A little clarity for what comes next
VA Combined Ratings Table
Follow the numbers. Find your answer.
Explore the table behind VA combined ratings. Look up a pair of ratings, walk through an example, or open the original rules when you want the detail.
Your numbers.
Your next step.
The big idea
Each rating works with what remains.
A second rating applies to the portion left after the first. For example, 50% and 30% combine to 65%, which converts to a 70% pay tier.
Read the rule: why ratings combine
Table I, Combined Ratings Table, results from the consideration of the efficiency of the individual as affected first by the most disabling condition, then by the less disabling condition, then by other less disabling conditions, if any, in the order of severity. Thus, a person having a 60 percent disability is considered 40 percent efficient. Proceeding from this 40 percent efficiency, the effect of a further 30 percent disability is to leave only 70 percent of the efficiency remaining after consideration of the first disability, or 28 percent efficiency altogether. The individual is thus 72 percent disabled, as shown in table I opposite 60 percent and under 30 percent.
Follow it in three steps
How to read Table I
- 01Find your highest rating in the left column.
- 02Meet the next rating across the top.
- 03Carry that value forward. Round to the nearest 10% after the last rating.
Read the original instructions
(a) To use table I, the disabilities will first be arranged in the exact order of their severity, beginning with the greatest disability and then combined with use of table I as hereinafter indicated. For example, if there are two disabilities, the degree of one disability will be read in the left column and the degree of the other in the top row, whichever is appropriate. The figures appearing in the space where the column and row intersect will represent the combined value of the two. This combined value will then be converted to the nearest number divisible by 10, and combined values ending in 5 will be adjusted upward. Thus, with a 50 percent disability and a 30 percent disability, the combined value will be found to be 65 percent, but the 65 percent must be converted to 70 percent to represent the final degree of disability. Similarly, with a disability of 40 percent, and another disability of 20 percent, the combined value is found to be 52 percent, but the 52 percent must be converted to the nearest degree divisible by 10, which is 50 percent. If there are more than two disabilities, the disabilities will also be arranged in the exact order of their severity and the combined value for the first two will be found as previously described for two disabilities. The combined value, exactly as found in table I, will be combined with the degree of the third disability (in order of severity). The combined value for the three disabilities will be found in the space where the column and row intersect, and if there are only three disabilities will be converted to the nearest degree divisible by 10, adjusting final 5's upward. Thus, if there are three disabilities ratable at 60 percent, 40 percent, and 20 percent, respectively, the combined value for the first two will be found opposite 60 and under 40 and is 76 percent. This 76 will be combined with 20 and the combined value for the three is 81 percent. This combined value will be converted to the nearest degree divisible by 10 which is 80 percent. The same procedure will be employed when there are four or more disabilities. (See table I).
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this schedule, the disabilities arising from a single disease entity, e.g., arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular accident, etc., are to be rated separately as are all other disabiling conditions, if any. All disabilities are then to be combined as described in paragraph (a) of this section. The conversion to the nearest degree divisible by 10 will be done only once per rating decision, will follow the combining of all disabilities, and will be the last procedure in determining the combined degree of disability.
Worked examples
Table I
Choose a row and column for an instant lookup. The matching cell is highlighted in the full table below.
| Degree of one disability | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 27 | 35 | 43 | 51 | 60 | 68 | 76 | 84 | 92 |
