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VA Disability Calculator

Find your combined VA disability rating from your individual ratings, and estimate your monthly compensation with the current VA rate tables.

Results

ItemValue

Combining steps

StepRating addedCombined value
Uses VA’s combined ratings method and 2026 compensation rates effective December 1, 2025, from VA.gov. Rates usually change each December with the cost-of-living adjustment. It does not include the bilateral factor, special monthly compensation or other special cases. Your official rating and payment come from VA.

Quick Answer

VA does not add ratings together. It combines them from highest to lowest using the 'whole person' method, then rounds to the nearest 10%. 50% and 30% combine to 65, which rounds to 70%. Adding a 10% rating gives 69, still 70%.

Last updated: 2 November 2026 ·How we calculate this: VA's combined ratings method and current rate tables

Table of Contents

How This VA Disability Calculator Works

Choose each of your individual disability ratings. The calculator sorts them from highest to lowest and combines them one at a time, the same way VA's combined ratings table does. It rounds the final value to the nearest 10% to give your combined rating. Then it looks up your monthly payment in VA's current rate tables, based on your rating and dependents.

Quick explanation: each new rating applies only to the part of you that is still "able-bodied."

  • Two 10% ratings: combine to 19, which rounds to 20%.
  • 10% and 20% ratings: pay the same with or without dependents.
  • 30% and above: payments rise with a spouse, children or dependent parents.

How to Use the VA Disability Calculator

  1. Choose each disability rating from your VA decision. Leave unused ones at 0%.
  2. Choose whether you have a dependent spouse, and whether your spouse gets Aid and Attendance.
  3. Choose the number of dependent parents.
  4. Enter children under 18 and children 18 to 23 in school.
  5. Press Calculate to see your combined rating, monthly payment and the combining steps.

Core Formulas

  • Combine two values: new value = current value + rating × (100 − current value) ÷ 100, rounded to a whole number
  • Order: start with the highest rating, then add the next highest
  • Final rating: round the combined value to the nearest 10. Values ending in 5 to 9 round up
  • Monthly pay: basic rate for your rating and dependents + added amounts for extra children or Aid and Attendance

Key Terms

  • Combined rating: the single rating VA gives after combining all your service-connected disabilities.
  • Whole person theory: VA's idea that each rating applies to the remaining able-bodied part of a person.
  • Bilateral factor: an extra 10% of the combined value of paired limb disabilities, added before final rounding.
  • Aid and Attendance: an added payment when a spouse needs help with daily activities.
  • COLA: cost-of-living adjustment, which VA matches to Social Security each year.

Worked Example

This is VA's own example: ratings of 50%, 30% and 10%.

  • 50% and 30%: 50 + 30 × 50 ÷ 100 = 65
  • 65 and 10%: 65 + 10 × 35 ÷ 100 = 68.5, which the table shows as 69
  • 69 rounds to a combined rating of 70%

Real-Life Examples

  • A new rating: 40% and 20% combine to 52, which is 50%.
  • Adding a condition: going from 70% to 70% plus 20% gives 76, or 80%.
  • A family: at 70% with a spouse who gets Aid and Attendance and 3 children under 18, VA's example payment is $2,367.45 a month.
  • Many small ratings: four 10% ratings combine to 34, or 30%, not 40%.

Combined Rating vs Adding Ratings

  • Adding: 50% + 30% would be 80%, but VA does not do this.
  • Combining: VA applies each rating to the remaining able-bodied part, so 50% and 30% make 65, rounded to 70%.
  • Why: a person cannot be more than 100% disabled, so ratings must be combined, not added.

2026 Monthly Rates (Veteran Alone)

Source: VA.gov. Rates for Veterans with dependents are higher from 30% up.

RatingMonthly payment
10%$180.42
20%$356.66
30%$552.47
40%$795.84
50%$1,132.90
60%$1,435.02
70%$1,808.45
80%$2,102.15
90%$2,362.30
100%$3,938.58

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Adding ratings together. VA combines them, which gives a lower number.
  • Rounding at each step. Only the final combined value is rounded to the nearest 10.
  • Expecting more for dependents at 10% or 20%. Those rates do not change with dependents.
  • Using old rates. Rates change each December with the cost-of-living adjustment.
  • Forgetting the bilateral factor. Disabilities on both arms or legs can add a little, which this tool does not include.

Frequently Asked Questions

It sorts your ratings from highest to lowest and combines them with its combined ratings table, then rounds to the nearest 10%.

65, which rounds to 70%.

VA uses the whole person method. Each rating applies only to what remains, so the total is lower than a simple sum.

$3,938.58 a month for a Veteran with no dependents, at rates effective December 1, 2025.

$1,808.45 a month for a Veteran alone, and more with dependents.

Yes, at combined ratings of 30% or higher.

Usually each December 1, with the same cost-of-living adjustment as Social Security.

When you have disabilities on both arms or both legs, VA adds 10% of their combined value. This calculator does not include it.

They do not change the combined rating, but they still show service connection.

No. VA disability compensation is not taxable income.

Extra payments for certain severe disabilities, such as loss of a limb. They are not included here.

No. Only VA can assign your rating and payment.

References & Sources

SourceUsed ForLink
VA.gov, About disability ratings The combined ratings method and VA's 50%, 30% and 10% example. https://www.va.gov/disability/about-disability-ratings/
VA.gov, Current Veterans disability compensation rates Monthly rates effective December 1, 2025. https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/