Combined VA Disability Rating — 10% + 10%
Combining a 10% and 10% VA disability rating under 38 CFR § 4.25 results in a 20% combined rating, which pays $356.66/month ($4,280.00/year) in 2026 for a veteran without dependents. The VA uses whole-person theory — ratings do not add arithmetically.
First Rating
10%
Second Rating
10%
VA Combined
20%
$356.66/mo
“Disabilities will be evaluated on a combined rating from 0 to 100 percent, as provided in the rating schedule, by using the combined ratings table and rounding to the nearest 10 percent.”
How is a 10% + 10% combined rating calculated?
The VA applies the whole-person formula: start with 10%, which uses 10 of 100 whole persons, leaving 90 remaining. The 10% disability is then applied to those 90 remaining persons:
The arithmetic sum would be 20%. The VA whole-person result is 20% — a difference of 0 percentage points. This gap grows as both ratings increase.
How much does a 20% VA disability rating pay monthly?
| Situation | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $356.66 | $4,280.00 |
Dependent allowances begin at 30% under 38 CFR § 3.4. At 20%, the rate is the same regardless of dependents.
All rates are tax-free under 26 U.S.C. § 104(a)(4) and effective December 1, 2025.
What benefits do I get at 20%?
9 cumulative federal benefits available at 20%. See the full 20% compensation detail →
Service-Connected Status
Since 0%VA Healthcare (Priority Group 5)
Since 0%VA Home Loan Eligibility
Since 0%Monthly Compensation
Since 10%VA Home Loan Funding Fee Waiver
Since 10%VA Healthcare (Priority Group 3)
Since 10%VR&E Chapter 31
Since 10%State Property Tax Benefits
Since 10%VR&E Serious Employment Handicap
Unlocks at 20%How can I reach a higher combined rating?
Because of whole-person math, adding a new condition has diminishing returns as your existing combined rating climbs. The most effective paths to a higher rating are:
Increase an existing condition
If one of your current ratings has room to increase (e.g., from 30% to 50%), appealing that single rating often produces a larger combined increase than adding a new low-rated condition.
Establish secondary conditions
Secondary conditions caused or aggravated by your primary service-connected disability are ratable on their own. PTSD, sleep apnea, hypertension, and joint conditions are common secondaries.
File for TDIU
If your combined disabilities prevent substantially gainful employment, TDIU pays at the 100% rate regardless of your combined percentage under 38 CFR § 4.16.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VA combined rating for 10% + 10%?
Combining a 10% and 10% VA disability rating under 38 CFR § 4.25 yields 20%. The VA uses whole-person theory: 10% is applied to 100 whole persons, leaving 90 remaining. The 10% is then applied to those 90 remaining persons (90 × 10% = 9), giving a combined raw value of 19, which rounds to 20%.
Is the combined rating just 10 + 10 = 20%? Why not?
No. The VA does not add ratings arithmetically. It applies the "whole person" theory: 10% is rated against 100%, leaving 90% remaining. The 10% disability is then rated against that 90% remainder — not the full 100%. This means two 50% disabilities combine to 75% (not 100%), and the result is always less than the arithmetic sum, unless one rating is 0%.
What does a 20% rating pay per month in 2026?
A 20% VA disability rating pays $356.66/month ($4,280.00/year) for a veteran without dependents in 2026. This compensation is tax-free under 26 U.S.C. § 104(a)(4).
Is the combined VA rating system different from other federal disability systems?
Yes. The VA combined ratings table (38 CFR § 4.25) is unique to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), OPM FERS/CSRS disability, and DOD disability ratings use separate legal frameworks. A VA combined rating has no bearing on SSDI eligibility, and vice versa.
Can I qualify for TDIU with a 20% combined rating?
TDIU under 38 CFR § 4.16(a) requires a combined rating of 70% (with one disability at 40%+) or a single rating of 60%. At 20%, you would need additional service-connected conditions to qualify through the standard path. Extra-schedular TDIU under § 4.16(b) is available in exceptional cases.
What does 38 CFR § 4.25 say about rounding?
Section 4.25 states: "The combined value will be converted to the nearest degree divisible by 10, adjusting final values of 5 or more up and values less than 5 down." This means a raw combined value of 65 rounds to 70%, and a raw value of 64 rounds to 60%. The rounding step is the last step — it applies to the final combined value, not to intermediate calculations.
How is the 10% + 10% combined rating different from a single 20% rating?
For compensation purposes, the outcomes are identical — both pay the same monthly rate at 20%. However, the underlying individual ratings matter for TDIU eligibility (which looks at single-condition ratings), for SMC eligibility (which has specific rating requirements), and for future rating increases, since each condition can be rated independently on appeal.
Find What's Driving Your Combined Rating
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