A VA disability percentage isn’t arbitrary. It’s a number pulled directly from 38 CFR Part 4 — the VA’s Schedule for Rating Disabilities — where every ratable condition is assigned a Diagnostic Code (DC) with discrete tiers (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100%). Each tier has criteria a VA rater applies to your medical records.
The chart below maps the most commonly claimed conditions to their diagnostic codes, available tiers, and the criterion that most often decides which tier a veteran lands on. Below that, the combined-rating math (the “VA Math” under § 4.25), the bilateral factor (§ 4.26), and the percentage-to-dollar conversion in 2026 rates.
The chart — conditions, codes, and tier ranges
The conditions below cover most of the top-volume claims the VA processes. The conditions catalog on this site covers commonly claimed conditions with their 38 CFR Part 4 criteria. Click any row to open the full guide with rating criteria, evidence checklist, and what the rater looks for.
| Condition | DC | CFR | Available tiers (%) | The thing most veterans miss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTSD | 9411 | § 4.130 | 0 / 10 / 30 / 50 / 70 / 100 | General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. 70% if "occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas." |
| Depression | 9434 | § 4.130 | 0 / 10 / 30 / 50 / 70 / 100 | Same General Rating Formula as PTSD. Routinely claimed secondary to chronic pain or other SC conditions. |
| Anxiety | 9400 | § 4.130 | 0 / 10 / 30 / 50 / 70 / 100 | Generalized anxiety disorder. Same mental-health schedule applies. |
| Sleep apnea | 6847 | § 4.97 | 0 / 30 / 50 / 100 | 50% criteria include when disability requires use of a breathing assistance device such as CPAP (not an automatic award; service connection still required). Cor pulmonale or tracheostomy = 100%. |
| Migraines | 8100 | § 4.124a | 0 / 10 / 30 / 50 | 50% requires "very frequent completely prostrating prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability." |
| Tinnitus | 6260 | § 4.87 | 10 (flat) | Capped at 10% whether one ear or both. Lay evidence may support service connection in some cases; VA decides. |
| Hearing loss | 6100 | § 4.85 | 0 → 100 (by audiogram) | Calculated from puretone thresholds + Maryland CNC speech discrimination scores via Tables VI / VIa / VII. |
| Lumbar / cervical spine | 5237 / 5242 | § 4.71a | 10 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 100 | Rated on range of motion measured with a goniometer. Forward flexion thresholds drive each tier. |
| Radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) | 8520 | § 4.124a | 10 / 20 / 40 / 60 / 80 | Each leg is rated separately. § 4.26 can apply when each leg is compensable. |
| Knee — instability | 5257 | § 4.71a | 10 / 20 / 30 | Rated separately from limitation of motion (5260/5261). Each knee gets its own line. |
| Knee — limitation of flexion | 5260 | § 4.71a | 0 / 10 / 20 / 30 | Flexion limited to 60° = 0%, 45° = 10%, 30° = 20%, 15° = 30%. Goniometer measurement required. |
| Hypertension | 7101 | § 4.104 | 10 / 20 / 40 / 60 | 10% if diastolic 100+ or systolic 160+ or on medication for control with history of 100+ diastolic. |
| Coronary artery disease | 7005 | § 4.104 | 10 / 30 / 60 / 100 | Driven by METs on exercise test, LVEF on echo, and presence of CHF. Agent Orange / PACT presumptive. |
| Diabetes mellitus type II | 7913 | § 4.119 | 10 / 20 / 40 / 60 / 100 | Driven by insulin/restricted-diet requirement and episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemia. AO/PACT presumptive. |
| GERD | 7206 | § 4.114 | 0 / 10 / 30 / 50 / 80 | DC 7206 rates documented esophageal stricture and dysphagia: daily medication 10%; dilatation no more than twice a year 30%; dilatation 3+ times a year, steroid dilatation, or a stent 50%; surgery or a PEG tube with aspiration, undernutrition, or substantial weight loss 80%. |
| IBS | 7319 | § 4.114 | 10 / 20 / 30 | 30% = abdominal pain related to defecation at least one day per week during the previous three months, plus two or more of: change in stool frequency, change in stool form, altered stool passage (straining and/or urgency), mucorrhea, abdominal bloating, or subjective distension. 20% = abdominal pain related to defecation for at least three days per month during the previous three months, plus two or more of those findings. 10% = abdominal pain related to defecation at least once during the previous three months, plus two or more of those findings. |
| Asthma | 6602 | § 4.97 | 10 / 30 / 60 / 100 | Daily inhalational anti-inflammatory medication = 30%. FEV-1 thresholds drive higher tiers. |
| Sinusitis | 6510–6514 | § 4.97 | 0 / 10 / 30 / 50 | Capped at 50%. Driven by frequency of incapacitating episodes per year. |
| Eczema | 7806 | § 4.118 | 0 / 10 / 30 / 60 | Capped at 60%. Driven by percent of body surface affected and need for systemic therapy. |
| TBI | 8045 | § 4.124a | 0 / 10 / 40 / 70 / 100 | Rated across 10 facets (memory, judgment, social, motor, etc.) — highest facet level becomes the rating. |
| Erectile dysfunction | 7522 | § 4.115b | 0 (+ SMC-K) | Almost always 0% schedular, but qualifies for SMC-K ($139.87/mo in 2026) for loss of use of a creative organ. |
Source: 38 CFR Part 4 (the Schedule for Rating Disabilities). Dollar values reflect 2026 VA compensation rates (effective Dec 1, 2025).
