You are not legally required to disclose your VA disability rating or diagnostic codes to a private life insurance company; your VA medical records are protected under federal privacy laws (38 CFR 1.575-1.577). The insurer is likely assessing risk, but VA ratings are for compensation, not an automatic measure of mortality or employability—a key distinction established in case law like *Wagner v. Principi*, which held that a service connection does not equate to a medical diagnosis for non-VA purposes. Your rating percentage and the conditions it comprises are considered confidential VA claim information. A safer, more appropriate response is to state you receive care at the VA for service-connected conditions and offer to provide relevant medical records through a formal release, directing them to your treating physician at the VA for specific clinical details if underwriting requires it. For future applications, consider exploring Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI) or Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI), which are designed for veterans and do not require medical underwriting based on service-connected conditions (see 38 U.S.C. § 1922). Actionable next steps: 1) Do not disclose your rating percentage or diagnostic codes; 2) If you already have, you may clarify that the rating is for compensation purposes and offer to coordinate a records release from your VA provider; 3) Contact the VA’s Insurance Center at 1-800-669-8477 to explore S-DVI/VGLI options.
**Disclaimer:** This information is for educational purposes regarding VA policy and procedure and does not constitute legal, medical, or official benefits advice.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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