Education calculators

VA Combined Rating Calculator

Updated Aug 3, 2026 By Jehan Wadia
Rate Formulas

1. Disability Ratings Non-Extremity

Examples: PTSD, depression, anxiety, TBI residuals.
Up to 40 characters. Does not affect the math.
Rating percentage for this condition

Your Conditions 0 added

2. Dependents

Dependent status only affects monthly payment amounts for combined ratings of 30% or higher.
Marital status
Dependent children under age 18
Dependent children ages 18–24 enrolled in school
Dependent parents
VA eligibility caps dependent parents at two.

3. Employability (TDIU)

Are your service-connected disabilities affecting your ability to work full time?
4. Your Results
Add your disability ratings above to see your results.
Calculated Rating
Exact whole-person value 0.00%
VA Paid Rating
After VA rounding rules 0%
Add a rating to see how the VA rounds your calculated value.
Combined rating meter0%
Estimated Monthly Compensation
2026 rates (2.8% COLA applied) $0.00
Estimated annual total: $0.00
Step-by-Step Solution
Combination Sequence
# Disability Rating Efficiency before Efficiency lost Efficiency after Running combined
VA Paid Rating
Rating vs. Running Combined
Monthly Payment Breakdown
VA Paid Rating0%
Monthly Payment$0.00

Introduction

The VA does not add your disability ratings together. If you have a 50% rating and a 30% rating, you do not get 80%. Instead, the VA "combines" them using a special formula. This VA Combined Rating Calculator does that math for you in seconds.

Enter each of your service-connected conditions and its rating. The calculator shows your exact combined rating, then rounds it to the nearest 10% the way the VA does. It also estimates your monthly VA disability payment using 2026 pay rates.

The tool handles the parts that trip people up:

  • The bilateral factor. If you have ratings on both arms or both legs, the VA adds an extra 10% to that group. The calculator applies this for you.
  • Dependents. A spouse, children, or dependent parents can raise your monthly check, but only if your combined rating is 30% or higher.
  • TDIU. If your conditions keep you from working full time, you may be paid at the 100% rate even with a lower rating.

You also get a step-by-step breakdown, so you can see how each rating changes the total. This helps you check your VA decision letter and understand what your rating really means. If you want to focus only on the combining formula itself, our VA Math Calculator walks through it rating by rating. These numbers are estimates for learning and planning, not an official VA decision.

How to use our VA Combined Rating Calculator

Enter each of your VA disability ratings, then add your dependents. The calculator shows your combined VA rating, your rounded VA paid rating, and your estimated monthly and yearly VA compensation.

Condition category: Pick the body part or type of condition. Choose Left Arm, Right Arm, Left Leg, or Right Leg for arm and leg conditions so the bilateral factor can be applied. Pick mental health, skin, respiratory, cancer, musculoskeletal, or other for all else.

Condition label: Type a short name like "tinnitus" or "low back pain" if you want. This is optional and does not change the math.

Rating percentage: Tap a percent button or drag the slider to match the rating the VA gave that one condition. Use whole 10% steps, from 10% to 100%.

Add Condition: Press this button to put the condition on your list. Repeat these steps for every rated condition you have.

Your Conditions: Check the list of what you added. Press the X to remove one, or press Clear All twice to start over. Green chips mean a bilateral pair was found.

Marital status: Choose Single or Married. This only changes your pay if your combined rating is 30% or more.

Spouse Aid & Attendance: If you are married, pick Yes when your spouse needs daily help from another person. Pick No if not.

Children under 18: Enter how many dependent children you have under age 18. Use the plus and minus buttons or the quick number buttons.

Children 18–24 in school: Enter how many dependent children ages 18 to 24 are still in school. If one of them plans to use transferred education benefits, the GI Bill Calculator estimates that support separately.

Dependent parents: Choose None, One, or Both. The VA allows up to two.

Employability (TDIU): Pick Yes if your service-connected conditions stop you from working full time. This may flag you for 100% pay through Individual Unemployability.

Calculate and Reset: Press Calculate to see your results, the step-by-step math, and the charts. Press Reset to clear every field and start fresh.