How the VA actually assigns a percentage
The percentage doesn’t describe how much pain you’re in. It describes the average loss of earning capacity the regulation assigns to a given level of impairment for that body system. That distinction matters: two veterans with identical knee MRIs can be rated very differently if one has documented range-of-motion measurements and the other doesn’t.
The process in three steps:
- Diagnostic Code selection. The rater identifies which DC in Part 4 best matches your condition. For analogous conditions (no exact DC), they rate by closest analog under 38 CFR § 4.20.
- Criterion match. The rater compares the documented symptoms in your C&P exam, medical records, and lay statements against the DC’s rating tiers. The match has to come from the record — they cannot guess.
- Higher of two when in doubt. Under 38 CFR § 4.7, when a disability picture more nearly approximates the higher tier, the higher tier is assigned. Otherwise the lower evaluation is assigned.
Combined ratings — why VA math is not addition
This is the single most-confused topic in the entire system. If you have a 30% rating and a 20% rating, your combined rating is not 50%. It’s 40% after § 4.25 math and rounding.
The combined-rating formula treats each new rating as a percentage of your remaining efficiency:
- Start with 100% efficiency. A 30% rating leaves 70% efficient.
- A 20% rating on top of that takes 20% of the remaining 70 — that’s 14 — leaving 56% efficient, which is 44% disabled.
- Per 38 CFR § 4.25, the result is then rounded to the nearest 10%: 40%.
Apply that pattern across all ratings. The order doesn’t matter — combination is commutative — but the final number always favors higher ratings because they shrink the remaining efficiency faster.
Worked example: 50 + 30 + 20
- 100% → minus 50% = 50% remaining efficiency
- 50% → minus 30% of 50 (15) = 35% remaining efficiency
- 35% → minus 20% of 35 (7) = 28% remaining efficiency = 72% disabled
- Rounded to nearest 10% = 70%
The interactive version of that math, including up to 12 ratings and the bilateral factor, is the VA Math Calculator on this site.
The bilateral factor under § 4.26
When each side of a paired extremity, or paired skeletal muscles, has a compensable service-connected rating, 38 CFR § 4.26 combines those two ratings the usual way and adds 10 percent of that combined value (added, not combined again) before the result combines with other disabilities. Section 4.26(c) requires a partial disability of compensable degree on each side. Section 4.26(d) leaves a disability out of the factor when that produces a higher combined evaluation.
Worked example: bilateral knees
- Right knee, 10% (DC 5260) — left knee, 10% (DC 5260)
- Combine: 10% + 10% under § 4.25 → 19%
- Bilateral factor adds 10% of 19 = 1.9 → 20.9%
- Combined with other body systems, then rounded to nearest 10%
The bilateral factor in 38 CFR § 4.26 applies when a partial disability results from disease or injury of both arms, both legs, or paired skeletal muscles. The regulation uses “arms” and “legs” for the upper and lower extremities as a whole. It does not describe a bilateral factor for eyes or ears.
Percentage → dollar value (2026 rates)
Once you know your combined rating, the percentage maps to a fixed monthly tax-free payment under 38 CFR § 3.4. The 2026 rates (effective Dec 1, 2025) are:
| Rating | 2026 monthly (single vet) | Annual, tax-free |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $2,165 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $4,280 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $6,630 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $9,550 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $13,595 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $17,220 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $21,701 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $25,226 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $28,348 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $47,263 |
2026 rates for a single veteran with no dependents. Source: va.gov FY2026, per 38 CFR § 3.4.
At 30% or higher, additional money is paid for dependents (spouse, children under 18, dependent parents, school-age children 18–22). The complete 2026 dependent table is in the 2026 VA Disability Rates article. The interactive calculator that bakes in dependents and SMC is the Claim-Worth Estimator.
Estimated 2027 rates (3.6% COLA, not yet official)
Social Security announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment on October 14, 2026. The table below puts that estimate next to the current 2026 veteran-alone rates, from 10% through 100%. The plain-English walkthrough is Estimated 2027 VA disability COLA rates.