| 20 | 28 | 36 | 44 | 52 | 60 | 68 | 76 | 84 | 92 |
| 21 | 29 | 37 | 45 | 53 | 61 | 68 | 76 | 84 | 92 |
| 22 | 30 | 38 | 45 | 53 | 61 | 69 | 77 | 84 | 92 |
| 23 | 31 | 38 | 46 | 54 | 62 | 69 | 77 | 85 | 92 |
| 24 | 32 | 39 | 47 | 54 | 62 | 70 | 77 | 85 | 92 |
| 25 | 33 | 40 | 48 | 55 | 63 | 70 | 78 | 85 | 93 |
| 26 | 33 | 41 | 48 | 56 | 63 | 70 | 78 | 85 | 93 |
| 27 | 34 | 42 | 49 | 56 | 64 | 71 | 78 | 85 | 93 |
| 28 | 35 | 42 | 50 | 57 | 64 | 71 | 78 | 86 | 93 |
| 29 | 36 | 43 | 50 | 57 | 65 | 72 | 79 | 86 | 93 |
| 30 | 37 | 44 | 51 | 58 | 65 | 72 | 79 | 86 | 93 |
| 31 | 38 | 45 | 52 | 59 | 66 | 72 | 79 | 86 | 93 |
| 32 | 39 | 46 | 52 | 59 | 66 | 73 | 80 | 86 | 93 |
| 33 | 40 | 46 | 53 | 60 | 67 | 73 | 80 | 87 | 93 |
| 34 | 41 | 47 | 54 | 60 | 67 | 74 | 80 | 87 | 93 |
| 35 | 42 | 48 | 55 | 61 | 68 | 74 | 81 | 87 | 94 |
| 36 | 42 | 49 | 55 | 62 | 68 | 74 | 81 | 87 | 94 |
| 37 | 43 | 50 | 56 | 62 | 69 | 75 | 81 | 87 | 94 |
| 38 | 44 | 50 | 57 | 63 | 69 | 75 | 81 | 88 | 94 |
| 39 | 45 | 51 | 57 | 63 | 70 | 76 | 82 | 88 | 94 |
| 40 | 46 | 52 | 58 | 64 | 70 | 76 | 82 | 88 | 94 |
| 41 | 47 | 53 | 59 | 65 | 71 | 76 | 82 | 88 | 94 |
| 42 | 48 | 54 | 59 | 65 | 71 | 77 | 83 | 88 | 94 |
| 43 | 49 | 54 | 60 | 66 | 72 | 77 | 83 | 89 | 94 |
| 44 | 50 | 55 | 61 | 66 | 72 | 78 | 83 | 89 | 94 |
| 45 | 51 | 56 | 62 | 67 | 73 | 78 | 84 | 89 | 95 |
| 46 | 51 | 57 | 62 | 68 | 73 | 78 | 84 | 89 | 95 |
| 47 | 52 | 58 | 63 | 68 | 74 | 79 | 84 | 89 | 95 |
| 48 | 53 | 58 | 64 | 69 | 74 | 79 | 84 | 90 | 95 |
| 49 | 54 | 59 | 64 | 69 | 75 | 80 | 85 | 90 | 95 |
| 50 | 55 | 60 | 65 | 70 | 75 | 80 | 85 | 90 | 95 |
| 51 | 56 | 61 | 66 | 71 | 76 | 80 | 85 | 90 | 95 |
| 52 | 57 | 62 | 66 | 71 | 76 | 81 | 86 | 90 | 95 |
| 53 | 58 | 62 | 67 | 72 | 77 | 81 | 86 | 91 | 95 |
| 54 | 59 | 63 | 68 | 72 | 77 | 82 | 86 | 91 | 95 |
| 55 | 60 | 64 | 69 | 73 | 78 | 82 | 87 | 91 | 96 |
| 56 | 60 | 65 | 69 | 74 | 78 | 82 | 87 | 91 | 96 |
| 57 | 61 | 66 | 70 | 74 | 79 | 83 | 87 | 91 | 96 |
| 58 | 62 | 66 | 71 | 75 | 79 | 83 | 87 | 92 | 96 |
| 59 | 63 | 67 | 71 | 75 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 |
| 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 |
| 61 | 65 | 69 | 73 | 77 | 81 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 |
| 62 | 66 | 70 | 73 | 77 | 81 | 85 | 89 | 92 | 96 |
| 63 | 67 | 70 | 74 | 78 | 82 | 85 | 89 | 93 | 96 |
| 64 | 68 | 71 | 75 | 78 | 82 | 86 | 89 | 93 | 96 |
| 65 | 69 | 72 | 76 | 79 | 83 | 86 | 90 | 93 | 97 |
| 66 | 69 | 73 | 76 | 80 | 83 | 86 | 90 | 93 | 97 |
| 67 | 70 | 74 | 77 | 80 | 84 | 87 | 90 | 93 | 97 |
| 68 | 71 | 74 | 78 | 81 | 84 | 87 | 90 | 94 | 97 |
| 69 | 72 | 75 | 78 | 81 | 85 | 88 | 91 | 94 | 97 |
| 70 | 73 | 76 | 79 | 82 | 85 | 88 | 91 | 94 | 97 |
| 71 | 74 | 77 | 80 | 83 | 86 | 88 | 91 | 94 | 97 |
| 72 | 75 | 78 | 80 | 83 | 86 | 89 | 92 | 94 | 97 |
| 73 | 76 | 78 | 81 | 84 | 87 | 89 | 92 | 95 | 97 |
| 74 | 77 | 79 | 82 | 84 | 87 | 90 | 92 | 95 | 97 |
| 75 | 78 | 80 | 83 | 85 | 88 | 90 | 93 | 95 | 98 |
| 76 | 78 | 81 | 83 | 86 | 88 | 90 | 93 | 95 | 98 |
| 77 | 79 | 82 | 84 | 86 | 89 | 91 | 93 | 95 | 98 |
| 78 | 80 | 82 | 85 | 87 | 89 | 91 | 93 | 96 | 98 |
| 79 | 81 | 83 | 85 | 87 | 90 | 92 | 94 | 96 | 98 |
| 80 | 82 | 84 | 86 | 88 | 90 | 92 | 94 | 96 | 98 |
| 81 | 83 | 85 | 87 | 89 | 91 | 92 | 94 | 96 | 98 |
| 82 | 84 | 86 | 87 | 89 | 91 | 93 | 95 | 96 | 98 |
| 83 | 85 | 86 | 88 | 90 | 92 | 93 | 95 | 97 | 98 |
| 84 | 86 | 87 | 89 | 90 | 92 | 94 | 95 | 97 | 98 |
| 85 | 87 | 88 | 90 | 91 | 93 | 94 | 96 | 97 | 99 |
| 86 | 87 | 89 | 90 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 96 | 97 | 99 |
| 87 | 88 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 99 |
| 88 | 89 | 90 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 98 | 99 |
| 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 |
| 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 |
| 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 |
| 92 | 93 | 94 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 98 | 99 |
| 93 | 94 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 99 |
| 94 | 95 | 95 | 96 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 98 | 99 | 99 |
The bilateral factor (38 CFR 4.26)
The calculators on this site apply the 38 CFR 4.25 combined-ratings table but not the 38 CFR 4.26 bilateral factor, so a veteran it applies to may land a step above what they show.
