Updated March 2026 with 2026 VA Rates (2.8% COLA)
2026 VA Disability Combined Rating Calculator
Enter your individual disability ratings to calculate your true VA combined rating using official VA math — and estimate your 2026 monthly compensation including dependent additions.
2026 VA Disability Compensation Rate Table
Effective December 1, 2025 · 2.8% COLA · Source: VA.gov
| Combined Rating | Veteran Alone | With Spouse | Annual (Alone) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42/mo | — | $2,165.04/yr |
| 20% | $356.66/mo | — | $4,279.92/yr |
| 30% | $552.47/mo | $617.47/mo | $6,629.64/yr |
| 40% | $795.84/mo | $882.84/mo | $9,550.08/yr |
| 50% | $1,132.90/mo | $1,241.90/mo | $13,594.80/yr |
| 60% | $1,435.02/mo | $1,566.02/mo | $17,220.24/yr |
| 70% | $1,808.45/mo | $1,961.45/mo | $21,701.40/yr |
| 80% | $2,102.15/mo | $2,277.15/mo | $25,225.80/yr |
| 90% | $2,362.30/mo | $2,559.30/mo | $28,347.60/yr |
| 100% | $3,938.58/mo | $4,158.17/mo | $47,262.96/yr |
How VA Math Works — The Total Person Concept
The VA does not add disability ratings together. Instead, the VA uses the "whole person concept" defined in 38 CFR § 4.25. Each rating is applied to the remaining healthy percentage of the veteran, not the original 100%.
Worked Example: 50% PTSD + 30% Knee + 10% Tinnitus
Apply 50% PTSD to 100% (whole person)
100% × 50% = 50% disabled · Remaining healthy: 50%
Apply 30% knee to remaining 50%
50% × 30% = 15% more disabled · Combined so far: 65% · Remaining healthy: 35%
Apply 10% tinnitus to remaining 35%
35% × 10% = 3.5% more disabled · Combined so far: 68.5% · Remaining healthy: 31.5%
68.5% exact → rounds to 70%
VA rounds to nearest 10%; 0.5 rounds up — so 65.0% → 70%, 64.9% → 60%
The Bilateral Factor (38 CFR § 4.26)
If a veteran has service-connected disabilities affecting both paired extremities — both arms/hands (upper extremity) or both legs/feet (lower extremity) — the VA applies a bilateral factor before combining those ratings with other conditions.
How it works: The bilateral conditions are first combined using VA math. Then 10% of that combined bilateral value is added. The resulting rating (with the 10% factor included) is then entered into the final VA math calculation as if it were a single condition.
Bilateral Example: 40% left knee + 20% right knee
1. Combine bilateral VA math: 40% of 100% = 40% · then 20% of 60% = 12% · combined: 52%
2. Add 10% factor: 52% + (52% × 10%) = 52% + 5.2% = 57.2%
3. Enter 57.2% as a single condition in the final combined calculation.
VA Rounding Rules
The VA rounds the final combined rating to the nearest 10%. A combined value of exactly 5% (the midpoint) rounds up — so 45% rounds to 50%, not 40%. This is standard arithmetic rounding applied at the 10% increment level.
Data Sources & Legal Basis
Compensation rates: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA.gov, effective December 1, 2025 (2.8% COLA) · Combined ratings formula: 38 CFR § 4.25 · Bilateral factor: 38 CFR § 4.26 · This tool provides estimates only. Actual VA payments are determined by the VA based on your specific eligibility status. Always verify rates at VA.gov.
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