There is now only 2.8 ounces, or 28%, of the water that was in the full 10 ounce glass 7.2 ounces, or 72%, of the water is now gone.īut because Congress only authorized disability ratings in 10% increments, VA rounds the final calculation to the nearest 10%.
That is, only 70% of the 4 ounces remains. Of that water that remains, you pour out another 30%. What is left is 4 ounces, or 40% of the water. It may be easier to think of it this way: you have a 10 ounce glass of water and you pour out 60% of that water. This leaves the veteran only 28% efficient, or 72% disabled. If that same veteran also has a separate 30% disability rating, of the 40% of his or her original efficiency that previously remained, he or she lost 30% of that 40% (that is, he or she retains only 70% of that 40%).
Therefore this veteran has 40% of the ability to work. For example, if a veteran carries a 60% disability rating, he or she is 40% non-disabled. Under this system the VA looks not only at the VA disabled rating but also the non-disabled percentage. According to § 4.25, the VA compares the effect of the most disabling condition against the veteran’s least disabling condition. § 4.25 to combine multiple ratings into a single award. This is so because VA uses the Combined Ratings Table at 38 C.F.R. Rated independently, the sum of each disability rating is often larger than what VA actually awards. Many veterans have multiple disabilities. Regardless of the number of disabilities or how great the aggregate disability ratings, no veteran may be assigned a disability rating greater than 100% or be more disabled than "total" for VA rating purposes. A 100 percent rating is the highest possible rating. Congress only allows VA to award disability ratings from 10% to 100% in 10 percent increments. Instead it assigns you an 80% rating, which, at first glance, appears to be a 30% reduction in your rating. However, the VA does not award that rating. Basic math would tell you that you should have a combined total 110% disability rating. Unfortunately simple addition is not a central feature of “VA math.” For example, a veteran may be awarded compensation at the 60% rate for one disability and the 50% rate for another disability. But this is not the case, and understanding why involves learning the basics of “VA math.” It appears that the VA granted more benefits with one hand, but took away all or part of them with the other. So, while the VA awarded an increased disability rating, the overall compensation did not change, or the disability ratings assigned do not “add up” correctly. A common complaint among clients is that the VA took away part of a veteran’s service connected disability compensation benefits when it granted an award.