The VA runs the whole person calculation to produce a raw combined percentage, then rounds that number once, at the very end, to the nearest 10%. Everything about which check you receive comes down to which side of a rounding line your raw number falls on.
The Complete Rounding Chart
| Raw combined | Rounded rating | 2026 monthly, veteran alone |
|---|---|---|
| 0 - 4 | 0% | $0.00 |
| 5 - 14 | 10% | $180.42 |
| 15 - 24 | 20% | $356.66 |
| 25 - 34 | 30% | $552.47 |
| 35 - 44 | 40% | $795.84 |
| 45 - 54 | 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 55 - 64 | 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 65 - 74 | 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 75 - 84 | 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 85 - 94 | 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 95 - 100 | 100% | $3,938.58 |
Rounding Happens Once, at the End
This trips up veterans who try to check the VA's work. You do not round after each condition. You combine every condition, apply the bilateral factor if it applies, and only then round the final raw number. Rounding intermediate steps inflates the result and produces an answer that will not match your decision letter.
Why 94% Does Not Become 100%
A raw combined of 94 sits at the top of the 85 to 94 band, so it rounds to 90%. You need 95 raw to reach a 100% schedular rating. One raw point separates $2,362.30 from $3,938.58, a difference of $1,576.28 per month, or $18,915.36 per year.
This is the hardest gap in the entire system, and it is a structural feature of the math rather than a policy choice. At 94 raw you have only 6% efficiency left. A brand new 50% rating applied to that remainder adds only 3 raw points, taking you to 97 raw. A new 30% rating adds 1.8 and takes you to 95.8. So the jump is reachable, but only with a substantial new grant.
For most veterans stuck in the high 80s and low 90s, TDIU is the more realistic route to being paid at the 100% rate. Check TDIU eligibility →
The Bands Are Not Symmetrical in Value
Look at what each ten point step is actually worth in 2026:
| Step | Monthly increase |
|---|---|
| 30% to 40% | $243.37 |
| 50% to 60% | $302.12 |
| 70% to 80% | $293.70 |
| 80% to 90% | $260.15 |
| 90% to 100% | $1,576.28 |
Every step is worth roughly $250 to $300 until the last one, which is worth more than five times as much. That asymmetry should drive how you prioritize claims.
How to Use Your Raw Number Strategically
Knowing your raw combined tells you two things a rounded rating never will: how much cushion you have above your current tier, and how far you are from the next one.
- At 76 raw (80% rating) you are 9 points from 90%. From a 24% remainder, that would take a new rating of roughly 38% or higher. A 40% grant gets you there.
- At 83 raw (80% rating) you are only 2 points from 90%. From a 17% remainder, a 10% grant adds 1.7 and a 20% grant adds 3.4. One small claim moves your tier.
- At 85 raw (90% rating) you just cleared the line. A new 10% condition adds 1.5 raw and changes nothing about your check.
Two veterans both rated 80% can be in completely different positions. The calculator on this site shows your raw combined alongside your rounded rating for exactly this reason.
Calculate your raw combined rating →