Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) — VA Rating Guide

The rating ladder

What the VA looks for at each percentage.

How to describe it (and win the rating)

Evidence that helps

Next steps

Related conditions & secondary claims

Conditions medically linked to Traumatic Brain Injury — each can be worth a separate or secondary claim:

• PTSD — TBI and PTSD often co-occur after the same event and are commonly claimed together.
• Migraines — Post-traumatic headaches are a recognized residual of TBI.
• Tinnitus — Tinnitus is a common residual of head trauma and blast exposure.

Common questions

What is the VA disability rating for traumatic brain injury (tbi)?

The VA rates traumatic brain injury (tbi) under 38 CFR diagnostic code 8045. The rating tiers are: 0% — Under the 'Evaluation of Cognitive Impairment and Other Residuals of TBI Not Otherwise Classified' table, a level of severity of '0' across all 10 facets equates to a 0% evaluation. Facet impairment at level 0 includes: no complaints of impairment of memory/attention/concentration; social interaction routinely appropriate; always oriented; normal judgment; normal motor activity; normal visual spatial orientation; no subjective symptoms; no neurobehavioral effects; able to communicate and comprehend normally; and normal consciousness.; 10% — A '1' in one or more of the ten facets. Examples: complains of mild memory loss (e.g., of names, directions, recent events) without objective evidence on testing; occasionally inappropriate social interaction; mildly impaired judgment (unfamiliar/complex situations require more time or occasional supervision); mildly decreased motor activity; three or more mild subjective symptoms that mildly interfere with work/instrumental activities/social/family relationships; one or more mild neurobehavioral effects that do not interfere with workplace/social interaction.; 40% — A '2' in one or more facets (highest level determines evaluation). Examples: objective evidence on testing of mild impairment of memory, attention, concentration, or executive functions resulting in mild functional impairment; frequently inappropriate social interaction; occasionally disoriented to one of the four aspects (person, time, place, situation); moderately impaired judgment (may require occasional to frequent supervision for even routine and familiar decisions); moderately decreased motor activity; one or more neurobehavioral effects that occasionally interfere with workplace/social interaction but do not preclude them.; 70% — A '3' in one or more facets. Examples: objective evidence on testing of moderate impairment of memory, attention, concentration, or executive functions resulting in moderate functional impairment; inappropriate social interaction most or all of the time; often disoriented to two or more of the four aspects; moderately severely impaired judgment (usually requires supervision for even routine and familiar decisions); one or more neurobehavioral effects that frequently interfere with workplace/social interaction such that they preclude them but not routine self-care; inability to communicate either by spoken language, written language, or both, more than occasionally but less than half the time.; 100% — A 'Total' in one or more facets. Examples: severely impaired judgment (for even routine and familiar decisions virtually always requires supervision; unable to identify/understand risks of ordinary decisions); persistently disoriented to all four aspects; severe impairment of memory/attention/concentration/executive functions; inability to communicate by spoken and written language and to comprehend it; or persistently altered state of consciousness (e.g., vegetative state, minimally responsive/conscious state, coma).. Your exact percentage depends on the severity documented in your records and C&P exam.

How much VA disability compensation is traumatic brain injury (tbi)?

Monthly pay depends on your assigned rating percentage and your dependents, not the condition alone. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can be rated from 0% to 100%. Use the free US Vet Help disability calculator for your exact 2026 monthly amount.