Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Combined VA rating (rounded)
70%
Exact combined percentage before rounding
72.0%
Naive sum (incorrect method, for comparison)
100%
Number of ratings combined
3
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How to use this
- 1Enter rating 1 (%).
- 2Enter rating 2 (%).
- 3Enter rating 3 (%).
- 4Enter rating 4 (%).
- 5Enter rating 5 (%).
- 6Read your combined va rating (rounded) on the right — it updates as you type.
- 7Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
VA disability ratings don't simply add together. If you have a 50% rating and a 30% rating, you don't get 80% — the VA applies each additional rating to your remaining 'able-bodied' percentage, then rounds the combined total to the nearest 10. So a 50% and a 30% combine to 65%, which rounds to 70%, not 80%. This is often called VA math and it consistently produces a lower total than naive addition, which surprises veterans filing multiple claims. Order doesn't matter for the final result, but the calculation always applies ratings from highest to lowest against the remaining percentage for clarity. This calculator takes up to six individual ratings, runs the standard combined-ratings-table logic, applies bilateral factor considerations conceptually, and rounds to the nearest 10% to show your combined VA rating and the resulting compensation-relevant percentage.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Rating 1: 50 %
- Rating 2: 30 %
- Rating 3: 20 %
- Rating 4: 0 %
- Rating 5: 0 %
Results
- Combined VA rating (rounded): 70%
- Exact combined percentage before rounding: 72.0%
- Naive sum (incorrect method, for comparison): 100%
- Number of ratings combined: 3
What each field means
Inputs
- Rating 1 (%)
- The rating 1 used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 50 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–100 %.
- Rating 2 (%)
- The rating 2 used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 30 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–100 %.
- Rating 3 (%)
- The rating 3 used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 20 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–100 %.
- Rating 4 (%)
- The rating 4 used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 0 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–100 %.
- Rating 5 (%)
- The rating 5 used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 0 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–100 %.
Results
- Combined VA rating (rounded)
- Returned as a percentage and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Exact combined percentage before rounding
- Returned as a percentage. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Naive sum (incorrect method, for comparison)
- Returned as a percentage. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Number of ratings combined
- Returned as a whole number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Why doesn't the VA just add up my ratings?
The VA treats each disability as reducing your remaining full-health capacity rather than stacking losses linearly, on the logic that a second disability can't take away function you've already lost to the first one. This is why a 50% and a 30% rating combine to 65% (rounded to 70%) instead of a straightforward 80%.
Does the order I enter my ratings matter?
No, mathematically combining ratings from highest to lowest or any other order produces the same final result, since it's a series of multiplications against the remaining percentage. This calculator sorts automatically so you don't have to worry about entry order.
What's the bilateral factor and is it included here?
The bilateral factor adds an extra 10% multiplier when you have ratings on both sides of the body (both arms, both legs, etc.) before combining with other ratings, which can slightly increase your total beyond the standard math shown here. This calculator does not apply the bilateral factor automatically — if you have paired-limb conditions, consult the VA's full combined ratings table or a VSO for the precise figure.
Does a higher combined rating always mean more monthly pay?
Generally yes, VA compensation rates step up at each 10% combined rating threshold, and having a spouse or dependents further increases the payment for ratings 30% and above. Ratings below 30% pay a flat amount regardless of dependents.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). VA Disability Combined Rating Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/va-disability-combined-rating
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/va-disability-combined-rating" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VA Disability Combined Rating Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [VA Disability Combined Rating Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/va-disability-combined-rating) (2026).