Public rules. This is not your rating.
This page shows VA’s public rules for a traumatic brain injury (TBI). It uses plain words, then the exact table. The table has boxes. VA calls those boxes facets. This is not your rating. We do not say you have a brain injury. We do not file. VA has no form that is only for a brain injury. Do not make one up. The form below is the one you fill out and send. We do not send it.
Official schedule last verified 2026-10-04. We teach and organize. We do not file.
We help you review your documents against the published rating criteria. Rating criteria are the public rules VA published. This is education and organizing. It is not a promise of a rating. We do not decide the claim. We do not file.
A VA exam is a short visit. Write how often something happens, how long it lasts, and how it stops normal life, only if that is true. If those facts are not in the papers you send, the exam may not have them. We do not write them for you. We do not file.
CFR means the Code of Federal Regulations. DC means diagnostic code. Those are public rule numbers.
Published: Assign a 100-percent evaluation if “total” is the level of evaluation for one or more facets. If no facet is evaluated as “total,” assign the overall percentage evaluation based on the level of the highest facet as follows: 0 = 0 percent; 1 = 10 percent; 2 = 40 percent; and 3 = 70 percent. For example, assign a 70 percent evaluation if 3 is the highest level of evaluation for any facet.
VA uses one overall level. It comes from the highest box in the table. It is not a percent for every box. It is not your rating. It is not your pay. This page does not pick a level for you.
Published: Assign a 100-percent evaluation if “total” is the level of evaluation for one or more facets. — 100% in the rule book (a level in the rule book, not your rating and not your pay).
VA uses one overall level. It comes from the highest box in the table. It is not a percent for every box. It is not your rating. It is not your pay. This page does not pick a level for you.
Published: 0 = 0 percent — 0% in the rule book (a level in the rule book, not your rating and not your pay).
VA uses one overall level. It comes from the highest box in the table. It is not a percent for every box. It is not your rating. It is not your pay. This page does not pick a level for you.
Published: 1 = 10 percent — 10% in the rule book (a level in the rule book, not your rating and not your pay).
VA uses one overall level. It comes from the highest box in the table. It is not a percent for every box. It is not your rating. It is not your pay. This page does not pick a level for you.
Published: 2 = 40 percent — 40% in the rule book (a level in the rule book, not your rating and not your pay).
VA uses one overall level. It comes from the highest box in the table. It is not a percent for every box. It is not your rating. It is not your pay. This page does not pick a level for you.
Published: 3 = 70 percent — 70% in the rule book (a level in the rule book, not your rating and not your pay).
VA uses one overall level. It comes from the highest box in the table. It is not a percent for every box. It is not your rating. It is not your pay. This page does not pick a level for you.
Published: However, separately evaluate any residual with a distinct diagnosis that may be evaluated under another diagnostic code, such as migraine headache or Meniere's disease, even if that diagnosis is based on subjective symptoms, rather than under the “Evaluation of Cognitive Impairment and Other Residuals of TBI Not Otherwise Classified” table.
The rule book names migraine headache as an example of a problem with its own name. This page does not say you have one. It is not a recommendation of what to claim.
Published: Evaluate emotional/behavioral dysfunction under § 4.130 (Schedule of ratings—mental disorders) when there is a diagnosis of a mental disorder. When there is no diagnosis of a mental disorder, evaluate emotional/behavioral symptoms under the criteria in the table titled “Evaluation of Cognitive Impairment and Other Residuals of TBI Not Otherwise Classified.”
This is the rule for mood and behavior. It is not a recommendation to claim a mental disorder.
Published: Note (1): There may be an overlap of manifestations of conditions evaluated under the table titled “Evaluation Of Cognitive Impairment And Other Residuals Of TBI Not Otherwise Classified” with manifestations of a comorbid mental or neurologic or other physical disorder that can be separately evaluated under another diagnostic code. In such cases, do not assign more than one evaluation based on the same manifestations. If the manifestations of two or more conditions cannot be clearly separated, assign a single evaluation under whichever set of diagnostic criteria allows the better assessment of overall impaired functioning due to both conditions. However, if the manifestations are clearly separable, assign a separate evaluation for each condition.
This is a note VA wrote about how to read the table. It is not a finding about you. It is not a list of things to claim.
Published: Note (2): Symptoms listed as examples at certain evaluation levels in the table are only examples and are not symptoms that must be present in order to assign a particular evaluation.
