Question 1

What is 30 and 20% VA disability combined?

Accepted Answer

30 and 20% combines to a 40% VA disability rating (44% before rounding to the nearest 10%), not 50%. The VA uses whole-person math: each rating only applies to the portion still healthy after the previous one. A 40% rating pays $796/month in 2026 for a veteran alone.

Question 2

Why isn't 30 and 20 equal to 50%?

Accepted Answer

Because the VA never adds ratings. After a 30% rating, only 70% of the "whole person" is left, so the next rating applies to that smaller amount. This always yields less than the simple sum, capped at 100%.

30 and 20% VA Disability = 40%

Other common combinations

Get the 40% VA rate when it changes

Rating	Healthy before	Adds	Running total
30%	100%	+30	30%
20%	70%	+14	44%
Combined (44%, rounded to nearest 10%)			40%