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How to Read the VA Combined Ratings Table
The VA does not add your disability percentages together. Every rating is combined using the official VA Combined Ratings Table in 38 CFR §4.25 ↗, which is based on the “whole person” method. The calculator above performs that table lookup and the final rounding for you automatically.
- 1. Start with your highest rating.
- 2. Combine it with your next rating — the second rating only applies to the efficiency you have left. A 30% added to an existing 50% adds 30% of the remaining 50 (15 points) for 65.
- 3. Repeat for each remaining rating, always applying to what is left.
- 4. Round the final number to the nearest 10% (values ending in 5 round up).
Common combined rating examples
| Your ratings | Table value (before rounding) | Combined rating |
|---|---|---|
| 30% + 20% | 44 | 40% |
| 50% + 30% | 65 | 70% |
| 50% + 40% | 70 | 70% |
| 60% + 40% | 76 | 80% |
| 70% + 50% | 85 | 90% |
| 80% + 30% | 86 | 90% |
Use the calculator above for your exact combination — including more than two conditions, the bilateral factor, and your monthly compensation.
Common questions about combined VA ratings
Why doesn't the VA just add my disability ratings together?
Because a person can't be more than 100% able-bodied. The VA uses the “whole person” method in 38 CFR §4.25: each rating applies only to the efficiency you have left after the higher ratings, so combining always adds up to less than simple addition.
How do I read the VA combined ratings table?
Find your highest rating along one axis of the table and your next rating along the other. The number where they meet is your combined value before rounding. Combine that result with your next rating, repeat for every condition, then round the final value to the nearest 10%.
Is 50% + 30% equal to 80%?
No. A 50% and a 30% rating combine to 65% on the VA combined ratings table, which rounds to a 70% combined rating — not 80%.
How do I reach a 100% combined rating?
Three ways: a single 100% condition; multiple ratings that combine (under §4.25) to 95% or higher, which rounds to 100%; or a grant of TDIU (Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability), which pays at the 100% rate even when your combined schedular rating is below 100% — TDIU does not change the combined rating itself. Reaching a true schedular 100% by combining is harder than it looks, since each added rating applies only to your remaining efficiency; the calculator above shows exactly when a combination rounds up.