Question 1

What is 50 and 40% VA disability combined?

Accepted Answer

50 and 40% combines to a 70% VA disability rating (70% before rounding to the nearest 10%), not 90%. The VA uses whole-person math: each rating only applies to the portion still healthy after the previous one. A 70% rating pays $1,808/month in 2026 for a veteran alone.

Question 2

Why isn't 50 and 40 equal to 90%?

Accepted Answer

Because the VA never adds ratings. After a 50% rating, only 50% 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%.

50 and 40% VA Disability = 70%

Other common combinations

Get the 70% VA rate when it changes

Rating	Healthy before	Adds	Running total
50%	100%	+50	50%
40%	50%	+20	70%
Combined (70%, rounded to nearest 10%)			70%