Original Research
How the Board Uses Every VA Rating Regulation
RateMyVSO analyzed the full archive of published Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions to measure how each 38 CFR section actually plays out: how often the Board grants when it cites it, and which conditions it decides. Each section page pairs that research with the current regulation text and a plain-English explanation, in one place. No other source reports this.
Service Connection & Effective Dates
38 CFR § 3.159, Department of Veterans Affairs assistance in developing claims33.9% granted an issue · 692,630 decisions38 CFR § 3.303, Principles relating to service connection46.9% granted an issue · 611,836 decisions38 CFR § 3.156, New evidence41.9% granted an issue · 425,968 decisions38 CFR § 3.309, Disease subject to presumptive service connection40.3% granted an issue · 338,499 decisions38 CFR § 3.307, Presumptive service connection for chronic, tropical, or prisoner-of-war related disease, disease associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents, or disease associated with exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune; wartime and service on or after January 1, 194740% granted an issue · 318,651 decisions38 CFR § 3.321, General rating considerations45.2% granted an issue · 219,574 decisions38 CFR § 3.304, Direct service connection; wartime and peacetime45.2% granted an issue · 219,124 decisions38 CFR § 3.310, Disabilities that are proximately due to, or aggravated by, service-connected disease or injury46.9% granted an issue · 200,438 decisions38 CFR § 3.2501, Supplemental claims50.7% granted an issue · 128,339 decisions38 CFR § 3.400, General52.9% granted an issue · 114,082 decisions38 CFR § 3.385, Disability due to impaired hearing48.9% granted an issue · 94,301 decisions38 CFR § 3.340, Total and permanent total ratings and unemployability60.9% granted an issue · 90,283 decisions38 CFR § 3.341, Total disability ratings for compensation purposes62.6% granted an issue · 84,541 decisions38 CFR § 3.155, How to file a claim50.2% granted an issue · 59,212 decisions38 CFR § 3.306, Aggravation of preservice disability38.3% granted an issue · 51,215 decisions38 CFR § 3.105, Revision of decisions49.1% granted an issue · 50,110 decisions38 CFR § 3.350, Special monthly compensation ratings58.5% granted an issue · 33,653 decisions38 CFR § 3.317, Compensation for certain disabilities occurring in Persian Gulf veterans44% granted an issue · 32,575 decisions38 CFR § 3.2500, Review of decisions47.7% granted an issue · 24,815 decisions38 CFR § 3.344, Stabilization of disability evaluations69.4% granted an issue · 20,550 decisions38 CFR § 3.352, Criteria for determining need for aid and attendance and “permanently bedridden.”51.7% granted an issue · 15,925 decisions38 CFR § 3.114, Change of law or Department of Veterans Affairs issue49.2% granted an issue · 12,938 decisions38 CFR § 3.311, Claims based on exposure to ionizing radiation17.9% granted an issue · 11,785 decisions38 CFR § 3.301, Line of duty and misconduct27.1% granted an issue · 11,526 decisions38 CFR § 3.381, Service connection of dental conditions for treatment purposes34.8% granted an issue · 6,916 decisions38 CFR § 3.313, Claims based on service in Vietnam39% granted an issue · 6,408 decisions38 CFR § 3.383, Special consideration for paired organs and extremities30.5% granted an issue · 5,650 decisions38 CFR § 3.816, Awards under the Nehmer Court Orders for disability or death caused by a condition presumptively associated with herbicide exposure41.6% granted an issue · 4,103 decisions38 CFR § 3.31, Commencement of the period of payment28.7% granted an issue · 4,087 decisions38 CFR § 3.320, Claims based on exposure to fine particulate matter65.4% granted an issue · 3,972 decisions38 CFR § 3.343, Continuance of total disability ratings57.3% granted an issue · 3,392 decisions38 CFR § 3.384, Psychosis42.2% granted an issue · 2,980 decisions38 CFR § 3.810, Clothing allowance50.1% granted an issue · 1,913 decisions
Rating Schedule
38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of ratings-musculoskeletal system51.6% granted an issue · 173,560 decisions38 CFR § 4.40, Functional loss48.9% granted an issue · 165,080 decisions38 CFR § 4.45, The joints49.8% granted an issue · 152,937 decisions38 CFR § 4.16, Total disability ratings for compensation based on unemployability of the individual56.3% granted an issue · 133,955 decisions38 CFR § 4.59, Painful motion51.7% granted an issue · 127,387 decisions38 CFR § 4.14, Avoidance of pyramiding52.9% granted an issue · 121,127 decisions38 CFR § 4.130, Schedule of ratings-Mental disorders61.5% granted an issue · 102,559 decisions38 CFR § 4.124a, Schedule of ratings-neurological conditions and convulsive disorders63.1% granted an issue · 66,208 decisions38 CFR § 4.19, Age in service-connected claims63.2% granted an issue · 56,513 decisions38 CFR § 4.125, Diagnosis of mental disorders49.7% granted an issue · 55,954 decisions38 CFR § 4.71, Measurement of ankylosis and joint motion53.8% granted an issue · 54,033 decisions38 CFR § 4.118, Schedule of ratings-skin51.6% granted an issue · 53,619 decisions38 CFR § 4.126, Evaluation of disability from mental disorders64.1% granted an issue · 51,108 decisions38 