VA Disability Calculator 2024 (New)

The VA Disability Calculator and Disability Ratings: What You Need to Know

When it comes to calculating disability ratings for service-connected compensation claims, the VA takes a unique approach. Rather than adding whole numbers together, they work with percentages of percentages. Picture it like this: if you’re rated 10% disabled, the VA considers you 90% healthy. The next rating then becomes a percentage of that “healthy” 90%. For example, if a veteran has two 10% ratings, the first 10% rating would be 10% of 100, resulting in 10%. The second 10% rating is 10% of the remaining 90%, equating to 9%. Thus, the combined rating amounts to 19%. These percentages are rounded to the nearest ten percent, making the final rating 20%.

While this combined rating system works well for lower percentages, it becomes more challenging for veterans nearing 100%. It becomes increasingly difficult to achieve a higher rating, especially once a veteran crosses the 50% mark. Consider this: if a veteran has ratings of 50% for PTSD, 50% for Sleep Apnea, 20% for diabetes, and 20% for a back problem, the combined rating is 80%. So, despite the sum of 50+50+20+20 equaling 140 in “real math,” it amounts to just 80 in VA math.

The implications in terms of compensation are significant. According to the VA compensation rating table, a veteran with no dependents rated at 80% would receive $1,877.43 per month. In contrast, a single veteran rated at 100% would receive $3,456.30 per month. This means a veteran rated at 100%, which is only 20% greater than the 80% rating, gets nearly 100% more money each month!

If you have more questions please see our 20 Most Asked Questions about the VA Calculator. 

Understanding the intricacies of the VA’s rating system is crucial for veterans seeking the compensation they deserve.