The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses a disability calculator to determine your combined VA disability rating. If you have more than one service-connected disability, the VA will assign a separate rating for each. The VA will then combine those ratings using their own disability calculator to come up with your overall, or “combined,” rating.
Here’s how the VA calculates your combined rating:
Step 1: Assign a Severity Rating to Each Condition
The Veterans Administration (VA) uses a disability rating system to assess the severity of a veteran’s injuries or illnesses and determine their eligible benefits. The ratings range from 0% to 100% and are assigned based on the veteran’s medical records evidence.
The VA will first assign a severity rating to each of your disabilities and then combine those ratings to arrive at an overall disability rating. The VA disability calculator can help determine your overall disability rating. The higher your overall disability rating, the greater the level of benefits you will receive.
Step 2: Convert Your Condition’s Severity to Points
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses a disability rating system to determine the level of benefits you are eligible for. The VA will first assess the severity of your disabilities and then convert that into a points value. The more severe your disabilities, the higher the points value will be.
For example, a 10% severity rating would be worth 4 points, while a 40% severity rating would be worth 16 points. The VA will then use your total points to determine your benefits package.
The more points you have, your monthly benefit payments will be higher. In addition, the VA may also provide other benefits, such as healthcare or education assistance, depending on your total points score.
Step 3: Calculate Your Total Points
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses a point-based system to determine eligibility for VA benefits. The VA will consider your military service, disability, and financial need when awarding benefits.
To calculate your “total points,” the VA will first assign point values to different factors, such as length of service, type of discharge, and disability rating. Then, they will add up all the points values to get your “total points.”
The higher your total points, the greater your eligibility for VA benefits. You can contact your local VA office or visit their website if you have any questions about how the VA calculates benefits.
Step 4: Assign a Rating
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses a point system to assign a combined disability rating for service-connected conditions. This rating is based on the severity of your impairments, with more severe conditions receiving a higher rating.
The lowest possible rating is 10%, which indicates that your condition has a minimal impact on your ability to function. The highest possible rating is 100%, which suggests that your condition is so severe that it prevents you from working or engaging in other meaningful activities.
Most veterans fall in the middle, with a disability rating of between 30% and 60%. To determine your total points, the VA will consider the number and severity of your conditions. If you have multiple conditions, they will be assigned separate ratings and then added together to arrive at your combined rating.
The VA will also consider any exceptional circumstances that may apply to your case, such as whether you require regular hospitalization or are unable to work due to your conditions. Once your total points have been determined, the VA will assign you a combined disability rating that reflects the overall severity of your service-connected impairments.
A Collective Example
Here’s an example: Let’s say you have three service-connected disabilities, each rated at 40%. The VA would first convert each 40% severity rating into a points value of 16 (40% x 4 = 16).
They would then add up the three points values to get 48 total points. Using their disability calculator, the VA would then determine that a combined VA disability rating of 50% is appropriate for someone with 48 total points.
Seek Guidance
Calculating your VA disability rating can be a complicated process. Reach out to a VA benefits lawyer for support. After reviewing your case they can help you determine what VA rating and benefits to expect.
