Combined Ratings Bog!

[AJones]

Dear Brother and Sister Vets,

                                      Please help settle this.  I just had a heated discussion about what a total rating should be. The Vet is 40,30,30,30,20,10,10,10. The rating was 80% until recently when the 3 10% were determined but the benefit would remain at 80%. That is incorrect and I encouraged the Vet to file a NoD and ask them to recalculate because the rating now adds up to 90%.  Using the combined ratings table,  I got 84% before the 10%s,  adding one by one -not 30%- the total rating is 88 then round to 90%. What do you come up with? I did it manually and with the Hadit calculator. Same damn answer. The naysayer said that once the Vet gets to 80%, the 10%s don't count! They said there is some super secret formula that we don't know about. The combined ratings tables are just what "They" want us to see. Oh Brother! Please add the ratings and tell me what you get according to the info available from the VA: The Combined Ratings table. Thank You!

[AJones]

Thank you Hamslice, I've never encountered or heard of the VA's count being off and I've been a Vet advocate since before I retired in 2005. This has me stumped because I don't know how to advice the Vet on where she should bring this.

Rated Disabilities   Total Combined Disability

You have a 80% final degree of disability. This percentage determines the amount of benefit pay you will receive.

Disability	Rating	Decision	Related To	Effective Date
diabetes mellitus (Type II)	20%	Service Connected		09/09/2004
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)	0%	Service Connected		09/09/2004
status post removal of the uterus	30%	Service Connected		11/01/2010
uterine fibroids	30%	Service Connected		08/10/2006
tinea versicolor	30%	Service Connected		01/11/2012
degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine	40%	Service Connected		05/12/2011
left hip osteoarthritis (impairment of thigh) (previously claimed as pain/bursitis)	10%	Service Connected		07/29/2015
left hip osteoarthritis (limitation of flexion)	0%	Service Connected		07/29/2015
radiculopathy, right lower extremity	10%	Service Connected		07/29/2015
radiculopathy, left lower extremity	10%	Service Connected		07/29/2015
left hip osteoarthritis (limitation of extension)	0%	Service Connected		07/29/2015
residuals, bilateral breast reduction, with scarring	0%	Service Connected		02/22/2005
bikini line scarring, residual of C-section, appendectomy and abdominoplasty	0%	Service Connected		02/22/2005
residuals, cholecystectomy, with scarring (claimed as scar, residual of gallbladder)	0%	Service Connected		09/09/2004

Rated Disabilities.docx

Edited January 12, 2017 by AJones
added doc

[AJones]

This is straight from eBenefits.

Rated Disabilities.docx

[Carl the Engineer]

AJones

Here is my best guess.  One of the 30's is not being counted, why I am not smart enough to tell you.  Maybe pyramiding?

Anyway, the vet had 80 before the 3-10's.  40+30=58+30=71+20=77 which rounded = 80, leaving one 30 out of the calculation.

Ad the 3-10's and you get 40+30=58+30=71+20=77+10=79+10=81+10=83 which rounded = 80, again, leaving one 30 out of the calculation.

Thats my first guess.

Also, I think you may have some bilaterals related to the lower extremities, i.e., left and right, etc.

Anyway, a call to the VA to get the correct scoop is needed.

And, I do not have any experience of how they list the disabilities on ebenefits when you have pyramiding.  I think maybe they list them as you have the disabilities and each are rated, however they only count the higher number.  Maybe someone with pyramiding can opine.  I have no experience in that regards.

FWIW,

Hamslice

 

[AJones]

Thank you Hamslice. Either way there is a mistake. I don't know about pyramiding. I would think the VA would inform the Vet if this method was used in the calc. I appreciate your input. The total by the numbers rounds to 90%. When this is resolved, I'll post it. ??

[AJones]

UPDATE!!! I took Hamslices advise and dialed the 800 #, explained the situation and got a remedy for the Vet. The rep calculated 90% -88% rounded up- and sent the request for correction. Also the Bilateral factor is at play, thanks for pointing that out Andyman73. Thanks everyone for all the advice and input. 

Much Respect,

AJones

[Andyman73]

Ajones,

That's awesome to hear!!!

Andyman