Title 38 — Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73
§1523 Combination of ratings
Title 38 › Part PART II— - GENERAL BENEFITS › Chapter CHAPTER 15— - PENSION FOR NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY OR DEATH OR FOR SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - VETERANS’ PENSIONS › § 1523
Summary
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must combine a veteran’s service-connected and non-service-connected disability ratings when deciding if the veteran is permanently and totally disabled. If that combined rating makes the veteran eligible for a pension and the veteran also gets service-connected disability pay, the VA must pay whichever benefit is larger.
Full Legal Text
Title 38, §1523
Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The Secretary shall provide that, for the purpose of determining whether or not a veteran is permanently and totally disabled, ratings for service-connected disabilities may be combined with ratings for non-service-connected disabilities.
(b)Where a veteran, by virtue of subsection (a), is found to be entitled to a pension under section 1521 of this title, and is entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability, the Secretary shall pay such veteran the greater benefit.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 523 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1521” for “521”. Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”. 1975—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–169 substituted “such veteran” for “him”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1975 Amendment Pub. L. 94–169, title I, § 106, Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1017, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Jan. 1, 1976.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
38 U.S.C. § 1523
Title 38 — Veterans' Benefits
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73