VA Disability Rating Calculator
Combine multiple VA disability ratings into one overall percentage using the VA's actual "combined ratings" math — not simple addition.
Why VA math isn't simple addition
Step 2: For each remaining rating (highest to lowest), apply it to the percentage of the body the VA still considers "whole" — add (remaining % × next rating), then round to the nearest whole number.
Step 3: Repeat until every rating is combined.
Step 4: Round the final combined value to the nearest multiple of 10 — this is your official combined rating.
The VA treats a person's overall efficiency as starting at 100%. Each disability reduces the portion still considered "able," and each new rating is applied only to what's left — not to the full original 100%. This is why ratings never simply add up, and why the same set of individual ratings always combines to less than their sum (except when only one rating exists).
Start with 50% (highest). Remaining efficiency: 100% − 50% = 50%. Apply 30%: 50% × 0.30 = 15 → combined = 50 + 15 = 65%.
Remaining efficiency: 100% − 65% = 35%. Apply 10%: 35% × 0.10 = 3.5 → round to 4 → combined = 65 + 4 = 69%.
Raw combined value: 69% → rounds to the nearest 10 → final combined rating: 70%.
Combined ratings for common two-rating pairs
| Rating A | Rating B | Raw combined | Final (rounded to nearest 10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50% | 30% | 65% | 70% |
| 40% | 20% | 52% | 50% |
| 60% | 40% | 76% | 80% |
| 30% | 30% | 51% | 50% |
| 70% | 50% | 85% | 90% |
Common mistakes when combining VA ratings
- Adding ratings together directly. 50% + 30% is not 80% — the VA's formula almost always produces a lower combined value than simple addition.
- Forgetting the final rounding step. The raw combined value from the formula is rounded to the nearest 10 only at the very end, not after each individual step.
- Assuming the highest single rating alone determines pay. Multiple ratings that combine to a higher tier (e.g., reaching 70% instead of staying at 60%) can meaningfully change monthly compensation — see our VA Disability Pay Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't a 50% and a 30% rating combine to 80%?
The VA applies each rating to the remaining "whole" percentage after prior ratings, not to the full total — 30% applied to the remaining 50% adds 15 points, giving a raw combined value of 65%, which rounds to 70%.
What is the VA's combined ratings table?
The official method defined in 38 CFR § 4.25 for combining multiple service-connected ratings into one overall percentage, using this same remaining-efficiency approach.
Does the VA round the combined rating?
Yes — the final combined value is rounded to the nearest multiple of 10 for compensation purposes.
Does the order I enter my ratings matter?
No — the VA always combines from highest to lowest, and this calculator sorts your entries automatically, so order doesn't affect the result.
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Note: This calculator applies the VA's published combining formula (38 CFR § 4.25) for estimation purposes only. It is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and does not constitute a benefits determination — always confirm your official combined rating through VA.gov or your VSO. Last reviewed: September 2026.