Combined ratings · 38 CFR §4.25
90% + 10% VA Disability = 90%
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
91
Final rating
90%
Monthly (alone)
$2,362.30
The step-by-step math
- Start with the higher rating: 90%. You're considered 10% efficient.
- Apply the 10% rating to the remaining 10%: 10% × 10 = 1 additional points.
- Combined value: 90 + 1 = 91 — exactly what the §4.25 Table I shows for 90 and 10.
- Round to the nearest 10 (§4.25(a)): 91 → 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% | 92 | |
| +20% | 93 | |
| +30% | 94 | |
| +40% | 95 | |
| +50% | 96 |
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 90% + 10% VA disability?
90% combined with 10% is a combined value of 91, which rounds to a 90% VA rating under 38 CFR 4.25. VA ratings combine rather than add: the 10% rating applies only to the 10% efficiency remaining after the 90% rating.
Why isn't 90% + 10% equal to 100%?
Because 38 CFR 4.25 combines ratings against your remaining efficiency. Starting at 90%, you have 10% efficiency left; the 10% rating takes 10% of that 10 (1 points), giving 91 — not 100.
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 90%
90+10 · 90+20 · 90+30 · 90+40 · 90+50 · 90+60 · 90+70 · 90+80 · 90+90 · full calculator