How is Disability Calculated

VA Combined Disability Rating Calculator

For veterans who have sustained injuries or illnesses during their military service, understanding how disability is calculated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is crucial. Unlike a simple sum, the VA uses a specific, often complex, method to combine multiple disability ratings into a single, overall percentage. This combined rating directly impacts the level of benefits a veteran receives.

What is a VA Disability Rating?

A VA disability rating is a percentage assigned to a veteran's service-connected condition, reflecting the severity of the condition and its impact on their earning capacity. Ratings range from 0% to 100% in increments of 10%. A 0% rating means the condition is service-connected but not severe enough to warrant compensation, while a 100% rating indicates total disability.

How Individual Ratings Are Determined

Individual disability ratings are determined through a thorough process that includes:

• Medical Evidence: This includes service medical records, private medical records, and any other documentation related to your condition.
• Compensation & Pension (C&P) Exams: These are medical examinations conducted by VA-appointed doctors to assess the current state of your service-connected conditions.
• VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD): The VA uses this comprehensive guide, which outlines specific criteria and symptoms for various conditions, to assign a percentage rating. Each condition has a diagnostic code and a range of possible ratings based on its severity.

The "VA Math" for Combined Ratings

One of the most common misconceptions is that the VA simply adds up individual disability ratings. This is incorrect. The VA uses a specific "combined rating system" or "VA Math" that accounts for the fact that a person is not 100% able-bodied to begin with, and subsequent disabilities reduce the remaining "efficiency" rather than the total. This system ensures that a veteran's combined rating never exceeds 100%.

How the Combined Rating is Calculated Step-by-Step:

The VA starts with the highest disability rating and then combines it with the next highest, and so on. Here's the formula and process:

1. Start with the Highest Rating: Identify your highest individual disability rating. This is your starting point for "efficiency."
2. Combine with the Next Highest: Take your highest rating and combine it with your next highest rating. The formula for combining two ratings (A and B, where A is the current "efficiency" or highest rating, and B is the next rating) is:
   Combined = A + (B * (100 - A) / 100)
   This means the second disability reduces the remaining "efficiency" (100 – A) by its percentage.
3. Repeat the Process: Take the new combined rating and combine it with the next highest individual rating using the same formula. Continue this process until all service-connected disabilities have been factored in.
4. Round to the Nearest 10: The final calculated combined rating is then rounded to the nearest 10%. For example, 64% rounds down to 60%, while 65% rounds up to 70%.

Example of VA Math in Action:

Let's say a veteran has three service-connected disabilities with the following ratings:

• Disability A: 60%
• Disability B: 40%
• Disability C: 20%

Here's how the VA would calculate the combined rating:

1. Start with the highest: 60% (Disability A). This means the veteran is 60% disabled, leaving 40% "efficient."
2. Combine 60% with 40% (Disability B):
   Combined = 60 + (40 * (100 - 60) / 100)
Combined = 60 + (40 * 40 / 100)
Combined = 60 + 16 = 76%
   Now, the veteran is considered 76% disabled, leaving 24% "efficient."
3. Combine 76% with 20% (Disability C):
   Combined = 76 + (20 * (100 - 76) / 100)
Combined = 76 + (20 * 24 / 100)
Combined = 76 + 4.8 = 80.8%
4. Round to the nearest 10: 80.8% rounds to 80%.

So, despite having individual ratings that sum to 120% (60+40+20), the veteran's combined VA disability rating would be 80%.

Using the VA Combined Disability Rating Calculator

Our calculator above simplifies this complex process. Simply enter your individual service-connected disability ratings (from 0 to 100%) into the respective fields. You can enter up to five ratings, and the calculator will automatically sort them and apply the VA's combined rating formula. The result will be your estimated combined VA disability rating, rounded to the nearest 10%.

Important Considerations:

• Not a Legal Determination: This calculator provides an estimate based on the VA's published rules for combining ratings. It is not a substitute for an official VA decision.
• Special Monthly Compensation (SMC): In some cases, severe disabilities or combinations of disabilities can qualify a veteran for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC), which is additional compensation paid above the standard rates. SMC is not calculated by this tool.
• Effective Dates: The effective date of your disability rating can significantly impact the amount of retroactive benefits you receive.
• Aid and Attendance: Veterans requiring the aid and attendance of another person, or who are housebound, may also qualify for additional benefits.

Understanding how your VA disability is calculated is a vital step in ensuring you receive the benefits you deserve. While the process can be intricate, tools like this calculator can help demystify the "VA Math" and provide a clearer picture of your potential combined rating.