Estimated 2027 rates (3.6% COLA, not yet official)
| Rating | 2026 monthly (single vet) | Estimated 2027 monthly (single vet) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $186.92 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $369.50 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $572.36 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $824.49 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,173.68 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,486.68 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,873.55 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,177.83 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,447.34 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,080.37 |
Each estimated amount is the 2026 veteran-alone rate multiplied by 1.036 and rounded to the nearest cent. COLA percent: 3.6. These figures are not a VA rate table. SSA announced the 3.6% COLA on October 14, 2026. The expected effective date is Dec 1, 2026 (paid starting January 2027) once enacted.
VA compensation COLA usually matches Social Security’s, but it becomes official only after Congress passes the annual Veterans’ COLA act and VA publishes rates (usually around December). These estimates will be replaced when VA publishes official rates. SSA press release, October 14, 2026.
What actually moves the tier — three plays
Once you understand the chart, the moves that change a rating are almost always the same three:
- Get the facts into the record. The rater rates what the records document, so make sure your providers’ notes accurately record frequency, severity, and how the condition affects work and daily life. You can describe your actual symptoms plainly to your provider.
- Claim every secondary condition. Conditions caused or aggravated by an already-service-connected condition stack new lines on your combined rating. The 5 most-missed secondary claims cover the highest-value ones.
- Paired extremities. If your left knee is service-connected and the right knee is also service-connected at 10% or more, § 4.26 can apply to those two ratings, subject to § 4.26(d). The same rule can apply to radiculopathy rated in both legs when each leg is compensable. Pain in the other knee, by itself, is not a rating and does not trigger the factor.
What to do next
Identify your current ratings. Run them through the VA Math Calculator to confirm the combined rating on your award letter is correct. Then add a hypothetical new rating (e.g., the secondary you’ve been thinking about claiming) and see what tier you land on. The marginal monthly dollar value of moving from one tier to the next is usually the thing that motivates a new claim.
For per-condition rating criteria and what the rater looks for, every diagnostic code in this article links to the full guide in the conditions catalog.
Quick answers
What does my VA disability percentage actually mean?
Your VA disability percentage is the average loss of earning capacity 38 CFR Part 4 assigns to your service-connected condition. Each diagnostic code has its own rating schedule — the percentage is not a measure of severity in plain English, it is the regulatory number that maps to a dollar amount and to entitlement for benefits like CHAMPVA, Chapter 35, and SMC.
Why does 30% + 20% + 20% not equal 70%?
Because VA combined ratings under 38 CFR § 4.25 use the "remaining efficiency" formula, not addition. Each new rating is applied to the body that's left after prior ratings, then rounded to the nearest 10%. Two 30% ratings combine to 51% (round to 50%), not 60%. The full math is in the VA Math Calculator on this site.
What is the bilateral factor?
When each side of a paired extremity (or paired skeletal muscles) has a compensable service-connected rating, VA combines those two ratings and adds 10 percent of that combined value before combining with other disabilities (38 CFR § 4.26). The factor does not apply unless each side is compensable. Section 4.26(d) leaves a disability out of the factor when that produces a higher combined evaluation.
What is the highest VA disability percentage?
The highest schedular rating is 100%. Above that, Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) tiers under 38 CFR § 3.350 replace the 100% base rate with a higher payment for specific anatomical losses, paired-limb loss, blindness, housebound status, or needing Aid and Attendance. On the VA.gov SMC table effective December 1, 2025, SMC-R.2/T for a veteran alone (no dependents) is $11,271.67 per month.
How is my VA percentage actually rated?
Each service-connected condition is matched to a Diagnostic Code (DC) in 38 CFR Part 4. The DC has a rating schedule with criteria for each percentage tier (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100). The VA examiner documents your symptoms in the C&P exam and the rater applies the schedule criterion that matches. The match has to come from your records — the rater cannot guess.
Can I add up two ratings to get higher money?
No — ratings do not add. They combine under the § 4.25 efficiency table. But you can stack additional service-connected conditions to push your combined rating up a tier, and you can claim secondary conditions caused or aggravated by your existing ratings to add more lines. That stacking is how veterans actually move from 50% to 70%, 90%, or 100%.
Is there a chart that shows every condition and its rating?
The complete rating schedule lives in 38 CFR Part 4 (the entire VA rating manual). The table in this article shows the most commonly claimed conditions and their typical tier ranges. The conditions catalog on this site covers commonly claimed conditions with their 38 CFR Part 4 criteria.
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Educational content only. This is not legal, medical, or financial advice. Always consult an accredited VSO or VA-accredited attorney for claim-specific guidance. Sources checked October 14, 2026: 38 CFR §§ 4.7, 4.25, 4.26, 4.71a, 4.85, 4.97, 4.104, 4.114, 4.115b, 4.118, 4.119, 4.124a, and 4.130 (eCFR as of October 5, 2026). The 2026 dollar table reflects VA.gov compensation rates effective December 1, 2025 (page updated December 2, 2025). The estimated 2027 column applies the October 14, 2026 SSA COLA of 3.6% to those rates. It is not a VA publication and will be replaced when VA publishes official rates.