Calculating your VA disability rating is often more complex than expected. For many veterans, understanding how their ratings are combined, why certain factors affect their total rating, and how they can ensure accuracy is crucial. This guide will show you how to calculate your VA disability rating with essential aspects of VA math and will provide a detailed look at the processes and tools available. Leah Bucholz from Prestige Veteran and Rebecca C. Y. Deming, founder and Principal Attorney in ProVet Legal break down the essential elements of VA math, from understanding the combined rating formula to utilizing disability calculator tools.
Understanding VA Math and the Combined Rating Formula
The VA disability rating system uses a “combined rating formula” to calculate a veteran’s overall disability percentage. Unlike typical math, where adding up numbers yields a straightforward sum, the VA uses a different formula based on a “whole person” approach. This means that the VA considers each disability in terms of how much of the “whole person” is left unaffected by previous disabilities.
Each disability rating represents a percentage of impairment and is assigned in increments of 10, ranging from 0 to 100 percent. To illustrate, if a veteran has two disabilities, one rated at 50% and another at 30%, these ratings aren’t simply added up. The VA math formula is applied, which considers each condition in relation to the remaining “unimpaired” portion of the body.
Step-by-Step Guide to VA Math
Step 1: Start with the Highest Disability Rating
When calculating the overall disability percentage, always begin with the highest-rated condition. Each subsequent rating is then applied to the remaining unimpaired portion.
For example:
- First Disability: 50% rating. This reduces the “whole person” to 50% unaffected.
- Second Disability: 30% of the remaining 50% unaffected portion. This equates to 15% (30% of 50%), which is added to the first disability rating. The combined total is now 65%.
- Third Disability: If there’s another disability rated at 20%, the VA calculates 20% of the remaining unaffected portion (35%). This equates to 7%, bringing the combined total to 72%.
After all disabilities are calculated, the VA will round the final rating up or down to the nearest multiple of 10.
Step 2: Rounding the Final Rating
The VA rounds the final rating to the nearest 10%. If the calculation results in a number ending in 5 or higher, the VA rounds up to the next 10%; if it ends in less than 5, it rounds down.
For example:
- 72% rounds to 70%.
- 87% rounds to 90%.
Understanding the Whole Person Concept
The “whole person” approach is at the core of the VA’s disability calculations. The VA assumes that each disability is compounded on what remains unaffected after previous disabilities have been accounted for. This system ensures that a 100% rating means total disability, rather than simply adding individual percentages, which could theoretically exceed 100% if added directly.
An Example of Combined Ratings Calculation
Let’s consider a veteran with three disabilities:
- PTSD rated at 50%
- Migraines rated at 30%
- Sleep apnea rated at 20%
- PTSD (50%) leaves 50% of the whole person unaffected.
- Migraines (30% of the remaining 50%) add another 15%, resulting in 65%.
- Sleep apnea (20% of the remaining 35%) adds 7%, resulting in a total of 72%, which the VA rounds to 70%.
Common Pitfalls in VA Math
Understanding VA math can be difficult, especially with multiple disabilities. For instance, adding two 50% ratings does not equal a 100% rating. According to the VA’s formula, two 50% disabilities would result in a 75% rating, which rounds up to 80%.
If veterans have multiple disabilities, using a VA disability calculator tool, like the one available on ProVet Legal, can be beneficial. This tool allows veterans to input their individual ratings and receive an accurate calculation of their combined rating, which can simplify the process.
Special Considerations: The Bilateral Factor
An additional factor in VA math is the bilateral factor. This applies to veterans with disabilities in paired extremities, like both arms, both legs, or both hands. When a disability affects paired limbs, the VA slightly increases the total rating. This increase can sometimes lead to rounding up the final rating. For example, a veteran with a disability in the right knee and left ankle may qualify for the bilateral factor. This qualification can add a small boost to their overall rating.
This factor is significant when small percentage increases can affect whether a rating rounds up or down to the nearest multiple of 10.
Using a VA Disability Calculator Tool
For veterans, a VA disability calculator tool can be incredibly helpful in simplifying the rating calculation process. Tools like the one on ProVet Legal’s website allow veterans to:
- Input disability ratings: Start with the highest rating and work downwards.
- Account for bilateral factors: If applicable, input information for conditions affecting paired limbs.
- See estimated payments: Based on the combined rating, the calculator shows the estimated monthly payment.
Here’s how a typical session with the tool might look:
- Input the highest-rated disability first, followed by the next highest.
- Check the box for the bilateral factor if disabilities affect both arms or both legs.
- See the combined rating and monthly payments based on the current VA rates.
Additional Features of VA Calculator Tools
Some tools also consider dependents in their calculations. Veterans with dependents, such as a spouse, children, or a dependent parent, may receive higher monthly payments if their combined disability rating is at least 30%. By adding dependents to the calculator, veterans can see how much their monthly benefit might increase.
How the VA Rounding Process Affects Your Rating
Rounding can significantly impact a veteran’s rating. Veterans with ratings close to the next 10% increment should review their rating decisions carefully, as adding even a small percentage could potentially round their rating up to the next level. For example, a veteran with a 94% combined rating will round up to 100%, while a veteran with an 84% combined rating will round down to 80%.
Tips for Ensuring Accurate VA Disability Ratings
If you’re concerned that your VA disability rating is incorrect, follow these steps to ensure accuracy:
- Request a Copy of Your Code Sheet: Contact the VA and request a copy of your code sheet, which lists each condition and its corresponding rating. This will allow you to verify that each condition is accurately recorded and rated.
- Use a Disability Calculator Tool: Enter your ratings into a VA disability calculator to verify the combined rating. Tools, such as the one on ProVet Legal, can offer quick validation and clarify the results.
- Consult with a VA Attorney or Accredited Representative: If you believe there’s an error in your rating, consulting a VA-accredited attorney or representative can be invaluable. These professionals can provide insights and advocate on your behalf if adjustments are needed.
- Reevaluate with Bilateral Factor: If you have disabilities affecting paired limbs, make sure the bilateral factor is applied, as this can impact your rating.
How to Calculate Your VA Disability Rating – Final Thoughts
Calculating your VA rating can feel overwhelming, but understanding how VA math works is the first step. Knowing that each percentage represents an impairment to the whole person and understanding how rounding and the bilateral factor play a role will help veterans interpret their ratings more accurately.
Resources like VA disability calculators and legal support can simplify this process, making it easier to understand your rating and advocate for the benefits you deserve.
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At Prestige Veteran Medical Consulting, a veteran-owned company, we specialize in Independent Medical Opinions (IMOs) known as Nexus letters.
Our purpose is to empower YOU, the veteran, to take charge of your medical evidence and provide you with valuable educational tools and research to guide you on your journey.
Understanding the unique challenges veterans face, our commitment lies in delivering exceptional service and support.
Leveraging an extensive network of licensed independent medical professionals, all well-versed in the medical professional aspects of the VA claims process, we review the necessary medical evidence to incorporate in our reports related to your VA Disability Claim.
Prestige Veteran Medical Consulting is not a law firm, accredited claims agent, or affiliated with the Veterans Administration or Veterans Services Organizations. However, we are happy to discuss your case with your accredited VA legal professional.
