Combined ratings · 38 CFR §4.25
40% + 20% VA Disability = 50%
Not 60%. 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
52
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 20% rating to the remaining 60%: 20% × 60 = 12 additional points.
- Combined value: 40 + 12 = 52 — exactly what the §4.25 Table I shows for 40 and 20.
- Round to the nearest 10 (§4.25(a)): 52 → 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% | 57 | |
| +20% | 62 | |
| +30% | 66 | |
| +40% | 71 | |
| +50% | 76 |
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% + 20% VA disability?
40% combined with 20% is a combined value of 52, which rounds to a 50% VA rating under 38 CFR 4.25. VA ratings combine rather than add: the 20% rating applies only to the 60% efficiency remaining after the 40% rating.
Why isn't 40% + 20% equal to 60%?
Because 38 CFR 4.25 combines ratings against your remaining efficiency. Starting at 40%, you have 60% efficiency left; the 20% rating takes 20% of that 60 (12 points), giving 52 — not 60.
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