Combined ratings · 38 CFR §4.25
10% + 10% VA Disability = 20%
Not 20%. VA ratings combine against your remaining efficiency — here is the exact math, straight from the §4.25 combined ratings table.
By Mario Bailey — U.S. Air Force veteran · current Air National Guard member. Data updated 2026-06-08.
Combined value
19
Final rating
20%
Monthly (alone)
$356.66
The step-by-step math
- Start with the higher rating: 10%. You're considered 90% efficient.
- Apply the 10% rating to the remaining 90%: 10% × 90 = 9 additional points.
- Combined value: 10 + 9 = 19 — exactly what the §4.25 Table I shows for 10 and 10.
- Round to the nearest 10 (§4.25(a)): 19 → 20%.
Note: if these are paired limbs — both knees, both arms — the bilateral factor (§4.26) adds 10% of the combined value before rounding, which can change the result. Use the full calculator with body parts selected.
What 20% pays
Effective 2025-12-01: $356.66/month for a veteran alone. Full dependent tables: 20% pay page.
What a third rating would do
| Add | Combined value | Final rating |
|---|---|---|
| +10% | 27 | |
| +20% | 35 | |
| +30% | 43 | |
| +40% | 51 | |
| +50% | 60 |
Notice how each added rating moves the needle less — that's the combining math working against you as the numbers climb. Model your exact set of ratings.
Frequently asked questions
What is 10% + 10% VA disability?
10% combined with 10% is a combined value of 19, which rounds to a 20% VA rating under 38 CFR 4.25. VA ratings combine rather than add: the 10% rating applies only to the 90% efficiency remaining after the 10% rating.
Why isn't 10% + 10% equal to 20%?
Because 38 CFR 4.25 combines ratings against your remaining efficiency. Starting at 10%, you have 90% efficiency left; the 10% rating takes 10% of that 90 (9 points), giving 19 — not 20.
How much does a 20% rating pay?
Effective 2025-12-01, 20% pays $356.66 per month for a veteran with no dependents, per the va.gov rate tables.
SOURCE: 38 CFR §4.25 Table I via eCFR; VA compensation rates, va.gov · retrieved 2026-06-08 · payment rates effective 2025-12-01