VA Disability Calculator
Enter your individual condition ratings to get your real combined VA rating — using the official VA math (38 CFR § 4.25) and the bilateral factor (§ 4.26), plus your estimated 2026 monthly compensation. No sign-up, no wall on the result.
Your Combined VA Rating
Calculated value 44% → rounded to nearest 10%
2026 VA compensation rates
This calculator uses the official VA combined ratings method (38 CFR § 4.25) and bilateral factor (§ 4.26). Results are an estimate for planning only and are not an official VA determination. Your actual rating is set by the VA.
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How VA combined ratings actually work
The most common surprise for veterans is that VA disability ratings don't add up the way you'd expect. A 50% and a 30% rating don't make 80% — they combine to 70%. That's because the VA uses “whole person” math: each disability is measured against the ability you have left, not the full 100%.
Example: 50% + 30%
- 1. Start with your highest rating: 50%. You're considered 50% able.
- 2. The 30% applies to that remaining 50%: 30% × 50% = 15 points.
- 3. Add them: 50 + 15 = 65%.
- 4. Round to the nearest 10%: 70% combined rating.
When you have conditions affecting paired limbs — both knees, both arms — the VA adds a bilateral factor (§ 4.26): it combines those bilateral conditions first, then adds an extra 10% of that value before combining with the rest. This calculator applies it automatically when you check the bilateral box on two or more conditions.
Frequently asked questions
How does the VA combined rating work?
The VA does not simply add your ratings together. It uses the combined ratings table in 38 CFR § 4.25, which treats each disability as a percentage of your remaining healthy ability. For example, a 50% rating leaves 50% efficiency; a second 30% rating applies to that remaining 50%, adding 15 points for a combined 65%, which then rounds to 70%.
Why is 50% + 30% not 80%?
Because each additional disability is measured against the ability you have left, not the full 100%. After a 50% disability you are considered 50% able; the 30% disability affects only that remaining half. The math gives 65%, which rounds to a 70% combined rating.
What is the bilateral factor?
Under 38 CFR § 4.26, when you have disabilities affecting paired limbs (both arms, both legs, or the paired skeletal muscles), the VA combines those bilateral disabilities first, then adds an extra 10% of that value before combining with your other conditions. This calculator applies the bilateral factor automatically when you mark two or more conditions as bilateral.
How does the VA round the final rating?
The final combined value is rounded to the nearest 10%. A calculated value of 65% rounds up to 70%; a 64% would round down to 60%.
Is this an official VA rating?
No. This is an accurate estimate using the same published VA formulas, useful for planning and understanding your rating. Your official combined rating is determined by the VA based on your service-connected conditions.