Combined ratings · 38 CFR §4.25
40% + 10% VA Disability = 50%
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
46
Final rating
50%
Monthly (alone)
$1,132.90
The step-by-step math
- Start with the higher rating: 40%. You're considered 60% efficient.
- Apply the 10% rating to the remaining 60%: 10% × 60 = 6 additional points.
- Combined value: 40 + 6 = 46 — exactly what the §4.25 Table I shows for 40 and 10.
- Round to the nearest 10 (§4.25(a)): 46 → 50%.
What 50% pays
Effective 2025-12-01: $1,132.90/month for a veteran alone, $1,241.90 with a spouse, $1,322.90 with spouse and one child. Full dependent tables: 50% pay page.
What a third rating would do
| Add | Combined value | Final rating |
|---|---|---|
| +10% | 51 | |
| +20% | 57 | |
| +30% | 62 | |
| +40% | 68 | |
| +50% | 73 |
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 40% + 10% VA disability?
40% combined with 10% is a combined value of 46, which rounds to a 50% VA rating under 38 CFR 4.25. VA ratings combine rather than add: the 10% rating applies only to the 60% efficiency remaining after the 40% rating.
Why isn't 40% + 10% equal to 50%?
Because 38 CFR 4.25 combines ratings against your remaining efficiency. Starting at 40%, you have 60% efficiency left; the 10% rating takes 10% of that 60 (6 points), giving 46 — not 50.
How much does a 50% rating pay?
Effective 2025-12-01, 50% pays $1,132.90 per month for a veteran with no dependents, or $1,241.90 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 40%
40+10 · 40+20 · 40+30 · 40+40 · full calculator