VA disability ratings are calculated using a non-additive method that accounts for the cumulative
impact of multiple conditions on a veteran’s overall health and functional capacity. Each
condition is assigned a percentage (in increments of 10) based on severity, as outlined in the
VA’s Schedule.
Ratings are combined starting with the highest individual disability, then proceeding to the
next
highest, and so on. This ensures the most impactful conditions are prioritized. The VA
calculates the combined rating by subtracting each disability’s impact from the remaining
“efficient” (non-disabled) percentage.
The calculation begins at 100%, which represents a
completely healthy person.
First, subtract the percentage of your highest-rated disability from that 100%.
Then, for each additional disability, subtract its percentage from whatever is left.
Each time, the percentage is taken from the remaining amount, not the original 100%.
Suppose a veteran has three disabilities: 50% (PTSD), 30% (back injury), and 10% (tinnitus).
First Disability (50%)
Subtract 50% of 100% efficiency.
100%-50%=50% remaining efficiency.
Current combined
rating: 50%
Second Disability (30%)
Calculate 30% of the remaining 50% efficiency:
30% * 50% = 15%
Subtract this from the
remaining efficiency:
50% - 15% = 35%
Updated combined rating: 50% + 15% = 65%
Third Disability (10%)
Calculate 10% of the remaining 35% efficiency:
10% * 35% = 3.5%
Subtract this from the remaining efficiency:
35% - 3.5% = 31.5%
Final combined rating: 65% + 3.5% = 68.5%
Rounding: The VA rounds the final value to the nearest 10%.
In this case, 68.5%
rounds to 70%