Va Percentage Calculator

VA Combined Disability Rating Calculator

Use this calculator to estimate your combined VA disability rating based on multiple individual ratings. The VA uses a specific "whole person" approach, not simple addition, to combine ratings.

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function calculateVAPercentage() { var ratings = []; var d1 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('disability1').value); var d2 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('disability2').value); var d3 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('disability3').value); var d4 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('disability4').value); var d5 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('disability5').value); if (!isNaN(d1) && d1 > 0) ratings.push(d1); if (!isNaN(d2) && d2 > 0) ratings.push(d2); if (!isNaN(d3) && d3 > 0) ratings.push(d3); if (!isNaN(d4) && d4 > 0) ratings.push(d4); if (!isNaN(d5) && d5 > 0) ratings.push(d5); if (ratings.length === 0) { document.getElementById('result').innerHTML = 'Please enter at least one valid disability rating greater than 0.'; return; } // Sort ratings in descending order (highest to lowest) ratings.sort(function(a, b) { return b – a; }); var combinedRating = 0; var remainingEfficiency = 100; for (var i = 0; i < ratings.length; i++) { var currentRating = ratings[i]; var disabilityEffect = (currentRating / 100) * remainingEfficiency; combinedRating += disabilityEffect; remainingEfficiency -= disabilityEffect; } // Round to the nearest 10% according to VA rules (0-4 rounds down, 5-9 rounds up) var roundedCombinedRating = Math.round(combinedRating / 10) * 10; var resultDiv = document.getElementById('result'); resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Individual Ratings Entered: ' + ratings.join('%, ') + '%' + 'Calculated Combined Rating (unrounded): ' + combinedRating.toFixed(2) + '%' + 'Final VA Combined Rating (rounded): ' + roundedCombinedRating + '%'; }

Understanding VA Combined Disability Ratings

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides disability compensation to veterans with service-connected conditions. When a veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities, the VA doesn't simply add the individual percentages together. Instead, they use a specific method called the "Combined Rating System" to determine an overall disability percentage.

Why Not Simple Addition?

The VA's system is based on the "whole person" theory. It assumes that a person can only be 100% able-bodied. As disabilities accumulate, each subsequent disability is considered to affect the remaining portion of the veteran's overall health or "efficiency." For example, if a veteran is already 50% disabled, a new 30% disability doesn't mean they are now 80% disabled. Instead, the 30% disability is applied to the *remaining* 50% of their efficiency.

How the VA Combines Ratings

The process involves these steps:

1. Order Ratings: All individual disability ratings are arranged from highest to lowest.
2. Start with Highest: The highest rating is taken first.
3. Combine Iteratively: The next highest rating is applied to the "remaining efficiency" of the veteran. This new percentage is added to the existing combined rating. This process continues for all subsequent ratings.
4. Rounding: The final calculated combined rating is then rounded to the nearest 10%. The VA's rounding rule is that any percentage ending in .5 or higher rounds up to the next 10, while percentages ending in .4 or lower round down. For example, 64% rounds to 60%, while 65% rounds to 70%.

Example of VA Combined Rating Calculation:

Let's say a veteran has three service-connected disabilities with ratings of 60%, 30%, and 20%.

1. Order: 60%, 30%, 20%
2. First Rating: Start with 60% disabled. Remaining efficiency = 100% – 60% = 40%.
3. Second Rating (30%): Apply 30% to the remaining 40% efficiency.
   • 30% of 40% = 0.30 * 40 = 12%
   • New combined disability = 60% + 12% = 72%
   • Remaining efficiency = 100% – 72% = 28%
4. Third Rating (20%): Apply 20% to the remaining 28% efficiency.
   • 20% of 28% = 0.20 * 28 = 5.6%
   • New combined disability = 72% + 5.6% = 77.6%
5. Rounding: The calculated combined rating is 77.6%. According to VA rounding rules, 77.6% rounds up to 80%.

Therefore, a veteran with 60%, 30%, and 20% individual ratings would have a final VA combined rating of 80%.

Using the Calculator:

Simply enter your individual VA disability percentages into the fields above. You don't need to enter them in any specific order; the calculator will automatically sort them for the correct calculation. Click "Calculate Combined Rating" to see your unrounded and final rounded VA combined disability percentage.

Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate based on the VA's general combined rating rules. It is not a substitute for official VA decisions. Always consult with the VA or an accredited representative for precise information regarding your specific disability compensation.