VA Combined Rating Calculator 2026
Enter your ratings. Get your real combined percentage and 2026 monthly pay — instantly.
VA combined ratings are calculated using a non-additive method that determines a veteran's overall degree of disability. Because standard addition doesn't apply (e.g., 50% and 30% combine to 70%, not 80%), this "VA math" frequently confuses veterans trying to estimate their benefits. Our calculator dynamically combines your individual ratings, applies bilateral factors, and references the exact 2026 pay tables automatically.
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VA Disability Ratings by Condition: 2026 Guide
Select a condition below to view typical VA ratings, criteria, and claims requirements.
PTSD
PTSD is rated 10% to 100% based on occupational and social impairment. It is one of the most commonly claimed VA disabilities.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea is rated 30% or 50% depending on the requirement of a CPAP machine or other breathing assistance device.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is rated at a maximum of 10% for persistent ringing in the ears, regardless of whether it affects one or both ears.
Back Pain
Back pain ratings range from 10% to 20% for mechanical issues, primarily evaluated by range of motion limitations.
Knee Pain
Knee pain is commonly rated between 10% and 30% based on flexion/extension limitations, instability, or joint resurfacing.
Depression
Depression is evaluated under the general mental health criteria from 10% to 100% depending on social and occupational impairment.
Anxiety
Anxiety is rated under mental health criteria from 10% to 100%, focusing on cognitive and behavioral impacts on daily functioning.
Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can range from 0% to 100% based on speech discrimination scores and puretone decibel thresholds.
VA Combined Rating Scenarios: Common Calculations
Click a scenario to instantly load these ratings into the calculator above.
Secondary VA Disability Conditions: What You Can Claim
Many conditions are compensable as secondary to existing primary service-connected disabilities.
2026 VA Disability Pay Rates by Rating
The VA increased compensation rates by 2.8% effective December 1, 2025 (2026 COLA). Rates below are for veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 10% or higher. Dependents increase pay at 30% rating and above.
| Rating Tier | Veteran Alone (Single) | Veteran with Spouse |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $175 | $175 |
| 30% | $508 | $569 |
| 50% | $1,149 | $1,256 |
| 70% | $1,663 | $1,810 |
| 100% | $3,938 | $4,183 |
State VA Benefits for Disabled Veterans
VA Combined Rating FAQ
The VA does not use standard addition. Instead, ratings are combined using the whole person method. This means each rating reduces the remaining "healthy percentage" of your body. For example, if you have a 50% rating, you are considered 50% disabled and 50% healthy. A subsequent 30% rating is applied to the remaining 50% healthy portion (30% of 50 = 15%), bringing your combined total to 65%, which rounds to 70%.
VA Math is the system outlined in 38 CFR 4.25 to calculate combined disability ratings. The formula orders all ratings from highest to lowest, applying each rating percentage sequentially to what remains of the veteran's efficiency. The final calculated total is then rounded to the nearest 10% increment.
To calculate the VA combined rating, sort all individual ratings from highest to lowest. Calculate the remaining efficiency of the body (starting at 100%) and apply each rating sequentially to the remainder. The total disability percentage is 100 minus the final remaining efficiency. Lastly, round this final combined percentage to the nearest 10% increment (.5% and above rounds up, .4% and below rounds down).
The bilateral factor is an additional 10% boost added when a veteran has service-connected conditions affecting paired extremities (like both legs, both arms, or paired joints on opposite sides of the body). All bilateral ratings are combined first, then a 10% boost of that combined value is added, and this combined bilateral rating is then factored into the final calculation alongside non-bilateral ratings.
Under the updated 2026 rates incorporating the 2.8% COLA adjustment, a veteran rated 100% disabled receives a base rate of $3,938 per month. If the veteran has a spouse, the payment increases to $4,183 per month. Additional pay is available for children, dependent parents, and Aid & Attendance needs.
