By Dr. Aldo Moran, Market Medical Director, Flagship Health

Navigating the VA disability system can be challenging—especially for senior veterans. Whether you’re just beginning the process or considering an appeal for a higher rating, understanding how the VA assesses disabilities and assigns ratings is critical for accessing the benefits you’ve earned.

As a proud veteran and physician dedicated to serving senior veterans at Flagship Health, I know firsthand how overwhelming this process can feel. That’s why we’ve created this guide—to empower you with knowledge, prepare you for what lies ahead, and ensure you make the most of the benefits available to you.

Who Is This Guide For?

This guide is specifically for senior veterans—those who served our country and are now navigating retirement, age-related health changes, and a complex benefits landscape. At Flagship Health, our mission is centered on serving senior veterans with respect, dignity, and comprehensive care.

For clarification, Flagship Health provides VA support and disability rating services only for our members. While many veterans reach out to us with questions about filing claims or appealing denials, we can only offer that guidance to individuals who are currently enrolled in care with us.

What Is a VA Disability Rating?

A VA disability rating is a percentage assigned by the Department of Veterans Affairs to represent the severity of a veteran’s service-connected condition. This rating determines the level of monthly compensation, healthcare coverage, and access to additional VA benefits.

  • Ratings range from 0% to 100%
  • Ratings are typically assigned in 10% increments
  • A higher rating equals greater compensation and support

For example, a veteran with a 10% rating may receive a small monthly payment, while one with a 100% rating is eligible for comprehensive health care, housing assistance, and tax exemptions.

Service-Connected vs. Non-Service-Connected Conditions

Understanding the distinction between these two terms is crucial:

  • Service-connected conditions are illnesses or injuries that were caused or worsened by your military service.
  • Non-service-connected conditions are unrelated to military service and do not qualify for VA disability benefits.

Even if you’re now dealing with age-related health issues, it’s worth exploring whether those conditions may have roots in your time in uniform.

The VA Disability Assessment Process

1. Filing Your Initial Claim

To begin the process, you must submit a VA Form 21-526EZ, also known as the “Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits.”

👉🏾 Click here to download the form from the Veterans Affairs website. 

After you’ve filled out the form, you can file it in one of three ways:

2. The C&P Exam (Compensation & Pension Exam)

Once your claim is submitted, you’ll likely be scheduled for a Compensation & Pension (C&P) Exam—a critical step in the assessment process.

What to expect:

  • A VA-appointed clinician will evaluate the severity and service connection of your condition.
  • The exam may include a physical assessment, review of medical history, and diagnostic tests.

Tips for a successful exam:

  • Be honest and specific about your symptoms and how they affect daily life.
  • Bring documentation such as medical records, prescriptions, or past evaluations.
  • Don’t minimize your condition—describe your worst days, not your best.

For more guidance, see the C&P Exam Preparation Checklist.

How the VA Determines Your Disability Rating

Your rating is based on:

  • Medical evidence from your records and the C&P exam
  • VA rating schedules, which outline how various conditions are evaluated
  • Impact on earning capacity and daily functioning

If you have multiple conditions, the VA uses a combined rating formula—not simple addition—to calculate your total percentage.

You can review the full VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) to better understand how conditions are assessed.

Appealing or Increasing Your Disability Rating

Many veterans receive a rating they feel does not reflect their reality. If this is you, know that you have the right to appeal or request an increase.

When to Request an Increase

  • Your condition has worsened since your last rating.
  • You were initially underrated based on incomplete or inaccurate information. 

How to Appeal a Denial or Low Rating

There are three appeal options:

  1. Higher-Level Review: A senior claims adjudicator re-examines your claim.
  2. Supplemental Claim: Submit new and relevant evidence.
  3. Board Appeal: Request a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

More information is available in the VA Appeals Process Overview. 

Nexus Letters & Independent Evaluations

A Nexus letter from your primary care provider can help prove the connection between your condition and your service. An independent medical evaluation (IME) from a non-VA physician (like those at Flagship Health) can further support your case.

Special Benefits for High-Rated Disabilities

If your rating reaches 100%, you may be eligible for additional programs, including:

  • Comprehensive healthcare through the VA
  • Housing grants for home modifications
  • Property tax exemptions (varies by state)
  • Aid & Attendance for long-term care support
  • Concurrent Receipt, allowing you to receive both VA disability pay and military retirement pay

These benefits can dramatically improve your quality of life—especially as healthcare and mobility needs increase with age.

Understanding Your Options: VA Help vs. Flagship Health Support

We want to clarify a common misunderstanding: Flagship Health is not a VA facility. We are a private healthcare provider dedicated to serving senior veterans—but we are not a general VA claims support organization.

We only offer VA disability support services to Flagship Health members. This includes help with:

  • Preparing for your C&P exam
  • Reviewing and submitting claims documentation
  • Connecting you with trusted, VA-accredited representatives

If you're not a Flagship Health member, we recommend seeking support from: 

Common Mistakes Veterans Make (and How to Avoid Them)

  1. Underreporting symptoms: This leads to underrated claims.
  2. Missing the C&P exam: Skipping this appointment can delay or derail your claim.
  3. Not appealing a denial: Many valid claims are initially denied—don’t give up.
  4. Not seeking help: Trained professionals can dramatically improve your chances of success. 

Why Senior Vets Should Still Apply

Some veterans assume it's too late to apply for disability benefits, especially after decades of retirement. That is absolutely not true.

The VA does not place an age limit on disability claims. If you have a service-connected condition—no matter how long ago you served—you may still be eligible.

Applying today could help cover:

  • Chronic pain or mobility issues
  • Hearing loss or tinnitus
  • PTSD or depression 
  • Heart disease or diabetes
  • Arthritis or joint conditions

Final Thoughts

As a veteran, I understand the sacrifice and pride that comes with military service. And as a physician, I see every day how those sacrifices continue to impact our bodies and minds as we age.

At Flagship Health, we believe that senior veterans deserve respect, clarity, and full access to the benefits they earned. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the VA process, you don’t have to go it alone.

We’re here to help—but remember, our VA services are only available to folks who have established care at Flagship Health. If you’re not currently receiving care with us, we encourage you to reach out to your local VSO or VA office. 

Helpful Resources

✅ VA Disability Ratings Guide

✅ C&P Exam Preparation Checklist 

✅ Appeals Process Overview 

✅ Directory of VA-Accredited Claims Representatives 

✅ List of Local and Online Support Organizations 

Get in Touch

Interested in becoming a Flagship Health member? We’d be honored to serve you – please visit flagshiphealth.org to learn more or request an appointment.

Together, we can navigate this journey and make sure you receive the care and recognition you deserve.

About Dr. Aldo Moran

Dr. Aldo Moran is the Market Medical Director for Flagship Health in San Antonio, Texas. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Nova Southeastern University and completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the University of the Incarnate Word in Laredo, Texas. Before his medical career, Dr. Moran served seven years in the U.S. Army, including deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was an infantry squad leader and the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense operations. Fluent in English and Spanish, he has been practicing since 2019, focusing on diabetes and metabolism disorders, cardiovascular disease prevention, and preventive medicine.