This is a note VA wrote about how to read the table. It is not a finding about you. It is not a list of things to claim.
Published: Note (3): “Instrumental activities of daily living” refers to activities other than self-care that are needed for independent living, such as meal preparation, doing housework and other chores, shopping, traveling, doing laundry, being responsible for one's own medications, and using a telephone. These activities are distinguished from “Activities of daily living,” which refers to basic self-care and includes bathing or showering, dressing, eating, getting in or out of bed or a chair, and using the toilet.
This is a note VA wrote about how to read the table. It is not a finding about you. It is not a list of things to claim.
Published: Note (4): The terms “mild,” “moderate,” and “severe” TBI, which may appear in medical records, refer to a classification of TBI made at, or close to, the time of injury rather than to the current level of functioning. This classification does not affect the rating assigned under diagnostic code 8045.
This is a note VA wrote about how to read the table. It is not a finding about you. It is not a list of things to claim.
Published: Memory, attention, concentration, executive functions — 0 — No complaints of impairment of memory, attention, concentration, or executive functions.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Memory, attention, concentration, executive functions — 1 — A complaint of mild loss of memory (such as having difficulty following a conversation, recalling recent conversations, remembering names of new acquaintances, or finding words, or often misplacing items), attention, concentration, or executive functions, but without objective evidence on testing.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Memory, attention, concentration, executive functions — 2 — Objective evidence on testing of mild impairment of memory, attention, concentration, or executive functions resulting in mild functional impairment.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Memory, attention, concentration, executive functions — 3 — Objective evidence on testing of moderate impairment of memory, attention, concentration, or executive functions resulting in moderate functional impairment.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Memory, attention, concentration, executive functions — Total — Objective evidence on testing of severe impairment of memory, attention, concentration, or executive functions resulting in severe functional impairment.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Judgment — 0 — Normal.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Judgment — 1 — Mildly impaired judgment. For complex or unfamiliar decisions, occasionally unable to identify, understand, and weigh the alternatives, understand the consequences of choices, and make a reasonable decision.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Judgment — 2 — Moderately impaired judgment. For complex or unfamiliar decisions, usually unable to identify, understand, and weigh the alternatives, understand the consequences of choices, and make a reasonable decision, although has little difficulty with simple decisions.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Judgment — 3 — Moderately severely impaired judgment. For even routine and familiar decisions, occasionally unable to identify, understand, and weigh the alternatives, understand the consequences of choices, and make a reasonable decision.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Judgment — Total — Severely impaired judgment. For even routine and familiar decisions, usually unable to identify, understand, and weigh the alternatives, understand the consequences of choices, and make a reasonable decision. For example, unable to determine appropriate clothing for current weather conditions or judge when to avoid dangerous situations or activities.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Social interaction — 0 — Social interaction is routinely appropriate.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Social interaction — 1 — Social interaction is occasionally inappropriate.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Social interaction — 2 — Social interaction is frequently inappropriate.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Social interaction — 3 — Social interaction is inappropriate most or all of the time.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Orientation — 0 — Always oriented to person, time, place, and situation.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Orientation — 1 — Occasionally disoriented to one of the four aspects (person, time, place, situation) of orientation.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Orientation — 2 — Occasionally disoriented to two of the four aspects (person, time, place, situation) of orientation or often disoriented to one aspect of orientation.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Orientation — 3 — Often disoriented to two or more of the four aspects (person, time, place, situation) of orientation.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Orientation — Total — Consistently disoriented to two or more of the four aspects (person, time, place, situation) of orientation.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Motor activity (with intact motor and sensory system) — 0 — Motor activity normal.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Motor activity (with intact motor and sensory system) — 1 — Motor activity normal most of the time, but mildly slowed at times due to apraxia (inability to perform previously learned motor activities, despite normal motor function).
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Motor activity (with intact motor and sensory system) — 2 — Motor activity mildly decreased or with moderate slowing due to apraxia.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Motor activity (with intact motor and sensory system) — 3 — Motor activity moderately decreased due to apraxia.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Motor activity (with intact motor and sensory system) — Total — Motor activity severely decreased due to apraxia.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Visual spatial orientation — 0 — Normal.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Visual spatial orientation — 1 — Mildly impaired. Occasionally gets lost in unfamiliar surroundings, has difficulty reading maps or following directions. Is able to use assistive devices such as GPS (global positioning system).
