Combined ratings · 38 CFR §4.25
50% + 40% VA Disability = 70%
Not 90%. 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
70
Final rating
70%
Monthly (alone)
$1,808.45
The step-by-step math
- Start with the higher rating: 50%. You're considered 50% efficient.
- Apply the 40% rating to the remaining 50%: 40% × 50 = 20 additional points.
- Combined value: 50 + 20 = 70 — exactly what the §4.25 Table I shows for 50 and 40.
- Round to the nearest 10 (§4.25(a)): 70 → 70%.
What 70% pays
Effective 2025-12-01: $1,808.45/month for a veteran alone, $1,961.45 with a spouse, $2,074.45 with spouse and one child. Full dependent tables: 70% pay page.
What a third rating would do
| Add | Combined value | Final rating |
|---|---|---|
| +10% | 73 | |
| +20% | 76 | |
| +30% | 79 | |
| +40% | 82 | |
| +50% | 85 |
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% + 40% VA disability?
50% combined with 40% is a combined value of 70, which rounds to a 70% VA rating under 38 CFR 4.25. VA ratings combine rather than add: the 40% rating applies only to the 50% efficiency remaining after the 50% rating.
Why isn't 50% + 40% equal to 90%?
Because 38 CFR 4.25 combines ratings against your remaining efficiency. Starting at 50%, you have 50% efficiency left; the 40% rating takes 40% of that 50 (20 points), giving 70 — not 90.
How much does a 70% rating pay?
Effective 2025-12-01, 70% pays $1,808.45 per month for a veteran with no dependents, or $1,961.45 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