---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1523"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1523"
heading: "Combination of ratings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1523"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 15 — Pension for Non-Service-Connected Disability or Death or for Service"
  - "Subchapter II — Veterans’ Pensions"
---

# §1523. Combination of ratings

- (a) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall provide that, for the purpose of determining whether or not a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) is permanently and totally disabled, ratings for [service-connected](/usc/38/101.md?p=16) [disabilities](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) may be combined with ratings for [non-service-connected](/usc/38/101.md?p=17) [disabilities](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1).
- (b) Where a [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1), by virtue of [subsection (a)](#a), is found to be entitled to a [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15) under [section 1521 of this title](/usc/38/1521.md), and is entitled to [compensation](/usc/38/101.md?p=13) for a [service-connected](/usc/38/101.md?p=16) [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall pay such [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) 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.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—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 Amendment

Pub. 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.