Combined ratings · 38 CFR §4.25
80% + 10% VA Disability = 80%
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
82
Final rating
80%
Monthly (alone)
$2,102.15
The step-by-step math
- Start with the higher rating: 80%. You're considered 20% efficient.
- Apply the 10% rating to the remaining 20%: 10% × 20 = 2 additional points.
- Combined value: 80 + 2 = 82 — exactly what the §4.25 Table I shows for 80 and 10.
- Round to the nearest 10 (§4.25(a)): 82 → 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% | 84 | |
| +20% | 86 | |
| +30% | 87 | |
| +40% | 89 | |
| +50% | 91 |
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 80% + 10% VA disability?
80% combined with 10% is a combined value of 82, which rounds to a 80% VA rating under 38 CFR 4.25. VA ratings combine rather than add: the 10% rating applies only to the 20% efficiency remaining after the 80% rating.
Why isn't 80% + 10% equal to 90%?
Because 38 CFR 4.25 combines ratings against your remaining efficiency. Starting at 80%, you have 20% efficiency left; the 10% rating takes 10% of that 20 (2 points), giving 82 — not 90.
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 80%
80+10 · 80+20 · 80+30 · 80+40 · 80+50 · 80+60 · 80+70 · 80+80 · full calculator