## Chapter 2. Rating

#### Table of Contents

> **Section A: Deciding Claims for Disability Compensation**
>
> Overview 2-A-1
>
> 1\. Issues to Consider When Deciding Claims for Disability
> Compensation 2-A-2
>
> 2\. Benefit-of-the-Doubt Rule 2-A-4
>
> **Section B: Determining Service Connection**
>
> Overview 2-B-1
>
> 3\. Determining Direct and Presumptive Service Connection 2-B-2
>
> 4\. Determining Service Incurrence of an Injury 2-B-8
>
> 5\. Determining In-Service Aggravation of Pre-Service Disability
> 2-B-11
>
> 6\. Determining Secondary Service Connection, Including by Aggravation
> 2-B-13

7.  Determining Service Connection for Congenital, Developmental, or
    > Hereditary

> > Disorders 2-B-15
>
> **Section C: Service Connection for Disabilities Resulting From
> Exposure to Environmental Hazards**
>
> Overview 2-C-1

8.  Service Connection for Disabilities Resulting From Exposure to
    > Ionizing

> > Radiation 2-C-2
>
> 9\. Service Connection for Disabilities Resulting From Exposure to
> Asbestos 2-C-5

10. General Information on Establishing Service Connection for
    > Disabilities

> > Resulting From Exposure to Herbicide Agents 2-C-10

11. Payment Under the Nehmer Stipulation for Disabilities Resulting From
    > Exposure

> > to Herbicide Agents 2-C-21
>
> 12\. Payment to the Survivors or Estate of a Nehmer Class Member
> 2-C-27
>
> **Section D: Service Connection for Certain Disabilities Associated
> With Gulf War (GW) Service**
>
> Overview 2-D-1
>
> 13\. General Information on Certain Disabilities Associated With GW
> Service 2-D-2

14. Rating Claims for Service Connection for Certain Disabilities
    > Associated With

> > GW Service 2-D-6

15. General Information About Rating Decisions Addressing Certain
    > Disabilities

> > Associated With GW Service 2-D-10

16. Granting Service Connection for Certain Disabilities Associated With
    > GW

> > Service 2-D-13

17. Denying Service Connection for Certain Disabilities Associated With
    > GW

> > Service 2-D-19

Continued on next page

Table of Contents, Continued

> **Section E: Service Connection for Disabilities Incurred as a
> Prisoner of War (POW)**
>
> Overview 2-E-1
>
> 18\. General Information on POW Rating Activities 2-E-2
>
> 19\. Deciding Claims Involving Former POWs 2-E-4
>
> 20\. Presumption of Service Connection Under 38 CFR 3.309(c) 2-E-8

21. Considering Service Connection for Residuals of Frostbite, Peptic
    > Ulcer Disease,

> > Peripheral Neuropathy, and Posttraumatic Arthritis 2-E-12
>
> 22\. Preparing a Rating Decision Involving a Presumption of Service
> Connection 2-E-16

23. History of Disabilities Subject to a Presumption of Service
    > Connection Under

> > 38 CFR 3.309(c) 2-E-20
>
> **Section F: Compensation Based on Individual Unemployability (IU)**
>
> Overview 2-F-1
>
> 24\. General Information on IU Claims 2-F-2

25. Evaluating Evidence to Establish Entitlement to IU 2-F-4

> 26\. Evaluating Evidence of Self-Employment or Employment With a
> Tightly
>
> Held Corporation 2-F-9
>
> 27\. Preparing a Rating Decision Addressing the Issue of IU 2-F-11
>
> 28\. Special Considerations in IU Claims 2-F-17
>
> 29\. Exhibit 1: Rating Decision Addressing the Veteran's Failure to
> Complete a Field
>
> Examination 2-F-25

30. Exhibit 2: Rating Decision Addressing the Veteran's Failure to
    > Respond to a

> > Notice of Proposed Adverse Action After Failure to Complete a Field
>
> > Examination 2-F-26
>
> 31\. Exhibit 3: Rating Decision Addressing the Subsequent Receipt of
> Evidence That
>
> Restores IU After Failure to Complete a Field Examination 2-F-27
>
> 32\. Exhibit 4: Poverty Threshold Information 2-F-28
>
> **Section G: Benefits Under 38 U.S.C. 1151**
>
> Overview 2-G-1
>
> 33\. General Information on Entitlement to Benefits Under 38 U.S.C.
> 1151 2-G-2
>
> 34\. Determining Entitlement to Benefits Under 38 U.S.C. 1151 2-G-8

