VA Math
​VA Math causes a lot of confusion for Veterans. You are not alone!
VA Math causes a lot of confusion for Veterans. You are not alone!
When the VA assesses a Veterans Level of disability, they assign a disability level from 0% to 100%, in 10% intervals. They round up or down to the closest decile, meaning that a 24% disability rating would round down to 20%, and a 25% disability would round up to 30%.
Since it's not possible to be more than 100% disabled, the VA doesn't simply add disabilities together (for instance, just adding a 60% disability and a 50% disability would give 110%, which is not possible). The VA does NOT use additive math (1+1=2), instead they combine disabilities using what can be considered the "total person" concept.
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SPECIAL NOTE:
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If a Veteran has at least two conditions rated at 0%, it is possible the Veteran can be paid at the 10% level. This can be done when those disabilities together create an impairment equal to at least 10%.
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This is ONLY applied if a Veteran does NOT have any conditions that rate at least 10%. If the Veteran later obtains an increase or a new condition that rates at least 10%, this special consideration is NO longer applied.
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Combined Ratings Table (CFR Title 38, Chapter 1, Part 4, Subpart A, § 4.25)
The quickest and easiest way to determine your rating is to use the following Combined Ratings Table.
How to use:
Consider a Veteran who has the following ratings 40%, 60%, and 20%.
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Start by ordering the ratings from highest to lowest (60%, 40%, 20%).
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Find the 60% row (using the left most column).
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From the 60% row, go to where the 40% column intersects it. You will see that it is 76%. Thus 60% and 40% yield a combined rating of 76%
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Now find the 76% row in the left most column.
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From the 76% row, go to where the 20% column intersects. You will see that it is 81%. 76% and 20% yield a combined rating of 81%.
Thus, the final rating will be rounded down to 80%.
Total Person Concept
VA math starts everyone off being considered 100%. then each condition takes a fraction of what is left.
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VA Math Long Hand Example
Here is the breakdown of the math that is used in the above table.
VA math involves taking away from a person's 100% body, starting with the highest ratings and then combining the rest from highest to lowest.
Now let's figure out Jeff's Ratings. He has a total of four ratings (40% back, 30% left knee, 20% left shoulder, and 10% left hip).
Jeff's RatingsJeff's Total Person (Starts at 100)Jeff's Combined Total Rating (Starts at 0%)
Back = 40%100 - 40 = 6040%
Left knee = 30%60 - 18= 4240% + 18% = 58% (The 18% is obtained from taking 30% of 60)
Left shoulder = 20%42 - 8.4 = 33.658% + 8.4% = 66.4% (The 8.4% is obtained from taking 20% of 42.)
Left hip = 10%33.6 - 3.36 = 30.2466.4% + 3.36% = 69.76%
Jeff's Combined Rating rounds up to 70%.
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Bilateral Factor
Just when you thought VA math couldn't get more complicated!
If a Veteran has a rated condition (more than 0%) that affects BOTH the left and right sides of the SAME extremity half. Either upper (above the waist) or lower extremity (below the waist) then a bilateral factor is added to the VA math.
In short the bilateral conditions are given the VA math treatment and then an additional 10% is added. That number is then added back into consideration with the rest of the ratings.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
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The Veteran does NOT need the same disability on both sides in order for the bilateral factor to apply! VA disability ratings look at whether an upper extremity (such as the shoulder, arm, or hand), or a lower extremity (such as the hip, knee, or foot) are affected by disabilities that affect both sides.
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Applying the Factor
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The bilateral factor will be applied to such bilateral disabilities before other combinations are carried out and the rating for such disabilities including the bilateral factor in this section will be treated as one disability for the purpose of arranging in order of severity and for all further combinations.
For example, with disabilities evaluated at 60 percent, 20 percent, 10 percent and 10 percent (the two 10's representing bilateral disabilities), the order of severity would be 60, 21 and 20. The 60 and 21 combine to 68 percent and the 68 and 20 to 74 percent, converted to 70 percent as the final degree of disability.
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IMPORTANT NOTES:
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Painful/unstable scars are NOT eligible for bilateral consideration.
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Deep and Superficial scars ARE eligible for bilateral consideration so long as the ratings are NOT:
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Based on whole-body involvement; or
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Specific to the Head, face, and/or neck.
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Hearing and eye disabilities are NOT eligible for bilateral consideration.
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Disabilities that have "Bilateral" in the name do NOT qualify for the bilateral factor (IF they are the only compensatable condition of that extremity!). HOWEVER, if there is another separate disability that affects the the same extremity the other disability AND the bilateral condition WILL get the bilateral factor!
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This does NOT apply to scars, hearing, or eye conditions!
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VA Math Bilateral Factors Example One
Lets look back to Jeff and say instead of a 40% back rating he has a right knee rating of 10%.
Jeff's Combined Rating rounds up to 60%.
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VA Math Bilateral Factors Example Two
Now let's figure out Smith's combined rating. Smith has a several of bilateral and normal conditions: 70% mental health, 40% right shoulder, 20% left ankle, 20% right ankle, 10% right hip, 10% left foot, 10% high blood pressure, and 10% bilateral hearing loss.
Smith's Combined Rating rounds down to 94%.
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CLARIFICATION NOTE:
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Yes, even if the bilateral factor is lower than the first non-bilateral condition it is combined first!
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Is it possible to get a rating higher than 100%?
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No, however under certain circumstances a person may be paid higher than the 100% rate. This is considered Special Monthly Compensation.
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How do I know that my conditions have been given the bilateral factor?
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You would have to look at your Codesheet to see.
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I ran the numbers and it turns out if one of my conditions was NOT given the bilateral factor my combined rating would be 100%! What gives!?
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You may have found yourself in an unfortunate mathematical situation. Due to rounding, the bilateral factor results in you getting 94% instead of 95%. This is NOT an error. It would be better said, it is an oversight of unintended consequences. But as there is currently NO exception in the law that allows the bilateral factor to be 'on' or 'off' for a condition there is nothing that can be done.
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Resources
*Disclaimer: This sub does NOT have any affiliation with this website. By linking them, we are not promoting or recommending their services. We simply recognize that their calculator is accurate and is user friendly.
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