Many veterans have service-connected cardiovascular and genitourinary disabilities, from coronary artery disease, to renal disease, to erectile dysfunction. In November 2021, the VA implemented major changes to the way it evaluates these disabilities. It revised its schedule for rating disabilities of the cardiovascular system by adding a general rating formula for diseases of the heart, revising 25 diagnostic codes, and adding 1 new diagnostic code. It revised its schedule for rating disabilities of the genitourinary system by changing 2 rating tables, revising 13 diagnostic codes, adding 3 diagnostic codes, and removing 1 diagnostic code.

It is important for advocates to know about these changes and how the changes impact the veterans they represent. Without a clear understanding of these changes, you will not be able to properly assess whether a veteran should file a claim for an increased disability rating or appeal the VA’s assignment of a rating. This webinar will give you the tools to ensure that the VA properly evaluates veterans’ cardiovascular and genitourinary disabilities under the new rating criteria.

In this webinar, we will:
• Provide a comprehensive review of the changes to the VA’s schedules for rating disabilities of the cardiovascular system and the genitourinary system, with side-by-side comparisons of the old and new rating criteria
• Explain how the changes affect current disability ratings, pending claims for service connection and increased ratings, and new claims for increased ratings
• Discuss why the VA made certain changes to the rating schedule, but not others
• Cover related changes to disability benefits questionnaires