Explore the bilateral factor and the VA’s examples
Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, when a partial disability results from disease or injury of both arms, or of both legs, or of paired skeletal muscles, the ratings for the disabilities of the right and left sides will be combined as usual, and 10 percent of this value will be added (i.e., not combined) before proceeding with further combinations, or converting to degree of disability. The bilateral factor will be applied to such bilateral disabilities before other combinations are carried out and the rating for such disabilities including the bilateral factor in this section will be treated as one disability for the purpose of arranging in order of severity and for all further combinations. For example, with disabilities evaluated at 60 percent, 20 percent, 10 percent and 10 percent (with the two 10 percent evaluations being bilateral disabilities), the order of severity would be 60, 21 and 20. The 60 and 21 combine to 68 percent and the 68 and 20 combine to 74 percent, converted to 70 percent as the final degree of disability.
(a) Definitions. The use of the terms “arms” and “legs” is not intended to distinguish between the arm, forearm and hand, or the thigh, leg, and foot, but relates to the upper extremities and lower extremities as a whole. Thus with a compensable disability of the right thigh, for example, amputation, and one of the left foot, for example, pes planus, the bilateral factor applies, and similarly whenever there are compensable disabilities affecting use of paired extremities regardless of location or specified type of impairment.
(b) Procedure for four affected extremities. The correct procedure when applying the bilateral factor to disabilities affecting both upper extremities and both lower extremities is to combine the ratings of the disabilities affecting the 4 extremities in the order of their individual severity and apply the bilateral factor by adding, not combining, 10 percent of the combined value thus attained.
(c)Applicability. The bilateral factor is not applicable unless there is partial disability of compensable degree in each of 2 paired extremities, or paired skeletal muscles.
(d) Exception. In cases where the combined evaluation is lower than what could be achieved by not including one or more bilateral disabilities in the bilateral factor calculation, those bilateral disabilities will be removed from the bilateral factor calculation and combined separately, to achieve the combined evaluation most favorable to the veteran.
Two rules that limit a combined rating
Avoidance of pyramiding · 38 CFR 4.14
The evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to be avoided. Disability from injuries to the muscles, nerves, and joints of an extremity may overlap to a great extent, so that special rules are included in the appropriate bodily system for their evaluation. Dyspnea, tachycardia, nervousness, fatigability, etc., may result from many causes; some may be service connected, others, not. Both the use of manifestations not resulting from service-connected disease or injury in establishing the service-connected evaluation, and the evaluation of the same manifestation under different diagnoses are to be avoided.
The amputation rule · 38 CFR 4.68
The combined rating for disabilities of an extremity shall not exceed the rating for the amputation at the elective level, were amputation to be performed. For example, the combined evaluations for disabilities below the knee shall not exceed the 40 percent evaluation, diagnostic code 5165. This 40 percent rating may be further combined with evaluation for disabilities above the knee but not to exceed the above the knee amputation elective level. Painful neuroma of a stump after amputation shall be assigned the evaluation for the elective site of reamputation.
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Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.25, § 4.25 Combined ratings table.
- 38 CFR § 4.26, § 4.26 Bilateral factor.
- 38 CFR § 4.14, § 4.14 Avoidance of pyramiding.
- 38 CFR § 4.68, § 4.68 Amputation rule.
Transcribed from the eCFR, edition of August 1, 2026.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.