Va Math - Determining Your Rating

[Sgt Will Dove USMC]

I was recently moved from 60% to 90% SC disabled. I asked the rater how they determine this when I have 7 disablities with the following ratings.

50%

30%

30%

20%

20%

10%

10%

looks like is should be 170% to me!

well he explained that the VA does not simply add them together and get a number. it is basically 50% of 100, and then 30% of whats left, and then 30% of whats left after that, and so on down the line.

They start with 100 points and subtract the 50% from that (50 points)... then they take the 50 points and subtract 30% (15 points), then they take the 35 and subtract the 30% (10.5 points)........

To make is easy I created a spreadsheet that calculates upto 30 disabilites for you.

The form is hosting on my company webserver, as I am not sure I can add the file here. Please feel free to download and use the file as needed.

Vet Assist - VA Math

[deltaj]

I was recently moved from 60% to 90% SC disabled. I asked the rater how they determine this when I have 7 disablities with the following ratings.

50%

30%

30%

20%

20%

10%

10%

looks like is should be 170% to me!

well he explained that the VA does not simply add them together and get a number. it is basically 50% of 100, and then 30% of whats left, and then 30% of whats left after that, and so on down the line.

They start with 100 points and subtract the 50% from that (50 points)... then they take the 50 points and subtract 30% (15 points), then they take the 35 and subtract the 30% (10.5 points)........

To make is easy I created a spreadsheet that calculates upto 30 disabilites for you.

The form is hosting on my company webserver, as I am not sure I can add the file here. Please feel free to download and use the file as needed.

Vet Assist - VA Math

I'll try to explain it so it is understandable and I may go wrong calculating the math without using a combined rating table. V.A. goes by residual earning capacity, the capacity remaining after a disability is subtracted.

Subtract the 50% from 100% and a residual earning capacity of 50% remains.

Multiple the 50% residual earning capacity for the primary disability by 30% for the second disability and you get 15%. Add the 15% back to 50% and you get a combined rating for the first two service connected disabilities of 65%.

Subtract the 65% from 100% and you get a residual earning capacity after the first two disabilities of 35%. Multiply that 35% residual earning capacity by 30% for the third disability and you get 10.5% which is rounded up to 11%. Add that 11% back to the combined rating of 65% for the first two disabilities and you get a combined rating for the first 3 disabilities of 76%.

Subtract the 76% combined rating for the first 3 disabilities from 100% and you get a residual earning capacity of 24% after the first 3 disabilities are considered. Multiple that 24% by 20% for the fourth disability and you get 4.8% which is rounded up to 5%. Add that 5% to 76% and you get 81% combined rating for the first four disabilities.

Subtract 81% combined rating for the first four disabilities and subtract it from 100% and you get a residual earning capacity after the first four disabilities of 19%. Multiple that 19% by 20% for the fifth disability and you get 3.8% which is rounded up to 4%. Add that 4% to 81% combined rating for the first five disabilities and you have a combined rating of 85% for those five disabilities.

Subract 85% combined rating for the first five disabilites from 100% and you have a residual earning capacity after those five disabilities of 15%. Multiply that 15% residual earning capacity by 10% for the sixth disability and you have 1.5% which is rounded up to 2. Add the 2% back to 85% and you have a combined rating for the first six disabilities of 87%.

Subtract the 88% combined rating for the first six disabilities from 100% and you have a residual earning capacity of 12%. Multiply the 12% by 10% for the seventh disability and you get 1.2% which is not rounded up after the decimal. Add the 1% to the 87% combined rating and you get a combined rating for the first seven service-connected disabilites of 88%.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. It's a little before 6 a.m. here in Montana and I'm still working fulltime so please forgive me if I made any errors in the above process. Don't rely on my above math. Use a combined ratings table to figure this out.

The above calcuations were done beginning about 5 a.m.

Delta Jackson

Edited March 26, 2010 by deltaj

[Vync]

I think the VA should post a SC calculator on thier site which matches their fuzzy math and also allows you to see the SC payments and SMC for various conditions all in one spot

[bob_abad]

I'll try to explain it so it is understandable and I may go wrong calculating the math without using a combined rating table. V.A. goes by residual earning capacity, the capacity remaining after a disability is subtracted.

Subtract the 50% from 100% and a residual earning capacity of 50% remains.

Multiple the 50% residual earning capacity for the primary disability by 30% for the second disability and you get 15%. Add the 15% back to 50% and you get a combined rating for the first two service connected disabilities of 65%.

Subtract the 65% from 100% and you get a residual earning capacity after the first two disabilities of 35%. Multiply that 35% residual earning capacity by 30% for the third disability and you get 10.5% which is rounded up to 11%. Add that 11% back to the combined rating of 65% for the first two disabilities and you get a combined rating for the first 3 disabilities of 76%.

Subtract the 76% combined rating for the first 3 disabilities from 100% and you get a residual earning capacity of 24% after the first 3 disabilities are considered. Multiple that 24% by 20% for the fourth disability and you get 4.8% which is rounded up to 5%. Add that 5% to 76% and you get 81% combined rating for the first four disabilities.

Subtract 81% combined rating for the first four disabilities and subtract it from 100% and you get a residual earning capacity after the first four disabilities of 19%. Multiple that 19% by 20% for the fifth disability and you get 3.8% which is rounded up to 4%. Add that 4% to 81% combined rating for the first five disabilities and you have a combined rating of 85% for those five disabilities.

Subract 85% combined rating for the first five disabilites from 100% and you have a residual earning capacity after those five disabilities of 15%. Multiply that 15% residual earning capacity by 10% for the sixth disability and you have 1.5% which is rounded up to 2. Add the 2% back to 85% and you have a combined rating for the first six disabilities of 87%.

Subtract the 88% combined rating for the first six disabilities from 100% and you have a residual earning capacity of 12%. Multiply the 12% by 10% for the seventh disability and you get 1.2% which is not rounded up after the decimal. Add the 1% to the 87% combined rating and you get a combined rating for the first seven service-connected disabilites of 88%.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. It's a little before 6 a.m. here in Montana and I'm still working fulltime so please forgive me if I made any errors in the above process. Don't rely on my above math. Use a combined ratings table to figure this out.

The above calcuations were done beginning about 5 a.m.

Delta Jackson

Hi Delta,

If I am 60% now, and "if" I be granted w/ my OSA re-open claim using CPAP(50%), that means 80% for me? Just curious..

[deltaj]

Hi Delta,

If I am 60% now, and "if" I be granted w/ my OSA re-open claim using CPAP(50%), that means 80% for me? Just curious..

Subract the 60% from 100% and you get a residual earning capacity of 40%. Then take 50% of 40% and you get 20%. Add the 20% back to the 60% and you get 80%. You need to talk to your appointed representative about filing a claim for TDIU (total disability individual unemployability) so you can get paid at the 100% rate.