What Is a VA Combined Disability Rating?

When you have more than one service-connected disability, the VA does not add your ratings together. A 50% rating and a 30% rating do not make 80%. Instead, the VA uses a special method called VA math to find one combined rating. That combined rating decides how much money you get each month.

How VA Math Works

The VA starts by treating you as a 100% healthy person. Then it takes away each rating, one at a time, from highest to lowest. Each new rating only takes a bite out of the health you have left.

  1. You start at 100% efficient.
  2. A 50% rating takes 50 points. You have 50% left.
  3. A 30% rating takes 30% of that 50, which is 15 points. You have 35% left.
  4. Your combined rating is 100 − 35 = 65%.

This is why extra ratings are worth less and less as your total goes up. It also means you can never pass 100%. If you want to practice the underlying arithmetic on its own, a plain percentage calculator shows how each "bite" is taken from the remaining efficiency.

The VA Rounding Rule

The VA pays in steps of 10%. Your exact number gets rounded to the nearest 10. A 65% rounds up to 70%. A 64% rounds down to 60%. So a small rating can sometimes push you into a much higher pay level.

The Bilateral Factor

If you have disabilities in both arms or both legs, the VA gives you a small bonus. This is called the bilateral factor (38 CFR 4.26). The VA combines your paired arm or leg ratings first, then adds 10% of that number. The new total is then combined with your other ratings. This bonus exists because losing use of both sides of your body hurts your ability to work more than one side alone.

How Dependents Change Your Pay

Your combined rating sets your base payment. If your rating is 30% or higher, the VA adds money for family members:

  • A spouse
  • A spouse who needs Aid and Attendance
  • Children under 18
  • Children ages 18 to 24 who are in school
  • Up to two dependent parents

If your rating is 10% or 20%, you get the base rate only. Dependents do not add money at those levels. Because VA compensation is tax-free, it is worth adding your monthly award to a monthly budget calculator alongside any wages you still earn.

TDIU: Getting Paid at 100%

Some veterans cannot hold a steady job because of their service-connected conditions. Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) can pay you at the 100% rate even if your combined rating is lower. To qualify, you usually need one disability rated 60% or more, or a combined rating of 70% with one disability at 40% or more. A Veterans Service Officer (VSO) can help you apply.

Important Notes

These numbers are estimates based on 2026 VA pay rates, which reflect the annual cost-of-living adjustment. Your real award depends on your VA decision letter, your effective date, and any offsets such as military retired pay or severance pay. Always check your official VA rating decision for exact amounts.

Related Calculators for Veterans

Formulas used

Combined rating (whole-person formula)
R_{\text{combined}} = 100\% - 100\% \times \prod_{i=1}^{n}\left(1 - \frac{r_i}{100}\right)
Iterative remaining efficiency after each rating
E_{i} = E_{i-1} \times \left(1 - \frac{r_i}{100}\right), \quad E_0 = 100\%
Bilateral factor applied to paired extremities
R_{\text{bilateral}} = \min\left(100\%,\; R_{\text{pairCombined}} \times 1.10\right), \quad \text{added} = 0.10 \times R_{\text{pairCombined}}
VA paid rating (rounded to nearest 10%)
R_{\text{paid}} = \min\left(100,\; 10 \times \left\lfloor \frac{R_{\text{combined}}}{10} + 0.5 \right\rfloor\right)
Estimated monthly compensation with dependents
M = B_{R} + S_{R} + A_{R} + C^{1}_{R} + (n_{u18}-1)\,C_{R} + n_{sch}\,H_{R} + n_{par}\,P_{R}
Estimated annual compensation
A_{\text{annual}} = 12 \times M

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the Calculated Rating and the VA Paid Rating?

The Calculated Rating is the exact number from VA math, like 65.20%. The VA Paid Rating is that number rounded to the nearest 10%, which is what the VA actually pays you.

So a calculated 65.20% becomes a paid 70%. A calculated 64.00% becomes 60%.

Does the order I add my conditions in matter?

No. The final combined rating is the same no matter what order you enter them in.

