VA Disability Combined Rating Calculator
Stop guessing your VA combined rating.
Enter each service-connected condition to see the official VA whole-person formula applied step by step, with the bilateral factor calculated automatically.
Data current as of January 1, 2026 • Official VA rates effective December 1, 2025 (2.8% COLA)
Enter each condition
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Your Disability Ratings
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Dependents (affects compensation at 30%+)
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Add at least one disability rating above to see your combined rating.
This calculator estimates:
- Combined VA disability rating using the whole-person formula
- Bilateral factor impact on paired body parts
- 2026 monthly compensation based on rating and dependents
This calculator does not estimate:
- Whether VA will grant service connection for a condition
- The rating VA will assign for a specific medical condition
- Effective dates or back pay amounts
- Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)
- TDIU approval
- Spouse Aid & Attendance added amounts
- VA healthcare priority group or state-level benefits
A small difference near a rounding threshold can move you from 60% to 70%, or from 90% to 100% — this calculator shows the math before you file, appeal, or plan around your expected rating. Always verify estimates with your VA decision letter, C&P exam results, or an accredited VSO.
The VA combined rating is not calculated by adding percentages together — it uses a whole-person formula (38 CFR § 4.25) where each additional rating is applied to the remaining healthy capacity, not the original 100%. That is why 50% + 30% equals 65% combined (which rounds to 70%), not 80%. This calculator applies the official VA math step by step, including the bilateral factor, and shows your 2026 monthly compensation — excluded from federal taxable income. This calculator estimates the combined rating math — it does not determine whether VA will grant service connection or what rating VA will assign to any specific condition.
How Does the VA Rate a Veteran with Back and Bilateral Knee Conditions?
Scenario: Three service-connected conditions — 50% lumbar spine (back), 30% left knee, 20% right knee. The knees trigger the bilateral factor under 38 CFR § 4.26 because both sides of the same joint are rated.
What this means: Without the bilateral factor, the knees would combine to 44% instead of 48%, and combining that with the 50% back still reaches 72% — which also rounds to 70%, so in this particular case the rounded result is the same either way. But the bilateral factor matters enormously in cases near a rounding threshold: a combined value of 63% without the factor becomes 67% with it, changing the rounded rating from 60% to 70% and adding hundreds of dollars per month. VA rules require the bilateral adjustment whenever both sides of a paired joint carry compensable ratings. At 70%, this veteran receives $1,808.45/month in VA disability compensation, which is excluded from federal taxable income, and may qualify for additional dependent-based increases if they have a spouse or children.
How VA math works
The VA reads combined ratings off the “whole person” table in 38 CFR § 4.25. The idea: you start at 100% healthy, and each disability is applied to the capacity that remains — not the original 100%. A 50% disability leaves 50%; a later 30% disability reduces that remaining 50%, not the full 100%.
This is why 50% + 30% does not equal 80%. On the § 4.25 table, 50 combined with 30 is 65 — which rounds to 70%.
The VA's position is that you cannot be more than 100% disabled — so each additional condition has diminishing impact the higher your existing combined rating. Do not round to the nearest 10% between each condition. VA combines the ratings first, applies any bilateral factor when applicable, and converts the final combined value to the nearest 10%.
For a full walkthrough with more worked examples — including 10%+10%, 70%+50%, and multi-condition cases — see VA Disability Math Explained →.
The bilateral factor explained
Under 38 CFR § 4.26, if you have compensable disabilities affecting both sides of a paired body part — both arms, both legs, or paired skeletal muscles — you receive a 10% bonus on the combined value of those bilateral disabilities.
Example: Left knee 20% + Right knee 10%. On the § 4.25 table these combine to 28%. The bilateral factor adds 10% of 28 (= 2.8), giving 30.8%, which rounds to 31%. That 31% is then combined with your other disabilities as if it were a single rating.
The bilateral factor only applies when both sides have a compensable (greater than 0%) rating. A 0% rating on one side does not trigger it. If both sides are affected, review whether each side is separately documented and claimed. An accredited VSO can help confirm how to file bilateral conditions.
Note: Vision impairment in both eyes is rated under the VA's separate visual impairment rules (38 CFR §§ 4.75–4.79) and does not receive the § 4.26 bilateral factor.
Key rating thresholds
Service-connected with no monthly compensation. Establishes the condition for VA purposes but does not increase the combined percentage unless later increased.
Flat compensation rate — no dependent additions at these levels
Dependent compensation kicks in (spouse, children, parents)
At 50% or higher, veterans are usually placed in Priority Group 1 for VA healthcare, with reduced or eliminated copays for many types of care. Exact healthcare eligibility, copays, and covered services depend on care type, priority group, and current VA rules.
May qualify for TDIU (see below) if unable to work
Maximum schedular rating — highest compensation tier, P&T status if permanent
Note: Comprehensive VA dental care has separate eligibility rules and is not automatic at 50%.