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Visual spatial orientation — 2 — Moderately impaired. Usually gets lost in unfamiliar surroundings, has difficulty reading maps, following directions, and judging distance. Has difficulty using assistive devices such as GPS (global positioning system).
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Visual spatial orientation — 3 — Moderately severely impaired. Gets lost even in familiar surroundings, unable to use assistive devices such as GPS (global positioning system).
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Visual spatial orientation — Total — Severely impaired. May be unable to touch or name own body parts when asked by the examiner, identify the relative position in space of two different objects, or find the way from one room to another in a familiar environment.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Subjective symptoms — 0 — Subjective symptoms that do not interfere with work; instrumental activities of daily living; or work, family, or other close relationships. Examples are: mild or occasional headaches, mild anxiety.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Subjective symptoms — 1 — Three or more subjective symptoms that mildly interfere with work; instrumental activities of daily living; or work, family, or other close relationships. Examples of findings that might be seen at this level of impairment are: intermittent dizziness, daily mild to moderate headaches, tinnitus, frequent insomnia, hypersensitivity to sound, hypersensitivity to light.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Subjective symptoms — 2 — Three or more subjective symptoms that moderately interfere with work; instrumental activities of daily living; or work, family, or other close relationships. Examples of findings that might be seen at this level of impairment are: marked fatigability, blurred or double vision, headaches requiring rest periods during most days.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Neurobehavioral effects — 0 — One or more neurobehavioral effects that do not interfere with workplace interaction or social interaction. Examples of neurobehavioral effects are: Irritability, impulsivity, unpredictability, lack of motivation, verbal aggression, physical aggression, belligerence, apathy, lack of empathy, moodiness, lack of cooperation, inflexibility, and impaired awareness of disability. Any of these effects may range from slight to severe, although verbal and physical aggression are likely to have a more serious impact on workplace interaction and social interaction than some of the other effects.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Neurobehavioral effects — 1 — One or more neurobehavioral effects that occasionally interfere with workplace interaction, social interaction, or both but do not preclude them.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Neurobehavioral effects — 2 — One or more neurobehavioral effects that frequently interfere with workplace interaction, social interaction, or both but do not preclude them.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Neurobehavioral effects — 3 — One or more neurobehavioral effects that interfere with or preclude workplace interaction, social interaction, or both on most days or that occasionally require supervision for safety of self or others.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Communication — 0 — Able to communicate by spoken and written language (expressive communication), and to comprehend spoken and written language.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Communication — 1 — Comprehension or expression, or both, of either spoken language or written language is only occasionally impaired. Can communicate complex ideas.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Communication — 2 — Inability to communicate either by spoken language, written language, or both, more than occasionally but less than half of the time, or to comprehend spoken language, written language, or both, more than occasionally but less than half of the time. Can generally communicate complex ideas.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Communication — 3 — Inability to communicate either by spoken language, written language, or both, at least half of the time but not all of the time, or to comprehend spoken language, written language, or both, at least half of the time but not all of the time. May rely on gestures or other alternative modes of communication. Able to communicate basic needs.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Communication — Total — Complete inability to communicate either by spoken language, written language, or both, or to comprehend spoken language, written language, or both. Unable to communicate basic needs.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
Published: Consciousness — Total — Persistently altered state of consciousness, such as vegetative state, minimally responsive state, coma.
This line is one box in VA’s table. The words 0, 1, 2, 3, or total are a level in that box. They are not a pay percent by themselves. VA uses one percent for the whole table, from the highest box only. This page does not pick a level for you. It does not tell you what to claim.
38 CFR 4.124a, Schedule of ratings—neurological conditions and convulsive disorders
The rule book names migraine headache as one example of a problem that has its own name and its own rules. It also says mood and behavior go to the mental health rules when a mental health condition is named. That is how the rule book talks about related conditions. It is not a recommendation of what to claim.
Questions only. They do not make up a fact. They do not write the statement.
VA has no form that is only for a brain injury. Do not invent one. You fill out VA Form 21-526EZ and send it yourself. We do not submit it.
VA Form 21-526EZ. Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits.
VA has no form that is only for a brain injury. This is the application you fill out and send. We do not send it.
You fill this out and send it to VA. We do not fill it in with your records. We do not send it. We do not make a packet that is ready to file.
Signed in? The forms list only helps you keep track. It does not fill a form. It does not send it.
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