---
type: "LegalText"
title: "38 U.S.C. § 1523"
description: "Combination of ratings"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
chapter_number: "15"
chapter_name: "PENSION FOR NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY OR DEATH OR FOR SERVICE"
section: "1523"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1523"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc38@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s1523"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-38/usc38.xml"
source_hash: "0d7c1c48c226cb385a246ac7363b4df02ed43758c7905ee2d67deca57292f81a"
raw_snapshot_hash: "372998691b72ade88787dfa7633dbda4954bd1b037ec7926c5e06e9b1d17fc66"
text_hash: "49c1858f4387d247d4c8dc99bfb8dc1c293ae22ae3e9212be3c213ef540cf483"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 38 U.S.C. § 1523 - Combination of ratings

## Text

(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.

(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.)

## Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 523 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1521” for “521”. Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”. 1975—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–169 substituted “such veteran” for “him”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1975 AmendmentPub. L. 94–169, title I, § 106, Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1017, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Jan. 1, 1976.