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All rating criteria

How the VA Rates Traumatic Brain Injury

The plain-English version of the 38 CFR Part 4, DC 8045 criteria a VA rater evaluates Traumatic Brain Injury against, with the 2026 monthly rate at each level. A reference to what the regulation describes — never a prediction of any rating.

Diagnostic code 8045

The rating levels

Criteria paraphrased from 38 CFR Part 4, DC 8045 for readability. Monthly amounts are the 2026 rate (effective December 1, 2025) for a veteran with no dependents if this were the only rated condition — dependents add more, and multiple conditions combine under the VA’s own math.

0%

$0/month (0% is still service-connected)

Subjective symptoms only — no objective neurological findings and no cognitive impairment on standardized testing.

Examples from this level’s criteria

  • Headaches
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Irritability
  • No measurable cognitive deficit on testing

10%

$180.42/month

Subjective symptoms that interfere with work, with a subjective-only or mild objective finding on cognitive or neurological testing. Rated based on the most severe affected domain (cognitive, behavioral/emotional, physical).

Examples from this level’s criteria

  • Mild memory impairment
  • Mild concentration difficulty
  • Headaches affecting function
  • Mild irritability

30%

$552.47/month

Cognitive impairment (rated by neuropsychological testing) showing mild deficits in complex attention, executive function, memory, or processing speed; OR behavioral/emotional symptoms showing occupational and social impairment. TBI is rated by domain — each domain (cognitive, emotional/behavioral, physical/neurological) is rated separately and the highest rating controls.

Examples from this level’s criteria

  • Demonstrable memory impairment on neuropsych testing
  • Difficulty multitasking or planning
  • Processing speed deficits
  • Mood dysregulation (anger, anxiety, depression) from TBI
  • Difficulty completing complex work tasks

70%

$1,808.45/month

Severe cognitive impairment — marked impairment of memory, attention, or executive function on neuropsychological testing; OR severe emotional/behavioral symptoms; OR physical symptoms (paralysis, seizures, severe sensory loss).

Examples from this level’s criteria

  • Marked impairment on neuropsychological testing
  • Severe executive dysfunction
  • Inability to manage finances or daily responsibilities without assistance
  • Unprovoked aggression or severe emotional dysregulation
  • Post-traumatic epilepsy

100%

$3,938.58/month

Total cognitive and/or behavioral impairment — persistent vegetative state, or severe impairment requiring constant supervision or care.

Examples from this level’s criteria

  • Persistent vegetative state
  • Requires constant supervision for safety
  • Unable to perform ADLs independently

The listed symptoms are examples that appear in each level’s criteria — not a checklist that earns a percentage. Raters apply the criteria as a whole.

The evidence that matters most

Documentation of the in-service head injury (the event, and any loss of consciousness or altered awareness) plus a TBI/neuro-psych evaluation that describes each facet in the table’s own terms — objective testing where it exists, and the day-to-day residuals (memory, judgment, mood, headaches, dizziness, sleep) in frequency and severity. Migraines, a mental-health condition, or other residuals with their own code are rated separately on top of this

C&P exam tips for Traumatic Brain Injury

  • Request a comprehensive TBI C&P examination — this must include neuropsychological testing, not just a brief interview.
  • TBI is evaluated across three domains: cognitive (memory, concentration, processing speed), emotional/behavioral (mood, impulse control, anxiety), and physical (headaches, sleep, sensory, motor). Make sure all three are documented.
  • Bring a family member or caregiver to the exam if possible — they can describe behaviors you may not recognize in yourself.
  • Document your worst cognitive days: missed appointments, forgotten names, inability to complete tasks at work.
  • TBI is a separate condition from PTSD but commonly co-occurs — make sure both are claimed independently.

Common mistakes on Traumatic Brain Injury claims

  • Not requesting neuropsychological testing — the brief cognitive screening is insufficient to document impairment at higher rating levels.
  • Conflating TBI symptoms with PTSD symptoms — they overlap but should both be documented and rated.
  • Not documenting cognitive problems at work specifically (errors, performance issues, inability to manage complex tasks).
  • Missing the 'worst day' reporting — describing only the average day undersells the functional impact.

Frequently asked questions

What diagnostic code does the VA use for Traumatic Brain Injury?

Traumatic Brain Injury is rated under 38 CFR Part 4, DC 8045 — diagnostic code 8045.

What is the highest schedular VA rating for Traumatic Brain Injury?

100% is the highest level in the rating schedule for Traumatic Brain Injury. The criteria at that level describe: Total cognitive and/or behavioral impairment — persistent vegetative state, or severe impairment requiring constant supervision or care.

How much does a 100% VA rating for Traumatic Brain Injury pay in 2026?

$3,938.58 per month, tax-free, for a veteran with no dependents (rates effective December 1, 2025) — more with a spouse, children, or dependent parents. If you have other rated conditions, the VA combines ratings using its own math rather than adding them.

Related tools & guides

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Educational information about the rating schedule — not legal or medical advice, never a prediction or promise of any rating, and not affiliated with the VA.