Ratings governed by 38 CFR § 4.124a — Schedule of Ratings — Neurological Conditions. See also: DC 8045 — Residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury.
How VA Rates TBI: The 10-Facet System (DC 8045)
Traumatic Brain Injury is one of the most misunderstood conditions in the VA disability system — and that misunderstanding costs veterans thousands of dollars a year. Unlike most conditions that follow a straightforward percentage scale, TBI is rated under a unique multi-facet system defined by 38 CFR Part 4, Diagnostic Code 8045 (Residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury).
Instead of asking "how bad is your TBI overall," the VA breaks your impairment into 10 separate cognitive, behavioral, and neurological facets. Each facet is assessed individually on a scale of 0 to 3. Critically, the single highest facet score determines your overall disability rating — not an average, not a combination. One facet at level 3 earns a 70% rating even if all nine other facets are at level 0.
This structure is both your greatest opportunity and your greatest risk. Veterans who understand it can accurately document their worst areas of impairment and get the rating they deserve. Veterans who don't often receive a 10% rating when they qualify for 40% or 70%.
Your TBI rating is driven by the highest level reached on any single facet — not an average. One severe symptom outweighs nine mild ones. Know your worst facet and document it thoroughly.
The 10 Facets Explained
Each of the 10 facets is evaluated independently. The examiner scores each one from 0 (no finding) to 3 (severe impairment). Here are all 10, with real-world examples of what each level looks like:
Difficulty following multi-step tasks, forgetting appointments, inability to plan or organize.
Poor decision-making, impulsive financial choices, inability to assess risk in everyday situations.
Withdrawal from family/friends, conflict in relationships, inability to maintain employment due to interpersonal difficulties.
Confusion about time, place, or situation — becoming disoriented in familiar environments.
Tremors, coordination problems, weakness, or slowness in movement affecting daily tasks.
Getting lost in familiar places, difficulty reading maps, impaired depth perception.
Headaches, dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light or noise — reported by the veteran but difficult to measure objectively.
Irritability, impulsivity, aggression, emotional lability, anxiety — changes in personality or behavior since TBI.
Word-finding difficulty, slowed processing, problems understanding complex speech or writing.
Episodes of altered consciousness, blackouts, persistent vegetative state, or minimally conscious state.
The Four Scoring Levels
| Level | Definition | What It Means in Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Level 0 | No complaints or finding | Facet is not impaired — no symptoms, no evidence |
| Level 1 | Mild — subjective symptoms only | Veteran reports symptoms, but daily function and work are not significantly affected |
| Level 2 | Moderate — impacts daily function | Symptoms cause measurable interference with work, relationships, or independent living |
| Level 3 | Severe — total occupational/social impairment | Veteran cannot maintain employment or meaningful social relationships due to this facet |
Rating Levels and 2025 Pay Rates
Your overall DC 8045 rating maps directly from your highest facet score to one of five possible ratings. Here's what each rating pays a single veteran with no dependents in 2025:
| Rating | Facet Score Required | 2025 Monthly Pay (no dependents) |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | All facets at Level 0 | $0 (SC status only) |
| 10% | Highest facet at Level 1 | $175.51/month |
| 40% | Highest facet at Level 2 | $706.52/month |
| 70% | Highest facet at Level 3 | $1,716.28/month |
| 100% | Total disability — cognitive + other criteria | $3,831.30/month |
Note the dramatic jump between levels: the difference between a Level 1 and Level 2 rating is over $530/month. Accurate documentation of how your symptoms affect your daily functioning — not just what symptoms you have — is the difference between those tiers.
Editorial Standards: This article was written by Marcus J. Webb, a veterans benefits researcher who has studied 38 CFR Part 4, the VA M21-1 Adjudication Manual, and thousands of BVA decisions. Content is verified against current 38 CFR regulations and VA.gov guidance. Last reviewed: April 2026. Not legal advice — for representation on your specific claim, talk to a VA-accredited attorney.