Combined ratings · 38 CFR §4.25
30% + 20% VA Disability = 40%
Not 50%. 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
44
Final rating
40%
Monthly (alone)
$795.84
The step-by-step math
- Start with the higher rating: 30%. You're considered 70% efficient.
- Apply the 20% rating to the remaining 70%: 20% × 70 = 14 additional points.
- Combined value: 30 + 14 = 44 — exactly what the §4.25 Table I shows for 30 and 20.
- Round to the nearest 10 (§4.25(a)): 44 → 40%.
What 40% pays
Effective 2025-12-01: $795.84/month for a veteran alone, $882.84 with a spouse, $947.84 with spouse and one child. Full dependent tables: 40% pay page.
What a third rating would do
| Add | Combined value | Final rating |
|---|---|---|
| +10% | 50 | |
| +20% | 55 | |
| +30% | 61 | |
| +40% | 66 | |
| +50% | 72 |
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 30% + 20% VA disability?
30% combined with 20% is a combined value of 44, which rounds to a 40% VA rating under 38 CFR 4.25. VA ratings combine rather than add: the 20% rating applies only to the 70% efficiency remaining after the 30% rating.
Why isn't 30% + 20% equal to 50%?
Because 38 CFR 4.25 combines ratings against your remaining efficiency. Starting at 30%, you have 70% efficiency left; the 20% rating takes 20% of that 70 (14 points), giving 44 — not 50.
How much does a 40% rating pay?
Effective 2025-12-01, 40% pays $795.84 per month for a veteran with no dependents, or $882.84 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
Other combinations with 30%
30+10 · 30+20 · 30+30 · full calculator