38 USC § 1523 - Combination of ratings

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s1523"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 1523 - Combination of ratings"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "1523"
section_name: "Combination of ratings"
chapter_number: 15
chapter_name: "PENSION FOR NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY OR DEATH OR FOR SERVICE"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "Non-Service-Connected Disability Pension"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "GENERAL BENEFITS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1136, § 523; Pub. L. 94–169, title I, § 106(19), Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1018; renumbered § 1523 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406.)"
---


# § 1523. Combination of ratings

**(a)** The Secretary shall provide that, for the purpose of determining whether or not a veteran is permanently and totally disabled, ratings for service-connected disabilities may be combined with ratings for non-service-connected disabilities.

**(b)** Where a veteran, by virtue of subsection (a), is found to be entitled to a pension under section 1521 of this title, and is entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability, the Secretary shall pay such veteran the greater benefit.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1136, § 523; Pub. L. 94–169, title I, § 106(19), Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1018; renumbered § 1523 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—, renumbered  as this section.

Subsec. (a). , (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Subsec. (b). , substituted “1521” for “521”.

, (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

1975—Subsec. (b).  substituted “such veteran” for “him”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1975 Amendment

, , , provided that the amendment made by that section is effective .