Combined ratings · 38 CFR §4.25
50% + 20% VA Disability = 60%
Not 70%. 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
60
Final rating
60%
Monthly (alone)
$1,435.02
The step-by-step math
- Start with the higher rating: 50%. You're considered 50% efficient.
- Apply the 20% rating to the remaining 50%: 20% × 50 = 10 additional points.
- Combined value: 50 + 10 = 60 — exactly what the §4.25 Table I shows for 50 and 20.
- Round to the nearest 10 (§4.25(a)): 60 → 60%.
What 60% pays
Effective 2025-12-01: $1,435.02/month for a veteran alone, $1,566.02 with a spouse, $1,663.02 with spouse and one child. Full dependent tables: 60% pay page.
What a third rating would do
| Add | Combined value | Final rating |
|---|---|---|
| +10% | 64 | |
| +20% | 68 | |
| +30% | 72 | |
| +40% | 76 | |
| +50% | 80 |
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 50% + 20% VA disability?
50% combined with 20% is a combined value of 60, which rounds to a 60% VA rating under 38 CFR 4.25. VA ratings combine rather than add: the 20% rating applies only to the 50% efficiency remaining after the 50% rating.
Why isn't 50% + 20% equal to 70%?
Because 38 CFR 4.25 combines ratings against your remaining efficiency. Starting at 50%, you have 50% efficiency left; the 20% rating takes 20% of that 50 (10 points), giving 60 — not 70.
How much does a 60% rating pay?
Effective 2025-12-01, 60% pays $1,435.02 per month for a veteran with no dependents, or $1,566.02 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