What do 60%, 40% and 20% VA disability ratings combine to?
60%, 40% and 20% disability ratings combine to 81%, which rounds to a 80% combined rating. They do not add up to 120%, because each rating applies only to the part of the body that is still considered healthy.
VA does not add ratings together. It combines them using the table in 38 CFR §4.25, starting with the most severe and applying each next rating to whatever percentage remains. This page shows that arithmetic step by step for 60%, 40% and 20%.
Step by step
| Step | Rating applied | Applied to | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60% | the starting rating | 60% |
| 2 | 40% | 40% still healthy | 76% |
| 3 | 20% | 24% still healthy | 81% |
§4.25 then rounds the combined value to the nearest ten, so 81% becomes a 80% combined rating. Compensation is paid at that rounded rating.
Monthly compensation at 80%
These are the published VA rates for a 80% combined rating, effective December 1, 2025. The amount depends on dependents, and other factors can change it, so treat these as the table figures, not as a statement about any individual payment.
| Veteran alone | $2,102.15 |
| With spouse | $2,277.15 |
| Spouse + 1 child | $2,406.15 |
| With spouse and two parents | $2,557.15 |
What a 80% rating may open up
A combined rating is the key that federal programs check. See the programs a 80% combined rating may make a veteran eligible for, each with its official citation and the agency that decides it, on the 80% benefits page.
Where this can differ from a real decision
This page combines the numbers in its own URL. A real decision letter can differ for reasons the arithmetic alone does not show: paired limbs add the bilateral factor before the rest is combined, some conditions cannot be rated separately because of pyramiding, and effective dates can mean different ratings applied at different times.
To see the arithmetic on the conditions in your own letter, including the bilateral factor where it applies, you can decode your rating letter, or try other numbers in the combined rating calculator.
Other combinations
- 90% and 60% combines to 100%
- 90% and 40% combines to 90%
- 90% and 20% combines to 90%
- 80% and 60% combines to 90%
- 80% and 40% combines to 90%
- 80% and 20% combines to 80%