How does VA math work — why doesn’t 50% + 50% equal 100%?
I have two 50% ratings, but my total combined rating is only 80%. This doesn't make any sense to me. Why doesn't the VA just add the percentages together?
1 Answer
VA ratings are not added; they are combined. The VA views a veteran as a "whole person" (100%). Each disability takes a percentage of what is left of that "whole." Example (50% + 50%): 1. You start at 100% healthy. 2. Your first 50% disability makes you 50% disabled and 50% healthy. 3. Your second 50% disability doesn't take 50% from the original 100%; it takes 50% of the *remaining* 50% healthy part. 4. 50% of 50 is 25. So you add 25% to your initial 50%. 5. Total = 75%. The VA then rounds to the nearest 10%, which is 80%. This is why it becomes increasingly difficult to reach 100% as your rating climbs—you are fighting for a smaller and smaller piece of "remaining" health.