VA does not add ratings together. A 50% and a 30% make 70%, not 80%, and a 40% and a 20% make 50%. This calculator runs the exact math VA uses (38 CFR 4.25 and the bilateral factor in 4.26), then applies the official 2026 compensation rates for your family.
1. Your VA ratings
Enter each rated condition separately, from your VA rating decision. Tick "bilateral" for arm or leg conditions when the same limb on the other side is also rated (both knees, both ankles, both arms).
2. Your dependents
See your exact rating and monthly pay
Your numbers are ready. Tell us who you are and we will show the full breakdown now. If you are a military retiree, we will also flag whether part of this money could come back to you tax-free through CRSC.
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Free. No spam. Standfast is not affiliated with the VA and is not VA-accredited. This is an educational estimate, not claim advice.
How VA combines disability ratings
VA treats you as a whole person who starts at 100% able. Your highest rating is applied first. Each next rating is applied only to the part of you that is still "able." With a 50% and a 30%: 50% leaves you 50% able, 30% of that 50 is 15, so you are 65% disabled. VA then rounds to the nearest 10, and a 5 rounds up, so 65 becomes 70%.
- Sort your ratings from highest to lowest.
- Combine them one at a time against what is left of the whole person. VA's table rounds each step to a whole number.
- Bilateral factor: if both arms or both legs have ratings, VA combines those first and adds 10% of that value before anything else (38 CFR 4.26).
- Round once, at the end, to the nearest 10%. 64 becomes 60; 65 becomes 70.
| Rating | Veteran alone | With spouse | With spouse and 1 child |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $180.42 | $180.42 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $666.47 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $1,322.90 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $2,074.45 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $2,704.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $4,318.99 |
Monthly VA compensation, effective December 1, 2025 (the 2026 rates). The calculator uses VA's full table, including parents, additional children and spouse aid and attendance.
Military retiree? Your VA pay may be costing you retired pay
If you draw military retired pay, VA compensation is usually offset dollar for dollar. CRSC can give some or all of that back, tax-free, for combat-related conditions, and it is not limited to 20-year retirees.
Run the Free CRSC CalculatorCRSC is a DoD program under 10 U.S.C. 1413a. Your branch decides every case.Frequently asked questions
How much is 100% VA disability in 2026?
$3,938.58 a month for a veteran alone, and $4,158.17 with a spouse, under the rates effective December 1, 2025. Dependents add more at 30% and above.
Why is my combined VA rating lower than my ratings added up?
VA uses whole-person math. Each rating applies only to the part of you that is still considered able, so a 50% and a 30% combine to 65, which rounds to 70%, not 80%.
What is the bilateral factor?
When both arms or both legs have compensable ratings, VA combines those ratings first and adds 10% of the result before combining everything else (38 CFR 4.26). It can push a combined rating to the next 10%.
Does VA round 65% up to 70%?
Yes. VA rounds the final combined value to the nearest 10, and a value ending in 5 rounds up. A combined value of 64 rounds down to 60%.
Is VA disability compensation taxable?
VA disability compensation is not taxable income. Military retired pay generally is, which is one reason retirees look at CRSC, a tax-free DoD payment for combat-related conditions.