Unofficial VA disability calculator
VA Disability Calculator 2026: Combined Rating and Monthly Pay
Free, with no sign-up and no app to install. Enter each rating. See the combined rating the VA's own method gives, then the monthly compensation at that rating. Every step is shown and every rule is linked.
Your ratings
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Combined rating
Exact value before rounding:
The combined evaluation most favorable to the veteran was used (38 CFR 4.26(d)).
Rates effective December 1, 2025. Estimate only.
How the VA combines ratings
Ratings are not added
A 40% and a 20% rating do not make 60%. Each rating is applied to the ability that remains after the one before it.
Highest first
Ratings are ordered from most to least severe, combined one at a time, and only the final figure is rounded to the nearest 10.
Shown step by step
You see each combination and the exact value, so you can check it against the rule yourself.
Where the numbers come from
- Combining ratings: 38 CFR 4.25, Combined Ratings Table.
- Both arms or both legs: 38 CFR 4.26, bilateral factor.
- Payment amounts: the VA's published compensation rate tables, effective December 1, 2025.
Last verified: 2026-10-15. Checked against the rule's own table by automated tests on every update.
Frequently asked questions
How does the VA combine disability ratings?
Ratings are not added. They are put in order from highest to lowest and combined one at a time: each rating applies to the ability that remains after the one before it. Only the final figure is rounded to the nearest 10. The rule is 38 CFR 4.25, and how ratings are combined has worked examples.
Why is my combined rating lower than the sum of my ratings?
Because each rating is applied to what is left, not to the original 100%. A 40% and a 20% rating combine to 52, which rounds to 50%, not 60%.
What is the bilateral factor?
When a disability affects both arms, both legs or paired muscles, those ratings are combined first and 10 percent of the result is added. That value then counts as one disability when the rest are combined. The rule is 38 CFR 4.26. See the bilateral factor calculator.
How do I calculate a VA combined rating with the bilateral factor?
Enter every rating, tick the bilateral factor box, then tick the 2 to 4 ratings that are the paired arms or legs. The calculator shows each step. For example, 60%, 20%, 10% and 10% with the two 10% ratings for both legs combine to 74, which rounds to 70%.
What are the VA disability pay rates for 2026?
The VA's current tables are effective December 1, 2025. A veteran alone with a 50% rating is paid $1,132.90 a month. The full tables are on the pay chart page, and the calculator looks up the amount for your rating and dependents.
Does a spouse or child change my payment at 10% or 20%?
No. The VA notes that at 10% and 20% you do not receive a higher rate for a dependent spouse, child or parent. From 30% the amount depends on your dependents.
Why do some calculators show a different combined rating?
The rule carries whole numbers from its table from one step to the next, then rounds at the end. A calculator that keeps decimals can land on a different 10. For 60%, 30% and 10% the table gives 72, then 75, which rounds up to 80%, while decimals give 74.8, which rounds to 70%. The full explanation is here.
Is there a VA disability calculator app?
This is a free web calculator. There is nothing to download and no sign-up, and it works in your phone's browser.
What does effective December 1, 2025 mean?
The VA adjusts compensation each December to match the cost-of-living adjustment made to Social Security benefits. Rates have an effective date, and the calculator shows the date it uses and when it was last checked.
Does this calculator decide my rating?
No. It estimates a combined rating and monthly amount from the VA's published rules and tables. Only the VA decides a claim.