Combined ratings · 38 CFR §4.25
70% + 50% VA Disability = 90%
Not 110%. 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
85
Final rating
90%
Monthly (alone)
$2,362.30
The step-by-step math
- Start with the higher rating: 70%. You're considered 30% efficient.
- Apply the 50% rating to the remaining 30%: 50% × 30 = 15 additional points.
- Combined value: 70 + 15 = 85 — exactly what the §4.25 Table I shows for 70 and 50.
- Round to the nearest 10 (§4.25(a)): 85 → 90%.
What 90% pays
Effective 2025-12-01: $2,362.30/month for a veteran alone, $2,559.30 with a spouse, $2,704.30 with spouse and one child. Full dependent tables: 90% pay page.
What a third rating would do
| Add | Combined value | Final rating |
|---|---|---|
| +10% | 87 | |
| +20% | 88 | |
| +30% | 90 |
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 70% + 50% VA disability?
70% combined with 50% is a combined value of 85, which rounds to a 90% VA rating under 38 CFR 4.25. VA ratings combine rather than add: the 50% rating applies only to the 30% efficiency remaining after the 70% rating.
Why isn't 70% + 50% equal to 120%?
Because 38 CFR 4.25 combines ratings against your remaining efficiency. Starting at 70%, you have 30% efficiency left; the 50% rating takes 50% of that 30 (15 points), giving 85 — not 120.
How much does a 90% rating pay?
Effective 2025-12-01, 90% pays $2,362.30 per month for a veteran with no dependents, or $2,559.30 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 70%
70+10 · 70+20 · 70+30 · 70+40 · 70+50 · 70+60 · 70+70 · full calculator