Disability Rating Combiner
Understanding Combined Disability Ratings
When an individual has multiple service-connected disabilities or impairments, their overall disability rating isn't simply the sum of each individual rating. Instead, a specific method is used to combine these ratings, reflecting the principle that a person cannot be more than 100% disabled, and each subsequent disability impacts a progressively smaller portion of the remaining "whole person."
Why Not Simple Addition?
Imagine a person with a 50% disability in one area and a 60% disability in another. If you simply added them, they would be 110% disabled, which doesn't make logical sense in the context of a "whole person." The combined rating system, often used by organizations like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the United States, accounts for the fact that each additional disability reduces the efficiency of the remaining "abled" portion of the body.
How the Combined Rating Calculator Works
This calculator uses a method similar to the VA's Combined Ratings Table. The process involves the following steps:
- Identify the Highest Rating: The highest individual disability rating is taken first. This rating represents the initial reduction in the "whole person's" efficiency.
- Calculate Remaining Efficiency: The percentage of the person's efficiency that remains after accounting for the highest disability is determined (100% minus the highest rating).
- Apply the Second Rating: The second highest disability rating is then applied to this *remaining* efficiency, not to the original 100%. This calculates how much additional efficiency is lost due to the second disability.
- Sum and Round: The highest rating and the additional loss from the second rating are added together. The final result is then typically rounded to the nearest 10% (e.g., 65% rounds to 70%, 64% rounds to 60%). This rounding simplifies the rating system and is a standard practice in many disability evaluation systems.
Example Calculation
Let's say an individual has two service-connected disabilities:
- Disability A: 50%
- Disability B: 30%
Here's how the calculation proceeds:
- Highest Rating: 50%
- Remaining Efficiency: 100% – 50% = 50%
- Impact of Second Rating: The 30% disability is applied to the remaining 50%. So, 30% of 50% = 0.30 * 0.50 = 0.15 (or 15%).
- Combined Total: 50% (from highest) + 15% (from second) = 65%.
- Rounded Combined Rating: 65% rounds up to 70%.
Therefore, an individual with a 50% and a 30% disability would have a combined rating of 70%.
Important Considerations
- Not Legal or Medical Advice: This calculator provides an estimate based on a common methodology. Actual disability ratings are determined by qualified medical professionals and administrative bodies (like the VA or workers' compensation boards) following specific legal and medical guidelines.
- More Than Two Ratings: While this calculator handles two ratings, systems like the VA have tables and methods for combining three or more ratings sequentially. The principle remains the same: each subsequent rating is applied to the *remaining* efficiency.
- Specific Criteria: Each disability rating is assigned based on specific medical criteria and evidence. The percentage reflects the severity of the condition and its impact on earning capacity or daily life.
Use this calculator as a helpful tool to understand how multiple individual disability ratings can combine into an overall rating, but always consult official sources for definitive information regarding your specific situation.