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.
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Service Connection & Effective Dates 33 sections
38 CFR § 3.159, Department of Veterans Affairs assistance in developing claims33.9% granted an issue · 694,537 decisions38 CFR § 3.303, Principles relating to service connection47% granted an issue · 615,555 decisions38 CFR § 3.156, New evidence42% granted an issue · 426,649 decisions38 CFR § 3.309, Disease subject to presumptive service connection40.4% granted an issue · 340,022 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, 194740.1% granted an issue · 320,039 decisions38 CFR § 3.304, Direct service connection; wartime and peacetime45.3% granted an issue · 220,267 decisions38 CFR § 3.321, General rating considerations45.2% granted an issue · 220,079 decisions38 CFR § 3.310, Disabilities that are proximately due to, or aggravated by, service-connected disease or injury47% granted an issue · 201,925 decisions38 CFR § 3.2501, Supplemental claims50.8% granted an issue · 133,725 decisions38 CFR § 3.400, General53% granted an issue · 115,549 decisions38 CFR § 3.385, Disability due to impaired hearing49% granted an issue · 94,817 decisions38 CFR § 3.340, Total and permanent total ratings and unemployability61% granted an issue · 90,846 decisions38 CFR § 3.341, Total disability ratings for compensation purposes62.7% granted an issue · 85,123 decisions38 CFR § 3.155, How to file a claim50.4% granted an issue · 60,100 decisions38 CFR § 3.306, Aggravation of preservice disability38.4% granted an issue · 51,385 decisions38 CFR § 3.105, Revision of decisions49.2% granted an issue · 50,590 decisions38 CFR § 3.350, Special monthly compensation ratings58.6% granted an issue · 34,101 decisions38 CFR § 3.317, Compensation for certain disabilities occurring in Persian Gulf veterans44.1% granted an issue · 32,777 decisions38 CFR § 3.2500, Review of decisions48.1% granted an issue · 25,989 decisions38 CFR § 3.344, Stabilization of disability evaluations69.5% granted an issue · 20,735 decisions38 CFR § 3.352, Criteria for determining need for aid and attendance and “permanently bedridden.”52% granted an issue · 16,117 decisions38 CFR § 3.114, Change of law or Department of Veterans Affairs issue49.3% granted an issue · 13,091 decisions38 CFR § 3.311, Claims based on exposure to ionizing radiation18% granted an issue · 11,809 decisions38 CFR § 3.301, Line of duty and misconduct27.2% granted an issue · 11,553 decisions38 CFR § 3.381, Service connection of dental conditions for treatment purposes34.8% granted an issue · 6,944 decisions38 CFR § 3.313, Claims based on service in Vietnam39.1% granted an issue · 6,426 decisions38 CFR § 3.383, Special consideration for paired organs and extremities30.5% granted an issue · 5,699 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 · 4,129 decisions38 CFR § 3.31, Commencement of the period of payment28.8% granted an issue · 4,122 decisions38 CFR § 3.320, Claims based on exposure to fine particulate matter65.3% granted an issue · 4,111 decisions38 CFR § 3.343, Continuance of total disability ratings57.3% granted an issue · 3,401 decisions38 CFR § 3.384, Psychosis42.3% granted an issue · 2,990 decisions38 CFR § 3.810, Clothing allowance50.4% granted an issue · 1,960 decisions
Rating Schedule 70 sections
38 CFR § 4.71a, Schedule of ratings-musculoskeletal system51.7% granted an issue · 174,297 decisions38 CFR § 4.40, Functional loss49% granted an issue · 165,592 decisions38 CFR § 4.45, The joints49.9% granted an issue · 153,440 decisions38 CFR § 4.16, Total disability ratings for compensation based on unemployability of the individual56.4% granted an issue · 134,714 decisions38 CFR § 4.59, Painful motion51.8% granted an issue · 127,904 decisions38 CFR § 4.14, Avoidance of pyramiding53% granted an issue · 121,856 decisions38 CFR § 4.130, Schedule of ratings-Mental disorders61.5% granted an issue · 103,382 decisions38 CFR § 4.124a, Schedule of ratings-neurological conditions and convulsive disorders63.2% granted an issue · 66,831 decisions38 CFR § 4.19, Age in service-connected claims63.3% granted an issue · 56,905 decisions38 CFR § 4.125, Diagnosis of mental disorders49.8% granted an issue · 56,207 decisions38 CFR § 4.71, Measurement of ankylosis and joint motion53.9% granted an issue · 54,207 decisions38 CFR § 4.118, Schedule of ratings-skin51.6% granted an issue · 53,892 decisions38 CFR § 4.126, Evaluation of disability from mental disorders64.1% granted an issue · 51,610 decisions38 CFR § 4.85, Evaluation of hearing impairment32.3% granted an issue · 47,583 decisions38 CFR § 4.20, Analogous ratings53.5% granted an issue · 43,434 decisions38 CFR § 4.104, Schedule