Why your VA ratings don’t add up (§4.25)
A 50% and a 30% rating is not 80%. The VA combines ratings under Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the federal rules that govern VA benefits, including the rating schedule (Part 4) and service-connection rules (Part 3). §4.25 , each new disability only applies to the efficiency you have left, not the whole 100%.
Tap any underlined term for a plain-English definition.
How the combined-ratings rule works
Ratings are combined highest-to-lowest. Each disability is applied to the remaining non-disabled efficiency, then the final value is rounded to the nearest 10%.
Worked example
Take ratings of 50%, 30%, 20%:
- Start at 50% efficiency lost.
- The 30% applies to the remaining 50%, then the 20% applies to what’s left.
- That gives 72% before rounding, which rounds to 70% , not 100%.
Calculate your real Your overall disability percentage. Ratings don't simply add. The VA combines them so each new one applies only to your remaining ability (§4.25), then rounds to the nearest 10%.
Our free calculator runs the exact §4.25 math (plus the §4.26 A 10% bonus the VA adds (§4.26) when you have disabilities affecting BOTH arms or BOTH legs, because losing function on both sides is more limiting than on one. and dependent add-ons most calculators skip). No signup.
Open the free rating calculator →Unsure which conditions you can claim? Browse secondary conditions by primary.
Informational only and not a guarantee of any rating or payment. All figures are estimates; the VA makes the final decision. This is not medical, legal, or financial advice.