{"data":{"id":"us/38-u.s.c.-1523","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"38 U.S.C. § 1523","heading":"Combination of ratings","body":"(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.","path":["Title 38—VETERANS’ BENEFITS","CHAPTER 15—PENSION FOR NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY OR DEATH OR FOR SERVICE"],"source_url":"https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/103/xml_usc38@119-103.zip","current_through":"Public Law 119-103 (09/02/2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-10T05:59:35Z","sha256":"08d785fae4ef9df44f8fc0454965e05cdb3c32050e5769abca95336b16587cc6","source_id":"us","stale":false,"prev":"us/38-u.s.c.-1522","next":"us/38-u.s.c.-1524"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}