VA rates residuals of traumatic brain injury under Diagnostic Code 8045 (38 CFR 4.124a), and it works differently from most codes. TBI is rated across three areas — cognitive, emotional/behavioral, and physical — and the cognitive piece uses a 10-facet table whose severity levels map to 0, 10, 40, 70, or 100%. Your single highest facet sets the number, and any one facet at "total" means 100%.
Straight talk first
TBI is one of the most under-rated and overlooked claims, especially for anyone near blasts, IEDs, or repeated concussions. Two things trip veterans up. First, the rating ladder is unusual — 0/10/40/70/100, with nothing in between, because it's driven by a facet table, not symptom counts. Second, TBI rarely travels alone: its physical and other residuals (migraines, sleep problems, sensory issues) are often separately ratable, and that's where the real value adds up. Don't claim "TBI" and stop — claim the residuals too.
This is the TBI cut of how VA rates conditions.
How the rating works (DC 8045)
VA evaluates TBI in three areas:
- Cognitive — memory, attention, concentration, executive function (the 10-facet table).
- Emotional/behavioral — rated under the mental disorders formula (38 CFR 4.130) when a diagnosable condition is present.
- Physical — motor/sensory problems, seizures, headaches, etc., often rated under their own codes.
The cognitive facet table scores each facet 0, 1, 2, 3, or "total," which map to percentages:
| Highest facet level | Rating |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0% |
| 1 | 10% |
| 2 | 40% |
| 3 | 70% |
| Total | 100% |
Your highest single facet sets the rating; any facet at "total" = 100%.
The part that adds up: separate residuals
VA's rule is to evaluate each condition separately, as long as the same signs and symptoms aren't used twice. So TBI residuals with their own codes — migraines, seizures, sleep disturbance, sensory deficits — can each carry their own rating alongside the 8045 number. This is the single biggest reason TBI claims get undervalued: the facet table is treated as the whole claim when it's only one piece.
A caution: TBI and PTSD often share emotional/behavioral symptoms, and VA can't count the same symptom toward both — but distinct effects are still rated separately.
Claiming TBI
TBI is usually a direct claim tied to an in-service head injury, blast, or concussion. You'll need:
- A current diagnosis of TBI residuals.
- Evidence of the in-service event (your records, line-of-duty, buddy statements).
- A nexus linking current residuals to that event.
See how to file your own claim for the mechanics, then run the combined picture — TBI plus its residuals — through the VA Combined Rating Calculator.
Key takeaways
- TBI (DC 8045) is rated across cognitive, emotional/behavioral, and physical areas.
- The facet table maps to 0/10/40/70/100 — your highest facet sets it; any "total" = 100%.
- Separate residuals (migraines, seizures, sensory, mental health) are often separately ratable — that's where the value is.
- The same symptom can't be counted twice, but distinct effects are rated on their own.
Frequently asked questions
- How does VA rate TBI?
- Residuals of traumatic brain injury are rated under Diagnostic Code 8045 (38 CFR 4.124a) across three areas — cognitive, emotional/behavioral, and physical. The cognitive piece uses a 10-facet table scored 0, 1, 2, 3, or 'total'; the highest facet level sets the percentage at 0, 10, 40, 70, or 100%, and any single facet at 'total' makes it 100%.
- Why are the TBI levels 0, 10, 40, 70, 100 and not the usual steps?
- The TBI table maps its severity levels directly to those percentages — level 0 is 0%, level 1 is 10%, level 2 is 40%, level 3 is 70%, and 'total' is 100%. There's no 20, 30, 50, or 60 under the table itself; your rating is driven by your single highest-scoring facet.
- Can my TBI and PTSD both be rated?
- Often the emotional/behavioral effects of TBI overlap with a mental health condition like PTSD, which is rated under the mental disorders formula (38 CFR 4.130). VA cannot use the same symptoms twice, but distinct residuals — physical, cognitive, and mental — can be rated separately when they don't overlap.
- What residuals can be rated separately from TBI?
- Physical and other residuals with their own diagnostic codes — such as migraines, seizures, or sensory deficits — can be rated separately as long as the same signs and symptoms aren't counted toward more than one rating. That's how TBI claims often add up to more than the table alone.
Sources
- 38 CFR 4.124a — neurological conditions (DC 8045, residuals of TBI): https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/4.124a
- 38 CFR 4.130 — General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (emotional/behavioral): https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/4.130
- VA — Traumatic brain injury (TBI): https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/
- 38 CFR 3.310 — secondary service connection: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-3/subpart-A/section-3.310
