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Honest by design

Transparency

We hold ourselves to a simple standard: show our work, name our sources, and never claim more than we can back up. This page lays out exactly how our estimates are produced, where the rating logic comes from, what aggregate context we can responsibly share, and — just as important — what we do not promise.

How our estimates work

Every rating number you see here is an estimate built from the official VA rules in 38 CFR Part 4 — the combined-ratings method in §4.25, the §4.26 bilateral factor, and rounding to the nearest 10. We walk through the full method, with a worked example computed by the same engine the calculator runs, on our methodology page so we never duplicate or drift from it.

Read the full methodology, with a worked example →

Data sources & regulatory basis

Our rating logic is not our opinion — it implements published federal regulations. Here is where each piece comes from:

VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD)
Condition criteria and diagnostic codes follow the VASRD in 38 CFR Part 4, the schedule the VA itself uses to evaluate disabilities.
Combined-ratings rule — 38 CFR §4.25
When you have more than one rated condition, we combine them using the official §4.25 combined-ratings table — not simple addition — then round to the nearest 10.
Bilateral factor — 38 CFR §4.26
When compensable conditions affect both arms or both legs, we apply the §4.26 bilateral factor before combining the rest, exactly as the VA does.
Annual compensation rates
Monthly compensation figures use the VA's published rate tables for the current year, including dependent adjustments.

We review these sources against the current published regulations and rate tables and update them when the VA does.

Aggregate outcome context

As we gather consented outcomes from veterans who choose to share them, we'll publish de-identified aggregate context here. We will only show numbers once a group is large enough that no individual can be identified — and we will never publish a success rate or an approval claim.

Any numbers shown are de-identified aggregates with small groups suppressed (a minimum group size). We never show row-level data, individual claims, or personal health information.

What we do not promise

These are estimates only. They are not a promise of any rating, payment, or approval, and we make no claim about your odds of success. The VA evaluates your actual evidence and makes the final decision — your real outcome may differ.

VA Disability Pro is an independent technology platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. We are not an accredited representative, attorney, or VSO, and nothing here is legal or medical advice. All ratings and payments shown are estimates, not guarantees — the VA makes all final decisions.