Calculate Your Combined VA Rating & Pay
Calculate your combined VA disability rating using real VA Math (38 CFR 4.25), the bilateral factor, dependents, and 2026 pay rates. Free, private, and works right here in your browser.
Your Disabilities
0 conditionsNo conditions yet. Add your first rating above.
Dependents
Spouse
Adds pay at 30%+ rating
Children under 18
Dependent minor children
Children in school (18–23)
Qualifying school program
Dependent parents
Financially dependent (max 2)
Combined Rating
Est. Monthly Pay (2026)
$0
Est. Annual Pay
$0
VA Math Breakdown
Add conditions to see the step-by-step calculation.
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How the VA Disability Calculator Works
This free calculator estimates your combined VA disability rating and 2026 monthly compensation. Enter each service-connected condition with its individual rating (10% through 100%), mark paired conditions as bilateral, and add your dependents. The tool applies VA Math (38 CFR 4.25) to combine the ratings, adds the bilateral factor (38 CFR 4.26) when applicable, looks up your pay from the official 2026 rate tables, and shows whether you meet P&T or SMC criteria.
Understanding VA Math (38 CFR 4.25)
VA Math is the official method the Department of Veterans Affairs uses to combine multiple disability ratings into a single "combined" percentage. It is not simple addition because a person cannot be more than 100% disabled. Instead, each rating is applied to the remaining "whole person" efficiency.
For example, a 50% rating and a 30% rating do not add to 80%. The 50% is applied first, leaving 50% efficiency. The 30% is then applied to that remaining 50% — which is 15 percentage points — for a combined raw value of 65%. VA rounds to the nearest 10%, so 65% becomes 70%. Our calculator shows every one of these steps so you can see exactly how your rating is built.
The Bilateral Factor (38 CFR 4.26)
When you have disabilities on opposite sides of your body — such as a left knee and a right knee, or bilateral shoulder conditions — VA applies a 10% "bilateral factor" bonus. The paired ratings are combined together first, then 10% of that combined value is added before folding everything into your overall rating. This rewards veterans whose service-connected conditions affect both sides of the body. Mark any two or more conditions as bilateral pairs and the calculator applies the factor automatically.
P&T and Special Monthly Compensation
Permanent and Total (P&T) status is generally granted when your combined rating is 100%, or when your combined rating is 70% or higher with at least one individual disability rated 60% or more. P&T locks in your benefits and extends education and health-care eligibility to your dependents.
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) is additional tax-free pay for severe losses or the need for aid and attendance. A combined rating of 100%, or any single disability rated 100%, typically triggers an SMC review. Full SMC tier math is available in the mobile app.
Assumptions & Disclaimer
Results are educational estimates based on the 2026 VA compensation rate tables (2.8% COLA, effective December 1, 2025) and standard VA Math. They assume your individual ratings are already determined. Actual combined ratings, effective dates, and payments are set by the VA and may differ. This tool is not affiliated with the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Educational estimates only — results may vary from official VA determinations.
2026 VA Disability Pay Rates
Monthly compensation effective December 1, 2025 (2.8% cost-of-living adjustment). Amounts are tax-free.
| Combined Rating | Veteran Alone | With Spouse | With 1 Child | Spouse & 1 Child |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $180.42 | $180.42 | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $356.66 | $356.66 | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $596.47 | $666.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $853.84 | $947.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $1,205.90 | $1,322.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $1,523.02 | $1,663.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $1,910.45 | $2,074.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $2,219.15 | $2,406.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $2,494.30 | $2,704.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $4,085.43 | $4,318.99 |
Additional Monthly Amounts (30% and higher)
Added to the base rate above for these dependent situations.
| Additional Dependents | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Each additional child under 18 | $32.00 | $43.00 | $54.00 | $65.00 | $76.00 | $87.00 | $98.00 | $109.11 |
| Each child in school (age 18–23) | $105.00 | $140.00 | $176.00 | $211.00 | $246.00 | $281.00 | $317.00 | $352.45 |
| Spouse receiving Aid & Attendance | $61.00 | $81.00 | $101.00 | $121.00 | $141.00 | $161.00 | $181.00 | $201.41 |
| Each dependent parent | $52.00 | $70.00 | $88.00 | $105.00 | $123.00 | $140.00 | $158.00 | $176.24 |
How to Calculate Your Combined VA Rating (Step by Step)
- List each service-connected condition. Write down every condition the VA has rated, with its individual disability percentage (10% through 100%).
- Sort ratings highest to lowest. Order the percentages from largest to smallest. VA Math always applies the biggest rating first.
- Apply each rating to remaining efficiency. Start at 100% "whole person" efficiency. Apply the highest rating, then apply the next rating to whatever efficiency remains (100% minus what is already taken), and repeat for every condition.
- Add the bilateral factor. If you have paired conditions on both sides of your body (for example a left and right knee), combine those paired ratings together and add 10% of that combined value before folding it into your overall rating.
- Round to the nearest 10%. Take the combined raw value and round to the nearest 10%. That rounded number is your combined VA disability rating.
- Look up your 2026 pay. Use your combined rating and dependent status (spouse, children, parents) to find your monthly compensation in the official 2026 VA rate table.