VA Disability Math Calculator

Understand how the VA combines multiple disability ratings

Calculate Your Combined Rating

Enter your individual VA disability ratings to calculate your combined rating:

Rating 1

Your Combined VA Disability Rating:

0%

Monthly Compensation Estimate:

$0

*Based on 2025 VA compensation rates for a veteran with no dependents

Understanding VA Math

VA math doesn't work like regular math. The VA doesn't simply add your disability percentages together, because that could result in a combined rating over 100%.

Instead, the VA uses a special formula:

  1. Ratings are arranged from highest to lowest
  2. Starting with your highest rating, the VA calculates your remaining efficiency (100% minus your rating)
  3. The next rating is applied to your remaining efficiency
  4. This process continues for all your ratings
  5. The final number is rounded to the nearest 10%

Example:

If you have ratings of 30%, 20%, and 10%:

  • Start with highest: 30%
  • Remaining efficiency: 70%
  • Apply 20% to 70%: 20% of 70% = 14%
  • New combined rating: 30% + 14% = 44%
  • Remaining efficiency: 56%
  • Apply 10% to 56%: 10% of 56% = 5.6%
  • Final combined rating: 44% + 5.6% = 49.6%
  • Rounded to the nearest 10%: 50%

VA Disability Rates (2025)

Disability Rating Monthly Payment
10% $165.92
20% $327.99
30% $508.05
40% $731.86
50% $1,041.82
60% $1,319.65
70% $1,663.06
80% $1,933.15
90% $2,172.39
100% $3,621.95

*Rates shown are for veterans with no dependents

Strategies to Optimize Your Rating

Understanding how VA math works can help you strategize your claims:

Focus on Higher Percentages

A single 50% rating is worth more than five 10% ratings combined. When possible, focus on fully developing claims for your most severe conditions.

Consider Secondary Conditions

If you have conditions caused by your service-connected disabilities, filing for these secondary conditions can help increase your overall rating.

Understand the "Hump Points"

Benefits increase significantly at certain thresholds (especially 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%). Strategically targeting these thresholds can maximize your compensation.

Explore TDIU if Applicable

If your service-connected disabilities prevent you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, you may qualify for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

Want more detailed strategies?

Get in-depth guidance on maximizing your VA rating with our premium content, including Chapter 6: Understanding VA Math and Ratings, and Chapter 7: Filing for Increases and Secondary Claims.

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