CCK Law: Our Vital Role in Veterans Law
Our VA compensation calculator combines your VA ratings using “VA math,” then shows your potential VA disability rating and compensation.
Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD’s VA disability calculator can also account for several other factors that may increase VA compensation. For example:
In this article, learn how to use the CCK disability calculator, what VA disability ratings and “VA math” are, and how a VA combined rating calculator can help.
How to Use This VA Combined Rating Calculator
To calculate your combined disability percentage using CCK’s 2024 VA Disability Calculator:
- Add each of your ratings, one at a time, by selecting a Disability Rating (e.g., “10%”) then pressing Add. If the rating is for an arm or leg, be sure to select the extremity (e.g., “Left Leg”) before pressing Add.
- Add qualifying dependents.
- Select your marital status.
- If you need to correct a mistake, press the Reset button.
- As you enter information, you will see your potential VA combined disability rating and monthly payment amount update in real-time.
By correctly applying VA math and reminding you to include key VA compensation opportunities, the CCK VA compensation calculator may help you save time, reduce errors, and maximize benefits.
What Are VA Disability Ratings?
To calculate VA disability compensation, VA assigns a rating to a veteran’s disability using the Schedule for Rating Disabilities. A disability rating represents the “average impairment in earning capacity resulting from the given disability or disease and its residual conditions.” VA then uses this rating to determine a veteran’s monthly compensation. (See the Current Disability Rates section below.)
When a disabled veteran has multiple disabilities, VA assumes that the additional disabilities cause less impairment. Therefore, VA uses a complex method—commonly called “VA math”—to calculate a combined disability rating that will never exceed 100 percent (totally disabled).
Manually calculating a combined rating with VA math can be confusing and challenging. To simplify this process, the team at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick has developed a VA disability calculator updated for 2024 rules and compensation amounts.
What is VA Math?
Veterans with one service-connected disability do not need to do VA math or use a VA combined rating calculator. Their single rating will correspond to their monthly disability benefits, as per 38 CFR Book C. See Current Disability Rates, below. (Note that CCK’s VA disability calculator can still be useful for calculating the impact of factors such as dependents.)
However, veterans with multiple ratings and other considerations will have to calculate a combined disability rating. Simply combining all ratings could result in disability ratings above 100 percent, so VA has developed a different approach: each additional disability rating is calculated against the previous rating(s), instead of 100 percent. This “VA math” is VA’s way of accounting for the fact that additional disabilities may have less of an impact on the life of a veteran who is already disabled.
VA math can be confusing and frustrating. Previously, veterans had to use VA’s Combined Ratings Table and Compensation Benefit Rate Tables to calculate their combined disability rating and compensation amount. This led to Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick developing our VA disability calculator.
CCK’s VA combined rating calculator can may give veterans a much quicker and more accurate idea of what to expect if VA grants their disability claims.
Example: Manually Combining VA Ratings with VA Math
For this example, assume there is a veteran with a 50 percent rating for PTSD, 20 percent for TBI residuals, and 10 percent for tinnitus.
Step 1:
- First, subtract 50 percent (PTSD rating) from 100 percent (non-disabled/efficiency) to get 50 percent
- 100% – 50% = 50%
- Now you have a base disability rating of 50 percent.
Step 2:
- Next, take 20 percent(TBI residuals) of 50 percent (remaining efficiency) to get 10 percent.
- 20% of 50% = 10%
Step 3:
- Then, add the 10 percent to the previously determined 50 percent disability rating to get a 60 percent disability rating and a 40 percent efficiency
- 50% + 10% = 60% disability
- 100% – 60% = 40% efficiency
Step 4:
- The 10 percent disability rating for tinnitus is then multiplied by the remaining efficiency of 40 percent to get four percent.
- 10% of 40% = 4%
Step 5:
- Finally, add the four percent to the 60 percent disability rating to get a 64 percent combined disability rating. VA always rounds ratings to the nearest multiple of 10, so the 64 percent rating is rounded down to a final combined disability rating of 60 percent.
In 2024, VA grants veterans with a 60 percent rating and no dependents $1,361.88 per month.
Current Disability Rates
The amount of VA disability compensation benefits eligible veterans receive depends on their level of disability, combined VA rating. The below disability pay chart shows VA’s disability compensation rates (i.e., current ratings).
As of December 1st, 2024, the VA disability rate benefit amounts are as follows:
- 0 percent disability rating: $0.00 per month
- 10 percent disability rating: $175.51 per month
- 20 percent disability rating: $346.95 per month
- 30 percent disability rating: $537.42 per month
- 40 percent disability rating: $774.16 per month
- 50 percent disability rating: $1,102.04 per month
- 60 percent disability rating: $1,395.93 per month
- 70 percent disability rating: $1,759.19 per month
- 80 percent disability rating: $2,044.89 per month
- 90 percent disability rating: $2,297.96 per month
- 100 percent disability rating: $3,831.30 per month
What Factors Increase VA Compensation? Bilateral Factor, Dependents, TDIU, & More
VA provides additional or alternative compensation in several situations. For example:
- Bilateral conditions(a disability affecting both legs, both arms, or paired skeletal muscles), qualifying dependents, and Aid and Attendance.
- Even if your combined disability rating is lower than 100 percent, you may still be able to receive the highest benefit amount through Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability(TDIU). Veterans who cannot secure substantially gainful employment due to their service-connected disability can file a claim for TDIU.
- Sometimes, a veteran’s particular set of disabilities may impair their life more than regular disability rates reflect. Veterans in this situation may qualify for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). Special Monthly Compensation usually replaces standard VA compensation, except for SMC(k).
Have You Been Denied or Underrated by VA? CCK Can Help
If you believe you deserve a higher combined rating or if your military service-connected disability prevents you from working, contact the VA-accredited veterans disability lawyers at CCK for a free case evaluation at 401-753-6359.
Even if your claim was initially denied, you can potentially be awarded benefits retroactively, so it is in your best interest to file your claim or appeal promptly. To learn more about retroactive benefits, take a look at the CCK back pay calculator.
