How VA Disability Math Works

VA disability ratings are not added like normal percentages. A veteran with 70% and 50% is not rated 120%. Instead, the VA applies each new rating to the remaining non-disabled percentage.

Simple example

If you start with a 70% rating, the VA considers 30% of the body still efficient. A second 50% rating is applied to that remaining 30%, which adds 15%. That gives a combined value of 85%.

The VA then rounds the final combined rating to the nearest 10% for monthly compensation. For example, 84% rounds to 80%, 85% rounds to 90%, and 95% rounds to 100%.

Why veterans get confused

VA math feels backwards because every new rating is worth less than it looks once you already have a high combined rating. The higher your combined rating gets, the harder it becomes to reach the next pay level.

Example: Adding a new 10% rating when you are already at 90% may only move your true rating by about 1 point.

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VATrueRating.com estimates your VA table rating, decimal estimate, rounded pay rating, and bilateral factor.

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