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Veterans dealing with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) often get lost in "VA Math." This odd calculations mixes up service-linked hurt scores in a way that doesn't line up with what vets think will come out. Now, with new cost-of-living changes set for 2025, knowing the VA Combined Rating Table is key for your present and future.
The VA sets disability ratings to decide the right benefits and money you should get. If your rating is wrong, you might lose out on a lot of cash every year. That's why it's key to know how your combined rating works.
Understand the Disability Ratings
Your disability rating tells how much a service-related damage or sickness impacts your life. Ratings range from 0% to 100%, going up by 10%. The higher the rate, the more heavy the disability.
The VA checks how your health issues stop you from working well and doing daily tasks. They start by thinking you're 100% able. Each health problem cuts down this ability. The VA uses the Combined Rating Table to work out your socre when you have many disabilities.
How does the table work?
The VA Combined Rating Table helps the Department of Veterans Affairs set a veteran's full hurt score when they have more than one service-linked health issue. It does not just add scores. It uses a scale that cuts down the score for how "able" the vet still is.
In simple , if someone starts at 100% able and has a 60% hurt score, they are 40% able after that. The next score is put on the 40%, not the full 100%. This "whole person" idea shows how hurts add up, not just pile.
- Begin with your worst hurt score. Like, if you have a 60% score, you take it from 100% and see 40% left.
- Add More Scores: Imagine the next score is 30%. Take 30% of the 40% left, which is 12%. Add that to your first 60%, and you get 72%.
- Use the Table: You use the VA Table to see that 60% and 30% make 72%.
- Round Off: All final scores round to the nearest 10%. A 72% rating goes down to 70%; if it were 75%, it would go up to 80%.
- Keep Going if Needed: If there are more scores, keep fitting each new one to what's left from before. Don't round until you've worked in all the scores.
When a vet has hurts on matching limbs-like both knees-the VA throws in an extra 10% to their score for those hurts before adding up with other scores. This bonus nods to the extra trouble of having hurts on both sides
Why is it very important?
The VA score matters a lot to how much money you get each month. A small change in your score can mean a lot more cash each month. In 2025, these amounts are up because of price rises, making it even more vital to get it right.
Say a vet has these scores:
- 60% for a back hurt
- 30% for PTSD
- 20% for hearing loss
Add it using VA Math:
- Start with 60%, leaving 40% still able.
- 30% of 40% = 12%. Add to 60% to get 72%.
- 20% of the left 28% = 5.6%. Add to 72% to get 77.6%.
- This rounds up to 80%.
This plan is set by 38 CFR §4.25 and §4.26, laying out the steps for adding scores and the bilateral factor. The VA also has a free PDF of the combined ratings table, and some online tools can do these steps fast.
"VA Math" may feel hard, seeing how the combined rating system works is a must for any vet who wants fair pay. From seeing how hurts mix to using the bilateral factor and rounding rules, being good at this makes sure vets get what they deserve.
As always, vets should talk to a VA related person to make sure their scores are right and fair.