How to Calculate Your VA Disability Rating
If you have multiple service-connected disabilities, the VA does not add your ratings together like normal math. Instead, they use a formula called the whole person method — and misunderstanding it leads many veterans to be surprised by their combined rating.
This guide walks you through exactly how it works, with real examples, rounding rules, and tips to maximize your rating.
Why VA Math Is Different
Imagine your body is 100% efficient. Each disability chips away at your remaining capacity — not your original 100%. So a 50% disability leaves you with 50% remaining, and a second 30% disability takes 30% of that 50% — not 30% of 100%.
This is why 50% + 30% = 65%, not 80%.
The Whole Person Method: Step by Step
Here is the exact process the VA uses. Always sort your disabilities highest to lowest first.
Example: 50%, 30%, and 10%
- Start with 100 (your whole body)
- Apply 50%: 100 − 50 = 50 remaining
- Apply 30% to 50: 50 × 0.30 = 15 → 50 − 15 = 35 remaining
- Apply 10% to 35: 35 × 0.10 = 3.5 → 35 − 3.5 = 31.5 remaining
- Combined disability = 100 − 31.5 = 68.5%
- Round to nearest 10%: 70%
VA Rounding Rules
After combining, your final value is rounded to the nearest 10%:
| Combined Value | Rounds To | Monthly Pay (2026, no dependents) |
|---|---|---|
| 60–64% | 60% | $1,361.88 |
| 65–69% | 70% | $1,716.28 |
| 70–74% | 70% | $1,716.28 |
| 75–79% | 80% | $1,995.01 |
| 80–84% | 80% | $1,995.01 |
| 85–89% | 90% | $2,241.91 |
| 90–94% | 90% | $2,241.91 |
| 95%+ | 100% | $3,737.85 |
The Bilateral Factor
The VA adds a 10% bilateral bonus when you have ratable disabilities affecting both arms, both legs, or paired skeletal muscles. This bonus is applied to those bilateral disabilities before they are combined with your other ratings.
Bilateral Factor Example
- Right knee 10% + Left knee 10% = 19% combined
- Add 10% bilateral bonus: 19% × 1.10 = 20.9%, rounds to 20%
- Now combine that 20% with your other disabilities using the whole person method
Common Combined Rating Examples
| Ratings | Combined (before rounding) | Final VA Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 50% + 30% | 65% | 70% |
| 70% + 30% | 79% | 80% |
| 50% + 50% | 75% | 80% |
| 40% + 20% + 10% | 57.2% | 60% |
| 60% + 40% + 20% | 74.4% | 70% |
| 30% + 20% + 10% | 49.4% | 50% |
Why You Can Never Reach 100% Through Combined Ratings
Because each disability is applied to a shrinking remainder, you can approach 100% but mathematically never reach it through combination alone. This is why TDIU exists.
TDIU (Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability) allows veterans whose disabilities prevent them from holding substantially gainful employment to receive compensation at the 100% rate — even with a combined rating as low as 60% (with one condition at 40%+), or 70% combined with any single condition at 40%.
Calculate Your Combined Rating Instantly
Enter up to 6 disabilities and get your combined VA rating in seconds — free, no signup.
Use the Free Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
How does the VA calculate combined disability ratings?
The VA uses the whole person method. Starting from 100%, each disability is applied to the remaining healthy portion, from highest to lowest. The result is subtracted from 100% and rounded to the nearest 10%.
What is the VA bilateral factor?
A 10% bonus applied to disabilities affecting both arms, both legs, or paired skeletal muscles before they are combined with other ratings.
How does the VA round combined disability ratings?
Values ending in 1–4 round down to the lower 10%; values ending in 5–9 round up to the higher 10%.
Can I ever reach a 100% VA rating through combined ratings?
Not through math alone — you can only approach it. Veterans reach 100% pay through a single 100% schedular rating or through TDIU (Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability).
What is TDIU?
TDIU pays at the 100% rate if your service-connected disabilities prevent you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, even if your combined rating is below 100%.
Calculate Your VA Benefits
Use our free 2026 VA disability calculator to estimate your monthly compensation.
Open VA Calculator →