of ratings-cardiovascular system48% granted an issue · 37,003 decisions38 CFR § 4.41, History of injury46.3% granted an issue · 35,278 decisions38 CFR § 4.86, Exceptional patterns of hearing impairment32% granted an issue · 34,971 decisions38 CFR § 4.15, Total disability ratings56.1% granted an issue · 33,832 decisions38 CFR § 4.114, Schedule of ratings-digestive system53.8% granted an issue · 30,247 decisions38 CFR § 4.97, Schedule of ratings-respiratory system49.3% granted an issue · 27,004 decisions38 CFR § 4.87, Schedule of ratings-ear32.9% granted an issue · 24,769 decisions38 CFR § 4.124, Neuralgia, cranial or peripheral66.3% granted an issue · 19,058 decisions38 CFR § 4.30, Convalescent ratings44.7% granted an issue · 17,946 decisions38 CFR § 4.132, Rating formula for mental disorders (former)49.3% granted an issue · 15,880 decisions38 CFR § 4.115b, Ratings of the genitourinary system-diagnoses52.2% granted an issue · 15,577 decisions38 CFR § 4.123, Neuritis, cranial or peripheral68.6% granted an issue · 15,453 decisions38 CFR § 4.73, Schedule of ratings-muscle injuries51.6% granted an issue · 15,232 decisions38 CFR § 4.9, Congenital or developmental defects31% granted an issue · 14,226 decisions38 CFR § 4.119, Schedule of ratings-endocrine system51.1% granted an issue · 13,354 decisions38 CFR § 4.120, Evaluations by comparison67.6% granted an issue · 12,918 decisions38 CFR § 4.18, Unemployability62.7% granted an issue · 12,072 decisions38 CFR § 4.115a, Ratings of the genitourinary system-dysfunctions54.2% granted an issue · 10,697 decisions38 CFR § 4.56, Evaluation of muscle disabilities46.4% granted an issue · 9,382 decisions38 CFR § 4.150, Schedule of ratings-dental and oral conditions38.7% granted an issue · 8,073 decisions38 CFR § 4.29, Ratings for service-connected disabilities requiring hospital treatment or observation45% granted an issue · 7,856 decisions38 CFR § 4.96, Special provisions regarding evaluation of respiratory conditions48.1% granted an issue · 7,116 decisions38 CFR § 4.69, Dominant hand56.8% granted an issue · 6,392 decisions38 CFR § 4.127, Intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder) and personality disorders30.3% granted an issue · 5,548 decisions38 CFR § 4.55, Principles of combined ratings for muscle injuries47.9% granted an issue · 5,383 decisions38 CFR § 4.26, Bilateral factor62% granted an issue · 5,354 decisions38 CFR § 4.42, Complete medical examination of injury cases36.9% granted an issue · 5,321 decisions38 CFR § 4.79, Schedule of ratings-eye52.7% granted an issue · 5,197 decisions38 CFR § 4.75, General considerations for evaluating visual impairment45.8% granted an issue · 4,901 decisions38 CFR § 4.68, Amputation rule66.2% granted an issue · 4,845 decisions38 CFR § 4.63, Loss of use of hand or foot50.5% granted an issue · 4,283 decisions38 CFR § 4.84a, Schedule of ratings, eye (former)37.9% granted an issue · 4,255 decisions38 CFR § 4.129, Mental disorders due to traumatic stress51.7% granted an issue · 4,177 decisions38 CFR § 4.115, Nephritis49.7% granted an issue · 3,718 decisions38 CFR § 4.87a, Schedule of ratings-other sense organs36.6% granted an issue · 3,362 decisions38 CFR § 4.46, Accurate measurement42.4% granted an issue · 3,314 decisions38 CFR § 4.113, Coexisting abdominal conditions58.6% granted an issue · 3,296 decisions38 CFR § 4.76, Visual acuity49.7% granted an issue · 2,977 decisions38 CFR § 4.88b, Schedule of ratings-infectious diseases, immune disorders and nutritional deficiencies45.7% granted an issue · 2,593 decisions38 CFR § 4.100, Application of the general rating formula for diseases of the heart53.1% granted an issue · 2,429 decisions38 CFR § 4.72, [Reserved]43.2% granted an issue · 2,426 decisions38 CFR § 4.116, Schedule of ratings-gynecological conditions and disorders of the breast51.7% granted an issue · 2,388 decisions38 CFR § 4.112, Weight loss and nutrition51.6% granted an issue · 2,339 decisions38 CFR § 4.117, Schedule of ratings-hemic and lymphatic systems44.6% granted an issue · 2,252 decisions38 CFR § 4.77, Visual fields50.3% granted an issue · 1,915 decisions38 CFR § 4.78, Muscle function52.5% granted an issue · 1,652 decisions38 CFR § 4.88a, Chronic fatigue syndrome45.9% granted an issue · 1,523 decisions38 CFR § 4.76a, Computation of average concentric contraction of visual fields48.6% granted an issue · 1,409 decisions38 CFR § 4.17a, Misconduct etiology48.8% granted an issue · 1,005 decisions38 CFR § 4.44, The bones44.7% granted an issue · 998 decisions38 CFR § 4.57, Static foot deformities41.2% granted an issue · 794 decisions38 CFR § 4.88, [Reserved]35.7% granted an issue · 697 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.