Combined ratings · 38 CFR §4.25
20% + 10% VA Disability = 30%
Not 30%. 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
28
Final rating
30%
Monthly (alone)
$552.47
The step-by-step math
- Start with the higher rating: 20%. You're considered 80% efficient.
- Apply the 10% rating to the remaining 80%: 10% × 80 = 8 additional points.
- Combined value: 20 + 8 = 28 — exactly what the §4.25 Table I shows for 20 and 10.
- Round to the nearest 10 (§4.25(a)): 28 → 30%.
What 30% pays
Effective 2025-12-01: $552.47/month for a veteran alone, $617.47 with a spouse, $666.47 with spouse and one child. Full dependent tables: 30% pay page.
What a third rating would do
| Add | Combined value | Final rating |
|---|---|---|
| +10% | 35 | |
| +20% | 42 | |
| +30% | 50 | |
| +40% | 57 | |
| +50% | 64 |
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 20% + 10% VA disability?
20% combined with 10% is a combined value of 28, which rounds to a 30% VA rating under 38 CFR 4.25. VA ratings combine rather than add: the 10% rating applies only to the 80% efficiency remaining after the 20% rating.
Why isn't 20% + 10% equal to 30%?
Because 38 CFR 4.25 combines ratings against your remaining efficiency. Starting at 20%, you have 80% efficiency left; the 10% rating takes 10% of that 80 (8 points), giving 28 — not 30.
How much does a 30% rating pay?
Effective 2025-12-01, 30% pays $552.47 per month for a veteran with no dependents, or $617.47 with a spouse, 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