Common VA math mistakes
✗ Adding ratings together
Ratings are never added. Each is applied to the remaining healthy percentage.
✗ Rounding between steps
VA works down the § 4.25 table one condition at a time, applies any bilateral factor, then converts to the nearest 10% only at the end — never rounding to a 10% step in between.
✗ Forgetting the bilateral factor
If you have rated disabilities on both sides of a paired body part, the bilateral factor can push you to the next threshold.
✗ Filing only one side of a bilateral condition
If symptoms affect both sides of a paired body part, make sure both sides are documented in your records. Review the filing approach with an accredited VSO or attorney before submitting.
TDIU — Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability
TDIU allows veterans to receive compensation at the 100% rate even if their combined schedular rating is below 100%, if the disabilities prevent them from maintaining substantially gainful employment.
General eligibility: Combined rating of at least 70% with one disability rated at least 40%, OR a single disability rated at least 60%. The VA may also grant TDIU on an extraschedular basis in exceptional cases.
TDIU requires a separate VA Form 21-8940 (Veteran's Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability). Work with an accredited VSO to file.
Marginal employment and protected work environments can be nuanced — review TDIU questions with an accredited VSO or attorney.
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)
SMC provides additional compensation above the 100% rate for veterans with specific severe disabilities: loss of use of limbs, blindness, need for regular aid and attendance, housebound status, and others.
SMC calculations are complex and depend heavily on your specific conditions and combination of ratings. This calculator does not compute SMC — if you believe you may qualify, contact an accredited VSO or the VA directly.
2026 VA disability monthly compensation by rating
Monthly compensation for each combined rating, effective December 1, 2025 (2.8% COLA). Dependent additions begin at 30% — at 10% and 20% the rate is the same regardless of dependents.
| Combined rating | Veteran alone | With spouse | With spouse + 1 child |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $180.42 | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $356.66 | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $666.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $947.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $1,322.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $1,663.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $2,074.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $2,406.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $2,704.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $4,318.99 |
Published VA lookup-table amounts, not computed additions. Veterans with additional children, school-age children (18–23), dependent parents, or a spouse receiving Aid & Attendance receive more — enter your situation in the calculator above for an exact figure.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't 50% + 30% equal 80%?
VA disability ratings are never added together. The VA uses a "whole person" formula (38 CFR § 4.25): you start at 100% healthy, and each rating applies only to the capacity that remains. A 50% rating leaves 50% efficiency; a 30% rating then reduces that remaining 50% by 15 points, for a combined value of 65%. The VA rounds the final combined value to the nearest 10%, so 50% and 30% combine to a 70% rating — not 80%.
How does the VA combined rating work?
The VA lists your ratings highest to lowest, then combines them one at a time using the 38 CFR § 4.25 table. Each rating applies to your remaining healthy capacity rather than the original 100%, so each additional condition adds less than its face value. After combining every condition — and adding the bilateral factor where it applies — the VA rounds the final value once to the nearest 10%. It never rounds between steps.
What is the bilateral factor?
The bilateral factor (38 CFR § 4.26) is a 10% bonus the VA adds when you have compensable disabilities on both sides of a paired body part — both arms or both legs. The two sides are combined first, then 10% of that combined value is added before the result is folded into your overall rating. It applies only when both sides carry a rating above 0%, and it does not apply to vision or hearing, which are rated under separate rules (38 CFR §§ 4.75–4.79).
How much is 70% VA disability in 2026?
In 2026, a 70% VA disability rating pays $1,808.45/month for a veteran with no dependents (effective December 1, 2025, after the 2.8% COLA). Veterans rated 30% or higher receive more when they have a spouse, children, or dependent parents. VA disability compensation is not subject to federal income tax.
Are VA disability benefits taxable?
No. VA disability compensation is not subject to federal income tax and is not reported as income on your federal return. This is different from military retired pay, which is normally taxable. State treatment can vary, but most states do not tax VA disability compensation.
Can my combined rating change if I add a condition?
Yes. A new service-connected condition combines with your existing ratings through the same § 4.25 table, so your combined value can rise — though by less than the new condition’s face value, because it applies only to your remaining capacity. A small change near a rounding threshold can move you to the next 10% level. You can model how an added condition would change your combined rating using the calculator above.
Sources: VA.gov 2026 compensation rates (effective December 1, 2025); combined-rating method per 38 CFR §§ 4.25–4.26. Last reviewed: June 13, 2026.
Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates based on the official VA combined rating formula (38 CFR § 4.25–4.26) and 2026 VA compensation rates (effective December 1, 2025, 2.8% COLA). Actual ratings are determined by the VA based on medical evidence, C&P exam findings, and adjudicator review. This tool is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Verify all figures with your regional VA office or an accredited VSO or attorney.
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