Question 1

What is 70 and 20% VA disability combined?

Accepted Answer

70 and 20% combines to a 80% VA disability rating (76% 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 80% rating pays $2,102/month in 2026 for a veteran alone.

Question 2

Why isn't 70 and 20 equal to 90%?

Accepted Answer

Because the VA never adds ratings. After a 70% rating, only 30% 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%.

70 and 20% VA Disability = 80%

Other common combinations

Get the 80% VA rate when it changes

Rating	Healthy before	Adds	Running total
70%	100%	+70	70%
20%	30%	+6	76%
Combined (76%, rounded to nearest 10%)			80%