Combined ratings · 38 CFR §4.25
80% + 70% 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
94
Final rating
90%
Monthly (alone)
$2,362.30
The step-by-step math
- Start with the higher rating: 80%. You're considered 20% efficient.
- Apply the 70% rating to the remaining 20%: 70% × 20 = 14 additional points.
- Combined value: 80 + 14 = 94 — exactly what the §4.25 Table I shows for 80 and 70.
- Round to the nearest 10 (§4.25(a)): 94 → 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% | 95 | |
| +20% | 95 | |
| +30% | 96 | |
| +40% | 96 | |
| +50% | 97 |
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% + 70% VA disability?
80% combined with 70% is a combined value of 94, which rounds to a 90% VA rating under 38 CFR 4.25. VA ratings combine rather than add: the 70% rating applies only to the 20% efficiency remaining after the 80% rating.
Why isn't 80% + 70% equal to 150%?
Because 38 CFR 4.25 combines ratings against your remaining efficiency. Starting at 80%, you have 20% efficiency left; the 70% rating takes 70% of that 20 (14 points), giving 94 — not 150.
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 80%
80+10 · 80+20 · 80+30 · 80+40 · 80+50 · 80+60 · 80+70 · 80+80 · full calculator