VA Disability Rating Calculator
The VA doesn't add ratings together — they use "VA Math." Enter your ratings below to see your actual combined rating.
Calculate Your Combined Rating
Dependents (affects pay at 30%+)
How VA Math Works
The VA doesn't simply add your ratings. Instead, each disability is applied to your remaining "healthy" percentage. Here's why:
The VA considers you to start at 100% healthy. Each disability takes away a percentage of what's left — not a percentage of the original 100%.
Step-by-Step Example
Say you have three ratings: 50%, 30%, and 20%.
- Start at 100% healthy.
- Apply the highest rating first (50%): 100% × 50% = 50% disabled. You have 50% "healthy" remaining.
- Apply the next highest (30%): 50% remaining × 30% = 15% additional disability. Total: 65% disabled, 35% remaining.
- Apply the next (20%): 35% remaining × 20% = 7% additional disability. Total: 72% disabled.
- Round to nearest 10%: 72% rounds to 70% — that's your combined rating.
If you just added them (50 + 30 + 20 = 100%), you'd expect 100%. But VA Math gives you 70%. This is why veterans say "VA Math" — it always results in a lower number than simple addition.
The Bilateral Factor
If you have disabilities affecting both sides of the body (e.g., both knees, both shoulders), the VA adds a 10% bonus to the combined value of those bilateral disabilities before combining them with your other ratings.
Example: Left knee 20% + Right knee 10% = 28% combined. The bilateral factor adds 10% of 28% = 2.8%, making it 30.8% before combining with other disabilities.
This is one of the few places where VA Math actually works slightly in your favor.
2026 Monthly Compensation Rates
Rates effective December 1, 2025 (2.8% COLA increase). Veteran alone, no dependents. Rates increase with dependents.
| Combined Rating | Monthly Rate (Veteran Alone) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Source: VA.gov. 30%+ ratings include additional amounts for dependents not shown here.
Tips
- Always apply for increases near a rounding break. If your exact combined is 72%, you're rated at 70%. Getting even a small increase to push to 75% would round you to 80% — a significant pay jump.
- Secondary conditions matter. Even a 10% secondary condition on top of existing ratings can push you over a rounding threshold.
- Check for bilateral factor. If you have matching left/right conditions, make sure the VA applied the bilateral factor correctly.
- Remember: 100% is achievable. While VA Math makes it hard, enough combined conditions can get you there. 90% + 70% = 97%, which rounds to 100%.
This calculator is for educational purposes only. It includes optional bilateral factor support (§ 4.26). For official rates, see the VA compensation rates page. For help with your claim, find a VSO representative.