Yes, You Can See Your Static VA Ratings Online – Here’s How and Why It Matters
If you’re a veteran wondering whether your VA ratings are static or not – yes, you absolutely can check that online. It’s super simple, and more importantly, understanding your static ratings is critical for two big reasons.
Why Static VA Ratings Matter
1. They Determine If You’re 100% P&T
Your static ratings play a major role in whether or not you’re eligible for 100% Permanent and Total (P&T) disability status. If you have conditions that aren’t static (or aren’t static yet) and you’re rated at 100% using the VA’s combined rating system, you may not qualify for P&T. That sucks because 100% P&T benefits go far beyond just being rated at 100%—this includes protections from future rating reductions and additional state benefits.
2. They Create a Safety Net
While static ratings don’t officially protect you from reductions, they do create a cushion. A static condition means it’s unlikely to improve in your lifetime, so the VA typically won’t schedule future exams (no more routine C&P exams for that condition). That’s huge—less stress, fewer appointments, and greater peace of mind.
Recent Changes in VA Rating Practices
It’s worth noting that around 2022 or 2023, the VA was heavily criticized for unnecessary C&P exams. Following an Inspector General report, VA raters now lean more toward assigning static ratings than they did before. So while static ratings still exist, non-static ones are less common than in the past—especially for long-standing conditions.
How to Check If Your Ratings Are Static Online
- Log in to VA.gov.
- Once logged in, open a new browser tab or window.
- Paste the following URL into the address bar:
https://api.va.gov/v0/ratings - You’ll likely see a JSON page (code-style). To make it readable, use a tool like Pretty Print or a JSON formatter extension.
Look for the section that says “serviceConnected”: true and check the “static” field. If it says "static": true, then that condition is considered static. Easy peasy.
Important Clarifications
- Ignore any condition labeled as “not service connected” for static rating purposes. Even if it says static, it doesn’t matter unless it’s actually service-connected.
- If one of your service-connected conditions isn’t static, you’ll likely have a routine future exam. That means you need to maintain medical evidence and treatment history.
- This is particularly common in mental health claims rated at 100%. The VA assumes potential for improvement, so non-static status is more likely here.
How Static Ratings Affect 100% P&T Eligibility
To be rated 100% P&T, the VA requires that your static conditions alone equal at least a 95% combined rating. For example, if your static ratings total 94%, and a new non-static condition pushes you to 100%, you still won’t qualify for P&T.
Quick Note on Protections
- 10-Year Rule: Protects service connection after 10 years.
- 20-Year Rule: Protects the VA rating itself after 20 years.
Static ratings help, but those two protections are the only official long-term safeguards in the VA system.
