The VA does not add individual disability percentages together in a simple arithmetic way. Instead, it uses what is often called the "VA math" system, formally the Combined Ratings Table found in 38 CFR 4.25. Under this method, each additional disability is applied to the portion of the body that is considered still 100% efficient, not to the whole person. For example, if you are already rated at 40%, that means the VA considers you 60% "able-bodied" for rating purposes. A new 10% rating is applied to that remaining 60%, which works out to a 6% increase, not a full 10%. When combined ratings are calculated, the result is rounded to the nearest 10, per 38 CFR 4.25. Depending on where your existing ratings fall, a new rating can round down to the same overall percentage you already had, meaning no change in your combined rating or monthly compensation, even though the new condition is service-connected and officially rated.
This is especially common with smaller ratings like 10% for tinnitus, which is one of the most frequently granted but lowest-weighted ratings VA issues. Being service-connected for a condition still has value even if it does not raise your combined percentage: it can support future claims (such as secondary conditions), it is part of your permanent VA record, and it may matter for eligibility determinations tied to having any service-connected disability rather than a specific overall percentage.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →Also relevant is 38 CFR 4.26, the bilateral factor, which can slightly increase the combined rating when two or more conditions affect both sides of the body, such as bilateral hearing loss or paired limb conditions. This does not apply to tinnitus alone but can matter for other combinations veterans accumulate over time.
If you believe your combined rating was calculated incorrectly, you can request your ratings decision letter, which shows the math VA used, and compare it against the Combined Ratings Table in 38 CFR 4.25. If there appears to be an error, you can file a Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996) or a Supplemental Claim (VA Form 20-0995) to have the calculation reviewed.
The concrete next step is to pull your actual decision letter and check the combined ratings math against 38 CFR 4.25 before assuming the result is wrong, and file a Higher-Level Review if you find a genuine calculation error.
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