This Isn’t Your Mother’s Arithmetic
The Gist:
VA math is not normal math. If you’ve got multiple service-connected disabilities and you’re wondering why your rating doesn’t add up the way you think it should — you’re not alone.
Click here to use the VA’s Combined Disability Rating Calculator
The VA uses something called the “whole person” method to combine ratings. It’s a formula that always rounds down and usually works out in the VA’s favor.
Here’s what it means, how it works, and what you can do about it.
What Most Veterans Get Wrong
Let’s say you’re rated:
- 50% for PTSD
- 30% for a back injury
- 10% for tinnitus
Most people assume: 50 + 30 + 10 = 90%
But the VA says: Nope. That’s 68.5% — which rounds down to 60%.
Yeah. It’s like that.
Why? Because of the “Whole Person” Rule
The VA starts from the idea that you’re a 100% whole, healthy person. Every rating you have is subtracted from whatever percentage of you is still “unaffected.”
They don’t stack your ratings — they shrink your remaining “healthy” percentage each time.
Step-by-Step Example
- Start with 100%
- Subtract 50% (PTSD) → 50% remains
- Apply 30% of the 50% = 15% more → total so far: 65%
- Apply 10% of the remaining 35% = 3.5% → total: 68.5%
Then the VA rounds that down to 60%.
Rules to Remember
- The VA always starts with your highest rating first
- Each additional condition applies to what’s left of the “whole person”
- The final number is rounded to the nearest 10%:
- 74.9% and below → 70%
- 75.0% and above → 80%
Legal Reference:
– The math behind this is laid out in 38 CFR § 4.25 (Combined Ratings Table)
– If you’ve got disabilities in both arms, both legs, or paired organs, § 4.26 (Bilateral Factor) explains how they factor in an extra percentage before combining.
This is why veterans with multiple moderate ratings often don’t break through to 100% — even when it feels like they should.
Combined Ratings Chart (Quick Look)
| First Rating | Second Rating | Combined Total | Rounded Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50% | 30% | 65% | 60% |
| 70% | 20% | 76% | 80% |
| 80% | 40% | 88% | 90% |
Use the VA’s Official Combined Rating Calculator
Why You’re Probably Not at 100%
Even when your body feels 100% broken, VA math might put you at 60%, 70%, or 90%.
That’s not a reflection of how disabled you are — it’s a flaw in the math and the system.
If your combined rating isn’t high enough to reflect your reality, here’s what you can do:
- Look for secondary conditions the VA missed (like sleep apnea caused by PTSD)
- Consider whether you qualify for TDIU (Unemployability)
- Heads up: Even if you don’t meet the usual rating percentages, you might still qualify under § 4.16(b) if your service-connected conditions keep you from working.
- File for an increase if your conditions have worsened
- Appeal if the VA’s math or logic doesn’t make sense
That Last 10% Is the Hardest You’ll Ever Fight For
If you’re sitting at 90%, you’re not alone — and you’re not crazy for feeling stuck. Getting that last 10% to reach 100% is one of the hardest fights in the VA system.
Here’s why:
- You’d need to add at least another 50% rating — or multiple high ratings — just to break 95%
- Even a 40% rating added to 90% only brings you to 94%, which still rounds down
Real Talk: If you’re at 90%, you’re going to need either a very high new rating, multiple secondary conditions, or a TDIU claim to break through to 100%.
And yes — that last 10% will be the hardest 10% you ever fight for.
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