1. What is VA Combined Rating?

The VA Combined Rating is how the Department of Veterans Affairs calculates total disability when a veteran has multiple service-connected conditions. It's not a simple sum of individual ratings but uses a specific formula that accounts for how disabilities interact.

2. How VA Math Works

The VA uses the following formula to combine ratings:

Where:

• Ratings are applied in order from highest to lowest
• Each subsequent rating is applied to the remaining "able" percentage
• The result is rounded to the nearest whole percent (rounding up at 0.5)

Example: A 60% rating and 40% rating combine to 76% (which rounds to 80%).

3. Importance of Combined Rating

Details: The combined rating determines your disability compensation amount and eligibility for additional benefits. Each 10% increment can significantly affect monthly payments.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your individual disability ratings as percentages, separated by commas (e.g., "50, 30, 20"). The calculator will combine them using official VA math rules.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why doesn't VA just add the percentages?
A: The VA system accounts for the concept that disabilities affect different aspects of health, so their combined impact isn't purely additive.

Q2: How does bilateral factor work?
A: Bilateral conditions (affecting both arms/legs) get a 10% bonus on the combined value of those specific conditions before overall combination.

Q3: What's the maximum combined rating?
A: The maximum is 100%, though special monthly compensation may be available beyond this for severe cases.

Q4: How often should I recalculate?
A: Recalculate whenever you receive new ratings or when conditions change in severity.

Q5: Does this match the official VA calculation?
A: This follows VA rules but always verify with official VA correspondence as they may consider additional factors.