35. Preparing a Rating Decision Involving a Claim for Benefits Under

> > 38 U.S.C. 1151 2-G-11

Continued on next page

Table of Contents, Continued

> **Section H: Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)**
>
> Overview 2-H-1
>
> 36\. General Information on SMC 2-H-2
>
> 37\. Combining Disabilities When Entitlement to SMC is at Issue 2-H-5
>
> 38\. Hospital Adjustments Under 38 CFR 3.552 2-H-8
>
> 39\. Entitlement to SMC Under 38 U.S.C. 1114(k) 2-H-10

40. Additional SMC for Blindness Coupled With Hearing Loss or the Loss,

> > or Loss of Use (L/LOU), of an Extremity Under 38 CFR 3.350(e)(1)
>
> > and 38 CFR 3.350(f)(2) 2-H-16
>
> 41\. SMC for Additional 50- and 100-Percent Evaluations Under 38 CFR
> 3.50(f)(3)
>
> and 38 CFR 3.350(f)(4) 2-H-24
>
> 42\. Additional SMC for L/LOU of Three Extremities Under 38
>
> CFR 3.350(f)(5) 2-H-29
>
> 43\. Entitlement to Specially Adapted Housing Under 38 U.S.C. 2101
> 2-H-32
>
> 44\. Entitlement to SMC Based on the Need for Aid and Attendance (A&A)
> 2-H-33
>
> 45\. Entitlement to a Higher A&A Allowance Under 38 U.S.C. 1114(r)(2)
> 2-H-38
>
> 46\. Entitlement to Housebound Benefits 2-H-41
>
> **Section I: History of SMC**
>
> Overview 2-I-1
>
> 47\. General Information on the History of SMC 2-I-2
>
> 48\. SMC Under 38 U.S.C. 1114(k) 2-I-4
>
> 49\. SMC Under 38 U.S.C. 1114(l) 2-I-7
>
> 50\. SMC Under 38 U.S.C. 1114(m) 2-I-9
>
> 51\. SMC Under 38 U.S.C. 1114(n) 2-I-11
>
> 52\. SMC Under 38 U.S.C. 1114(o) 2-I-13
>
> 53\. SMC Under 38 U.S.C. 1114(p) 2-I-15
>
> 54\. SMC Under 38 U.S.C. 1114(q) 2-I-21
>
> 55\. SMC Under 38 U.S.C. 1114(r) 2-I-22
>
> 56\. SMC Under 38 U.S.C. 1114(s) 2-I-24
>
> 57\. SMC Under 38 U.S.C. 1114(t) 2-I-25
>
> 58\. Considering Maximum Allowable Rates Under 38 U.S.C. 1114(p)
> 2-I-26

Continued on next page

Table of Contents, Continued

> **Section J: Compensation Under 38 CFR 4.28, 38 CFR 4.29, and 38 CFR
> 4.30**
>
> Overview 2-J-1
>
> 59\. Prestabilization Ratings Under 38 CFR 4.28 2-J-2
>
> 60\. General Information on Hospitalization Ratings Under 38 CFR 4.29
> 2-J-6
>
> 61\. Preparing the Rating Decision for Hospitalization Ratings Under
> 38 CFR 4.29 2-J-10
>
> 62\. General Information on Convalescent Ratings Under 38 CFR 4.30
> 2-J-12
>
> 63\. Preparing the Rating Decision for Convalescent Ratings Under 38
> CFR 4.30 2-J-15
>
> 64\. Diagnostic Codes (DC) That Provide for Periods of Convalescence
> 2-J-16
>
> 65\. Exhibit 1: Suggested Overprint for an Open Rating Under 38 CFR
> 4.29 2-J-20
>
> **Section K: Other Compensation Considerations**
>
> Overview 2-K-1
>
> 66\. Compensation for Disabilities Involving Certain Service-Connected
> (SC)/Nonservice-Connected (NSC) Paired Organs or Extremities Under
>
> 38 CFR 3.383 2-K-2
>
> 67\. Disability or Death From Use of Alcohol 2-K-5
>
> 68\. Disability or Death From Use of Drugs 2-K-9
>
> 69\. Disability or Death From Use of Tobacco Products 2-K-11