CFR § 4.85, Evaluation of hearing impairment32.2% granted an issue · 47,321 decisions38 CFR § 4.20, Analogous ratings53.5% granted an issue · 43,267 decisions38 CFR § 4.104, Schedule of ratings-cardiovascular system47.9% granted an issue · 36,769 decisions38 CFR § 4.41, History of injury46.2% granted an issue · 35,144 decisions38 CFR § 4.86, Exceptional patterns of hearing impairment31.9% granted an issue · 34,762 decisions38 CFR § 4.15, Total disability ratings56% granted an issue · 33,635 decisions38 CFR § 4.114, Schedule of ratings-digestive system53.7% granted an issue · 30,027 decisions38 CFR § 4.97, Schedule of ratings-respiratory system49.2% granted an issue · 26,734 decisions38 CFR § 4.87, Schedule of ratings-ear32.7% granted an issue · 24,647 decisions38 CFR § 4.124, Neuralgia, cranial or peripheral66.2% granted an issue · 18,851 decisions38 CFR § 4.30, Convalescent ratings44.7% granted an issue · 17,913 decisions38 CFR § 4.132, Rating formula for mental disorders (former)49.3% granted an issue · 15,875 decisions38 CFR § 4.115b, Ratings of the genitourinary system-diagnoses52.2% granted an issue · 15,475 decisions38 CFR § 4.123, Neuritis, cranial or peripheral68.5% granted an issue · 15,251 decisions38 CFR § 4.73, Schedule of ratings-muscle injuries51.6% granted an issue · 15,170 decisions38 CFR § 4.9, Congenital or developmental defects31% granted an issue · 14,186 decisions38 CFR § 4.119, Schedule of ratings-endocrine system51.1% granted an issue · 13,286 decisions38 CFR § 4.120, Evaluations by comparison67.5% granted an issue · 12,749 decisions38 CFR § 4.18, Unemployability62.7% granted an issue · 12,009 decisions38 CFR § 4.115a, Ratings of the genitourinary system-dysfunctions54.2% granted an issue · 10,640 decisions38 CFR § 4.56, Evaluation of muscle disabilities46.4% granted an issue · 9,371 decisions38 CFR § 4.150, Schedule of ratings-dental and oral conditions38.6% granted an issue · 8,028 decisions38 CFR § 4.29, Ratings for service-connected disabilities requiring hospital treatment or observation45% granted an issue · 7,837 decisions38 CFR § 4.96, Special provisions regarding evaluation of respiratory conditions47.9% granted an issue · 7,032 decisions38 CFR § 4.69, Dominant hand56.8% granted an issue · 6,365 decisions38 CFR § 4.127, Intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder) and personality disorders30.3% granted an issue · 5,528 decisions38 CFR § 4.55, Principles of combined ratings for muscle injuries47.8% granted an issue · 5,375 decisions38 CFR § 4.26, Bilateral factor62% granted an issue · 5,335 decisions38 CFR § 4.42, Complete medical examination of injury cases36.9% granted an issue · 5,320 decisions38 CFR § 4.79, Schedule of ratings-eye52.7% granted an issue · 5,142 decisions38 CFR § 4.75, General considerations for evaluating visual impairment45.8% granted an issue · 4,868 decisions38 CFR § 4.68, Amputation rule66.2% granted an issue · 4,814 decisions38 CFR § 4.63, Loss of use of hand or foot50.4% granted an issue · 4,254 decisions38 CFR § 4.84a, Schedule of ratings, eye (former)37.9% granted an issue · 4,249 decisions38 CFR § 4.129, Mental disorders due to traumatic stress51.7% granted an issue · 4,172 decisions38 CFR § 4.115, Nephritis49.7% granted an issue · 3,698 decisions38 CFR § 4.87a, Schedule of ratings-other sense organs36.5% granted an issue · 3,355 decisions38 CFR § 4.46, Accurate measurement42.4% granted an issue · 3,306 decisions38 CFR § 4.113, Coexisting abdominal conditions58.6% granted an issue · 3,275 decisions38 CFR § 4.76, Visual acuity49.8% granted an issue · 2,951 decisions38 CFR § 4.88b, Schedule of ratings-infectious diseases, immune disorders and nutritional deficiencies45.7% granted an issue · 2,575 decisions38 CFR § 4.72, [Reserved]43.2% granted an issue · 2,426 decisions38 CFR § 4.100, Application of the general rating formula for diseases of the heart52.8% granted an issue · 2,405 decisions38 CFR § 4.116, Schedule of ratings-gynecological conditions and disorders of the breast51.6% granted an issue · 2,361 decisions38 CFR § 4.112, Weight loss and nutrition51.6% granted an issue · 2,304 decisions38 CFR § 4.117, Schedule of ratings-hemic and lymphatic systems44.5% granted an issue · 2,239 decisions38 CFR § 4.77, Visual fields50.4% granted an issue · 1,903 decisions38 CFR § 4.78, Muscle function52.6% granted an issue · 1,630 decisions38 CFR § 4.88a, Chronic fatigue syndrome45.9% granted an issue · 1,511 decisions38 CFR § 4.76a, Computation of average concentric contraction of visual fields48.6% granted an issue · 1,402 decisions38 CFR § 4.17a, Misconduct etiology48.8% granted an issue · 1,004 decisions38 CFR § 4.44, The bones44.7% granted an issue · 998 decisions38 CFR § 4.57, Static foot deformities41.3% granted an issue · 790 decisions38 CFR § 4.88, [Reserved]35.6% granted an issue · 689 decisions38 CFR § 4.121, Identification of epilepsy49.6% granted an issue · 688 decisions38 CFR § 4.131, Former mental-disorders provision38.5% granted an issue · 275 decisions38 CFR § 4.103, Former rating provision81.9% granted an issue · 171 decisions
RateMyVSO. Educational aggregate of published Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions and 38 CFR text. Not affiliated with the VA. Not legal advice. Find a VSO representative.