Independent VA Rating Reference
VA disability ratings, explained with real math.
We show the actual §4.25 and §4.26 calculations — every step, cited to the regulations. No estimates. No hand-waving.
- Sourced to 38 CFR & VA.gov
- Human-reviewed before publication
- Independent — not a government site
The Method
How VA math actually works
Ratings don't add up the way most veterans expect. Three rules govern every combined rating.
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Ratings combine by efficiency, not addition
A 50% rating leaves 50% "whole person" remaining. A second 30% rating applies to that remainder: 50 + (30% of 50) = 65, not 80.
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Bilateral conditions get a 10% add-on
Under §4.26, ratings for both knees (say 30 + 20) combine first to 44, then 10% is added: 44 + 4.4 = 48.4, rounded to 48.
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The final value rounds to the nearest 10
Under §4.25, the combined value converts to the nearest ten. A result of 48 becomes 50%; a result of 43 becomes 40%.
When It's Wrong
The most expensive VA mistakes are math mistakes
Check your decision letter against the §4.25 and §4.26 formulas, then pick the right review lane before your appeal window closes.
VA claim denied: what to do next
Three review lanes, one decision: which path fits your situation and how to choose before the deadline.
Read more Appeal lanesHigher-Level Review vs. Supplemental Claim
The two most common appeal lanes explained side by side, with the criteria that determine which one applies.
Read more Retro payVA back pay: how retroactive compensation works
How VA calculates retroactive pay, the effective date rules, and where math errors most often cost veterans money.
Read moreConditions Library
Condition guides
VA rating for hearing loss: how the tables work
DC 6100 uses audiometry tables, not symptoms, to assign hearing loss ratings. Most veterans rate 0–10%. Here is the exact math and what raises the number.
Read moreVA rating for back pain: spine formula and codes
How VA rates back pain under 38 CFR §4.71a: ROM thresholds, IVDS episodes, radiculopathy add-ons, and a worked combined-rating example.
Read moreFlat feet VA rating: DC 5276 tiers and the bilateral factor
VA rates pes planus under DC 5276 with built-in bilateral tiers from 0% to 50%. Learn the criteria, the §4.26 interaction, and secondary claim strategies.
Read moreVA rating for knee pain: diagnostic codes and math
How VA rates knee conditions under 38 CFR §4.71a — instability, limitation of motion, cartilage, and the bilateral factor worked examples.
Read morePTSD VA rating criteria: the six tiers explained
PTSD VA rating uses DC 9411 and the General Rating Formula: 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, or 100%. Each tier reflects occupational and social impairment, not diagnosis.
Read moreBilateral radiculopathy VA rating: lumbar and lower extremity
VA rates lumbar and lower-extremity radiculopathy under 38 CFR §4.124a, 10% to 80% by severity, plus the bilateral factor for both-leg cases and worked math.
Read moreRatings Guides
Understand the schedule
C&P Exam: What to Expect at Your VA Claim Exam
A C&P exam informs your disability rating; it is not a pass/fail test. Who schedules it, what examiners look for, and what to do if the exam goes wrong.
Read moreTDIU Requirements: VA Individual Unemployability Explained
TDIU pays at the 100% rate when service-connected disabilities prevent gainful employment. Schedular thresholds, the bilateral factor angle, and how to apply.
Read moreHow the VA Calculates Combined Disability Ratings
The VA uses a whole-person efficiency formula, not simple addition, to combine multiple disability ratings. Here is how the math works and why it matters.
Read moreOur Standard
How we source this site
Every claim is cited to 38 CFR or VA.gov, and each article is human-reviewed before publication. BilateralFactor is independent and not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.