong case for an increase.
No charge. No obligation. Just real answers from a team that’s on your side.
Use the blue contact section NOW to call us, live chat with us, or message us. You can also message us using our confidential contact form.
WE NEVER GIVE UP. NEITHER SHOULD YOU.
