Understanding how the VA calculates your combined disability rating can be confusing. Today, I’m going to explain how to read the VA combined ratings table so you can better understand how your total disability percentage is determined. The VA doesn’t simply add your individual disability percentages together. Instead, they use a combined ratings table that accounts for the fact that each additional disability affects your overall health differently. Here’s how it work.
You start with your highest disability rating. Let’s say you have a 60% rating for one condition. You then combine this with your next highest rating, for example, 20%. By finding the intersection on the table, not just adding them. Instead of adding 60% and 20% to get 80%, the table shows the combined rating is actually 68%. This is because the VA calculates the remaining efficiency of your body after accounting for each disability. You then repeat this process for each additional disability.
Combining the current total with the next rating until all disabilities are accounted for. The final number is your combined VA disability rating. Understanding this table can help you plan your claims and understand how the VA views your overall disability. If you want help calculating your rating or maximizing your benefits, Veterans Guide is here to help. Call us today at 888-982-1009.
