Combined ratings · 38 CFR §4.25
50% + 50% VA Disability = 80%
Not 100%. 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
75
Final rating
80%
Monthly (alone)
$2,102.15
The step-by-step math
- Start with the higher rating: 50%. You're considered 50% efficient.
- Apply the 50% rating to the remaining 50%: 50% × 50 = 25 additional points.
- Combined value: 50 + 25 = 75 — exactly what the §4.25 Table I shows for 50 and 50.
- Round to the nearest 10 (§4.25(a)): 75 → 80%.
What 80% pays
Effective 2025-12-01: $2,102.15/month for a veteran alone, $2,277.15 with a spouse, $2,406.15 with spouse and one child. Full dependent tables: 80% pay page.
What a third rating would do
| Add | Combined value | Final rating |
|---|---|---|
| +10% | 78 | |
| +20% | 80 | |
| +30% | 83 | |
| +40% | 85 | |
| +50% | 88 |
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% + 50% VA disability?
50% combined with 50% is a combined value of 75, which rounds to a 80% VA rating under 38 CFR 4.25. VA ratings combine rather than add: the 50% rating applies only to the 50% efficiency remaining after the 50% rating.
Why isn't 50% + 50% equal to 100%?
Because 38 CFR 4.25 combines ratings against your remaining efficiency. Starting at 50%, you have 50% efficiency left; the 50% rating takes 50% of that 50 (25 points), giving 75 — not 100.
How much does a 80% rating pay?
Effective 2025-12-01, 80% pays $2,102.15 per month for a veteran with no dependents, or $2,277.15 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 50%
50+10 · 50+20 · 50+30 · 50+40 · full calculator