What Is Combined Rating
Combined rating is the overall disability percentage the VA calculates when you have two or more service-connected conditions. The VA doesn't simply add your individual ratings together. Instead, it uses a non-linear formula that accounts for how your conditions interact and limit your ability to work.
For example, if you have a 50% rating for PTSD and a 30% rating for a knee condition, your combined rating is not 80%. Using VA math, it's 65%. The formula assumes that once you're already significantly disabled, additional conditions create less additional impairment than they would if you started from 0%.
How the VA Calculates It
The VA uses what's called the "Combined Ratings Table" found in 38 CFR Part 4. Here's the practical process:
- List each of your service-connected conditions with its individual disability rating (10%, 20%, 30%, etc.)
- Arrange them from highest to lowest rating
- Apply the highest rating first, then use the table to add the next highest rating based on the remaining percentage of normal function
- Continue this process for each additional condition
- Round the final number down to the nearest 10% increment
This rounding rule matters. A combined rating of 64% rounds down to 60%. A rating of 65% rounds up to 70%. This 5% threshold can affect your monthly VA compensation amount significantly, so it's worth tracking during the C&P exam process and appeals.
Why Accurate Individual Ratings Matter
Because combined rating compounds upward from your highest condition, ensuring each condition receives the correct individual rating during your Compensation and Pension exam is critical. A VSO or VA-accredited representative can review your C&P examination results to confirm the examiner properly evaluated all symptoms and functional limitations related to each condition.
Many veterans overlook secondary conditions or conditions not initially service-connected. If you have conditions aggravated by a service-connected condition, you may file for secondary service connection. These can substantially affect your combined rating if granted.
Combined Rating and Your Appeals
If the VA denies a condition or assigns it a lower rating than you believe appropriate, appealing that specific rating can increase your combined percentage. Even a 10% increase in one condition can sometimes push your overall combined rating up a full 10% bracket when the formula is recalculated.
This is why requesting a Supplemental Claim with new evidence, such as a detailed nexus letter from your treating provider, can change your outcome. The nexus letter connects your current symptoms directly to your military service, which directly influences the rating assigned during re-evaluation.
Common Questions
- Can I reach 100% combined rating? Yes. You can reach 100% combined rating with multiple conditions, or you can receive 100% P&T (permanent and total) rating based on a single condition or a combination. These are evaluated differently, and P&T status affects benefits beyond compensation, including healthcare and other programs.
- Does the bilateral factor apply to combined rating? The bilateral factor is applied to individual ratings before they enter the combined rating calculation. If you have the same condition in both legs, for example, the bilateral factor is applied first, then that combined rating for that condition feeds into your overall combined rating with your other conditions.
- What happens to my combined rating if one condition is reduced or denied? Your combined rating is recalculated. If the VA reduces a 30% rating to 20%, or removes it entirely, your overall combined percentage will likely decrease. You can appeal individual rating decisions if you disagree.