Question:
I filed a claim almost 2 years ago for hearing loss, perforation of my tympanic membrane and residuals from a gunshot wound. The VA granted me 3 zero percent ratings. I am not arguing the fact that they only granted me 0% ratings but rather that they did not assign me an additional 10% rating for multiple 0% ratings. I already have a 20% rating for degenerative disc disease and I was hoping a new 10% rating added to my current 20% rating would bump me up to a 30% rating which would put a few more bucks in my pocket every month.
Answer:
Assuming the VA properly applied the three 0% ratings it sounds as though you are not entitled to an additional 10% rating. According to VA regulations “whenever a veteran is suffering from two or more separate permanent service-connected disabilities of such character as clearly to interfere with normal employability, even though none of the disabilities may be of compensable degree under the 1945 Schedule for Rating Disabilities the rating agency is authorized to apply a 10-percent rating, but not in conjunction with any other rating.”
What this means for you is that if you did not have any ratings other than your three 0% ratings you might be eligible for a combined 10% rating but since you already have a 20% rating you are not eligible for the additional 10%.
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