Osteomyelitis at 20% VA Disability Rating

VA pays on the combined rating, not per condition: this is the amount when 20% is the veteran's combined rating, after all separate ratings are combined under 38 CFR 4.25. At a 20% combined rating, a single veteran receives $356.66 per month ($4,279.92/year) under the 2026 VA rates, effective December 1, 2025. VA disability compensation is tax-free. Additional compensation for dependents starts at a combined rating of 30% (38 U.S.C. § 1115), so below that the single rate applies whatever the household.

"With discharging sinus or other evidence of active infection within the past 5 years." Note (2) restricts it: this rating "is not assignable following the initial infection of active osteomyelitis with no subsequent reactivation. The prerequisite for this historical rating is an established recurrent osteomyelitis", and it "will be assigned once only to cover disability at all sites of previously active infection with a future ending date."

20%: "With discharging sinus or other evidence of active infection within the past 5 years." Note (2) restricts it: this rating "is not assignable following the initial infection of active osteomyelitis with no subsequent reactivation. The prerequisite for this historical rating is an established recurrent osteomyelitis", and it "will be assigned once only to cover disability at all sites of previously active infection with a future ending date." 30%: "With definite involucrum or sequestrum, with or without discharging sinus." (An involucrum is new bone laid down around dead bone; a sequestrum is a fragment of dead bone that has separated.)

Yes, up to 100%. A condition service-connected as secondary to Osteomyelitis gets its own rating, which VA combines with your other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25, so your combined rating can end up higher than 20%.