The calculator still sorts your ratings from highest to lowest, because that is how the VA lists them on your decision letter. It makes the step-by-step math easier to compare.

Why did adding another 10% rating not change my monthly payment?

Because of rounding. A new rating may raise your exact number without pushing you into the next 10% step.

Example: 71% plus a 10% rating gives about 73.9%. Both round to 70%, so your pay stays the same. Veterans call this a "free" rating that adds no money.

How many ratings do I need to reach 100%?

It depends on the size of each rating. Small ratings take away less and less each time.

If all you had were 10% ratings, you would need about 29 of them to round up to 100%. Two 50% ratings only combine to 75%.

Does one arm and one leg count as a bilateral pair?

No. The bilateral factor only applies to matching pairs:

  • Left arm and right arm
  • Left leg and right leg

One arm plus one leg does not qualify. Neither does two conditions on the same leg by itself.

Do back, neck, or spine conditions get the bilateral factor?

No. The spine is not a paired limb, so pick Musculoskeletal (Non-Extremity) for back and neck conditions.

If a back problem causes nerve pain down both legs and each leg is rated on its own, then those leg ratings can pair up.

Should I enter my 0% ratings?

No. A 0% rating is service-connected but pays nothing and adds nothing to your combined rating.

Keep it in your records though. If that condition gets worse, the VA already agreed it came from your service.

Is VA disability compensation taxable?

No. VA disability pay is tax-free. You do not report it as income on your federal tax return, and states do not tax it either.

The amounts shown here are what you would actually receive, with no taxes taken out.

Does this calculator include Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)?

No, except for spouse Aid and Attendance. SMC is extra money for things like loss of a limb, loss of use, blindness, or needing daily help yourself.

If you think you qualify for SMC, your real payment could be higher than the estimate here. Ask a VSO to review your case.

Why is my real VA check different from this estimate?

A few common reasons:

  • You get SMC or another special add-on
  • The VA has not added your dependents yet
  • Your award started mid-month
  • Money is withheld for a debt or an overpayment
  • You waived part of your military retired pay

Your VA decision letter always wins.

When do VA pay rates go up?

Rates change every December 1 with the yearly cost-of-living adjustment, and you see the new amount in your January payment.

This tool uses 2026 rates with the 2.8% COLA already applied.

Do I have to tell the VA about a new spouse or baby?

Yes. The VA does not add dependents on its own. You must file a claim for dependents (VA Form 21-686c) or add them online.

Do it within one year of the marriage or birth so you get back pay to that date.

When does a child stop counting as a dependent?

At age 18, unless the child is in an approved school. Then payments can continue to age 23.

A child who became permanently disabled before turning 18 can stay a dependent for life. School children pay a different, higher amount than children under 18.

How much does TDIU pay?

TDIU pays the same as a 100% rating, plus dependent amounts. Your combined rating stays where it is, but your check goes to the 100% level.

This tool only flags that you may qualify. Set your rating to 100% to see the pay amount, and talk to a VSO before you file.

Can I still work with a 100% rating?

Yes, if your 100% comes from your combined rating. There is no work limit.

TDIU is different. It is based on not being able to hold steady work, so earning above a certain level can put those payments at risk.

What does "efficiency lost" mean in the table?

The VA starts you at 100% efficient, meaning a whole healthy person. Each rating takes a bite out of what is left.

"Efficiency lost" is the size of that bite in points. The later a rating comes in line, the smaller its bite, which is why your last rating adds the least.

Can rounding ever help me?

Yes. Anything ending in .5 or higher rounds up. A calculated 45% becomes a paid 50%, and a 95% becomes 100%.

That is why one small extra rating can sometimes jump you a whole pay level and add hundreds of dollars a month.

Is my information saved?

No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is stored or sent anywhere. Refresh the page and it resets.

Write down your results if you want to keep them.

Can I use this to check my VA decision letter?

Yes, and it is a smart use of the tool. Enter every rating exactly as the letter lists it, plus your dependents.

If your number does not match the VA's, look at the bilateral factor and the rounding step first. If it still looks off, ask a VSO to review it.

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