Question 1

How does the VA calculate a combined disability rating?

Accepted Answer

The VA calculates combined disability ratings using the whole person method defined in 38 CFR 4.25. This method does not add individual ratings together. Instead, it treats the veteran as starting at 100% functional efficiency and applies each disability rating to the remaining healthy percentage. The highest-rated condition is applied first, reducing the remaining efficiency. Each subsequent condition is then applied to what remains, not the original 100%. After all conditions are applied, any applicable bilateral factor is added for paired-extremity disabilities, and the final raw combined percentage is rounded to the nearest 10% to determine the official rating and monthly compensation tier. This method consistently produces results lower than simple addition, which is why many veterans are surprised by their combined rating.

Question 2

Why do two 50% ratings not add up to 100%?

Accepted Answer

Two 50% ratings do not add up to 100% because the VA uses the whole person method rather than simple addition. When a veteran has a 50% rating, the VA considers 50% of their functional capacity to be disabled. The remaining 50% is still considered healthy. The second 50% rating applies only to that remaining 50%, taking half of it. That adds 25% to the running total. The combined result is 75%, which rounds to 80% under the nearest-10% rounding rule. Simple addition would produce 100%, which the VA's formula prevents because each additional condition can only reduce what has not already been claimed as disabled. This mathematical approach means that reaching a 100% combined schedular rating through multiple conditions requires many high-rated disabilities working together.

Question 3

What is the bilateral factor and when does it apply?

Accepted Answer

The bilateral factor is an adjustment defined in 38 CFR 4.26 that applies when a veteran has service-connected disabilities affecting both upper extremities or both lower extremities. Upper extremities include conditions from the shoulders down to the hands on both sides. Lower extremities include conditions from the hips down to the feet on both sides. When the bilateral factor applies, the VA first combines the paired conditions using standard VA math, then multiplies that combined value by 10% and adds the result back to the bilateral subtotal. That adjusted subtotal is then incorporated into the overall combined rating calculation. The bilateral factor does not create a separate payment line but can push a combined rating across a rounding threshold, increasing monthly compensation. The two conditions do not need to involve the same joint or the same diagnosis, only the same extremity group.

Question 4

Is VA disability compensation taxable income?

Accepted Answer

No. VA disability compensation is not taxable income at the federal level. Veterans do not report their VA disability payments on their federal tax returns and do not pay federal income tax on those payments. This treatment is established by federal law and applies regardless of the dollar amount received. Most states also exempt VA disability compensation from state income tax, though state tax laws vary and veterans should verify their specific state's rules. The tax-free nature of VA disability compensation means its purchasing power is effectively higher than equivalent taxable earned income. A veteran receiving $3,938.58 per month in VA disability compensation at the 100% rate would need approximately $5,100 to $5,400 per month in pre-tax earned income to receive the same after-tax amount, depending on their tax bracket.

Question 5

What does TDIU mean and how does it affect my monthly payment?

Accepted Answer

TDIU stands for Total Disability Individual Unemployability. It is a VA benefit that pays veterans at the 100% disability compensation rate even when their combined schedular rating is below 100%. TDIU is available when service-connected disabilities prevent a veteran from maintaining substantially gainful employment, meaning work that pays above the federal poverty threshold. Under 38 CFR 4.16(a), veterans qualify for TDIU if they have a single service-connected condition rated at 60% or higher, or a combined rating of 70% or higher with at least one condition rated at 40% or higher. In 2026, TDIU pays $3,938.58 per month with no dependents, the same rate as a 100% schedular rating. Veterans at 70% or 80% who cannot work due to their service-connected conditions may be eligible for more than $1,500 additional per month through a successful TDIU claim.

Question 6

How often does the VA reassess or reduce a disability rating?

Accepted Answer

The VA can schedule a future examination, called a re-examination, if it believes a condition may have improved. However, there are regulatory protections against reductions. A rating cannot be reduced without a full examination showing material improvement under ordinary conditions of life. A rating that has been continuously in place for 5 or more years requires evidence of sustained improvement across multiple examinations before a reduction can proceed. A rating held for 20 or more continuous years is considered protected and cannot be reduced below that level absent a finding of fraud under 38 CFR 3.951(b). Veterans whose conditions are unlikely to improve can also seek a Permanent and Total designation, which protects the rating from future re-examination. Veterans should never voluntarily stop treating a service-connected condition, as treatment records are part of what the VA reviews during any re-examination.

Question 7

Can I add a new condition to an existing VA disability claim?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Veterans can add new service-connected conditions to an existing claim at any time. This is done through a supplemental claim, a new claim, or by filing for secondary service connection if the new condition is caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability. There is no limit to the number of conditions that can be service-connected, and adding a new condition does not affect existing ratings. The effective date for a new condition is generally the date the VA receives the claim, which is why filing promptly matters. Veterans who believe a new condition is connected to their military service or to an existing rated condition should file immediately rather than waiting. A VA-accredited attorney or Veterans Service Officer can help identify conditions worth claiming and build the medical evidence needed to support a new claim.

Rating	Veteran alone	With spouse
30%	$552.47	$617.47
50%	$1,132.90	$1,241.90
70%	$1,808.45	$1,961.45
100%	$3,938.58	$4,158.17

Condition	DC	Tiers	Notes
PTSD	9411	0% / 10% / 30% / 50% / 70% / 100%	Rated under General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. 70% is the most common rating for combat-related PTSD.
Major Depressive Disorder	9434	0% / 10% / 30% / 50% / 70% / 100%	Same mental-disorder formula as PTSD. Only one mental-health rating is assigned even with multiple diagnoses.
Anxiety Disorder	9400	0% / 10% / 30% / 50% / 70% / 100%	Includes generalized anxiety and panic disorder. Combined with other mental conditions into a single rating.
Tinnitus	6260	10%	Capped at 10% — same rating whether unilateral or bilateral. The most-claimed VA disability.
Hearing Loss	6100	0% / 10% / 20% / 30% / 40% / 50% / 60% / 70% / 80% / 90% / 100%	Rated using Maryland CNC speech and puretone thresholds. Most veterans rate 0–10% even with significant loss.
Sleep Apnea	6847	0% / 30% / 50% / 100%	50% rating with prescribed CPAP. Requires polysomnography (sleep study) for diagnosis.
Asthma	6602	10% / 30% / 60% / 100%	Rated by FEV-1 / FEV-1/FVC ratios and need for inhalational/oral medication.
Sinusitis	6513	0% / 10% / 30% / 50%	Rated by frequency of incapacitating episodes per year requiring antibiotics.

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How VA Combined Ratings Work

The Whole Person Method

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The Rounding Threshold

The Bilateral Factor

Why This Matters

2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates

Common VA Disability Conditions

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