Fact Check: Are New Rating Rules Cutting Va Disability Checks in 2026?
By Chloe Bennett
One major source of confusion is "VA Math." When veterans receive service connections for multiple injuries, the government does not calculate the total by simple addition. Instead, the department calculates the combined disability rating using a descending non-additive formula based on whole-body efficiency.
Consider a veteran with a 50% rating for PTSD and a 30% rating for a back injury. The VA does not add these together to make 80%. Instead, the veteran's highest rating is applied first, leaving them 50% efficient. The 30% rating is then applied to the remaining 50%, producing an additional 15%. Added together, that yields 65%, which rounds to a combined rating of 70%.
This math means securing an incremental increase becomes harder as total percentages rise. Moving from 90% to 100% requires 50 points of additional individual disability. It also means losing a 10% secondary rating rarely collapses an overall award, giving families stability even if an individual condition is reassessed down the line.
Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.
