The 94% Problem: Understanding How VA Math Rounding Affects Your Final Calculator Score

The “94% Problem” is a term used by veterans and VSOs to describe the heartbreaking scenario where a veteran’s combined disabilities total a raw score of 94%. Under 38 CFR 4.25, the VA rounds to the nearest 10%. This means a 94% rating rounds down to 90%, denying the veteran the substantial benefits of a 100% rating. Reaching a raw score of 95% allows the rating to round up to 100%.

The 90% vs. 100% Gap: Why One Point Matters

Many veterans assume the jump from 90% to 100% is just another step on the ladder. In reality, it is the most significant financial leap in the entire VA compensation schedule.

Because the VA rounds your final score, the difference between a raw score of 94% and 95% is effectively the difference between a 90% rating and a 100% rating. With the 2026 COLA increase (2.8%), this gap has widened.

2026 VA Compensation Comparison (Single Veteran)

Raw Combined Score	Final Rounded Rating	Monthly Payment (Est. 2026)	Annual Value
90% – 94%	90%	~$2,362.30	~$28,347
95% – 100%	100%	~$3,938.58	~$47,262
The Cost of “The 94% Problem”		-$1,576.28 / month	-$18,915 / year

As the table demonstrates, missing that single percentage point costs a veteran nearly $19,000 annually. This does not include additional 100% benefits like CHAMPVA healthcare for dependents, Chapter 35 education benefits, or property tax exemptions.

How VA Math Works (The Whole Person Theory)

To understand how you end up at 94%, you must first understand VA Math. The VA does not simply add your percentages together (e.g., 50% + 50% = 100%). Instead, they use the Whole Person Theory.

The logic is simple: If you are 50% disabled, you are 50% “healthy.” If you receive another 50% rating, it is applied only to the remaining 50% healthy portion of your body.

• Step 1: You start with 100% efficiency.
• Step 2: A 50% rating removes 50% efficiency. You are now at 50% total disability. (Remaining healthy: 50%).
• Step 3: A second 50% rating is applied to the remaining 50%. (50% of 50 is 25).
• Step 4: Add the 25% to your original 50%. Total Combined Rating: 75%.

This 75% would then be rounded up to an 80% final rating. As your rating gets higher, it becomes mathematically harder to move the needle. This is why veterans often get “stuck” in the 90s.

The Rounding Rule: The Crucial 5% Threshold

The VA’s rounding rules are strict but consistent. They follow standard rounding logic:

• x.0 to x.4 rounds DOWN to the nearest 10%.
• x.5 to x.9 rounds UP to the nearest 10%.

This creates specific “danger zones” and “safe zones” for veterans aiming for 100%.

Rounding Scenarios

Raw Score Range	Rounding Direction	Final Rating	Outcome
85% – 89%	Up	90%	Paid at 90%
90% – 94%	Down	90%	The 94% Problem (Paid at 90%)
95% – 100%	Up	100%	Success (Paid at 100%)

If your raw score is 94.4%, the VA rounds it to 94%, which then rounds to 90%. If you can find just 1.0% more disability—pushing you to 95%—you round up to 100%.

Case Study: The Heartbreak of 93%

Consider a veteran named Alex. Alex has served multiple tours and has a complex list of injuries. Here is his current rating breakdown:

• PTSD: 70%
• Sleep Apnea: 50%
• Tinnitus: 10%
• Lumbar Strain: 20%

The Math:
1. 70% (PTSD) leaves 30% healthy.
2. 50% (Apnea) of the 30% healthy is 15%. (70 + 15 = 85%). Remaining healthy: 15%.
3. 20% (Back) of the 15% healthy is 3%. (85 + 3 = 88%). Remaining healthy: 12%.
4. 10% (Tinnitus) of the 12% healthy is 1.2%. (88 + 1.2 = 89.2%).

Result: 89.2% rounds to 89%, which rounds up to 90%.
If Alex adds a 20% Radiculopathy claim:
1. Current: 89.2% (10.8% healthy).
2. 20% of 10.8 is 2.16%.
3. 89.2 + 2.16 = 91.36%.

The Problem: Even with a new 20% rating, Alex is at 91%, which still rounds down to 90%. He needs to reach 95%. This illustrates how difficult “VA Math” becomes at the top end. He is receiving the same pay despite having objectively more disabilities.

How to Bridge the Gap (Getting from 94% to 95%)

If you check your VA disability calculator and see a raw score of 93% or 94%, do not lose hope. You are within striking distance. Here are three strategies to find that missing percentage point.

1. Leverage the Bilateral Factor

The Bilateral Factor is a unique VA rule that adds 10% to the value of disabilities that affect paired limbs (e.g., left knee and right knee, or left arm and right arm).

If you have a left knee rating, check your medical records for right knee issues. Even a 10% rating on the opposite limb triggers the calculation boost, which is often enough to push a 93% to a 95%.

2. Secondary Conditions

Primary conditions often cause secondary issues.

• Medication Side Effects: Does your pain medication cause GERD?
• Mental Health: Does your chronic pain cause depression or anxiety?
• Weight Gain: Does your orthopedic injury prevent exercise, leading to obesity and sleep apnea?

Adding a secondary condition, even at a low rating, can chip away at the remaining “healthy” percentage.

3. Look for High-Value, Low-Rating Claims

Sometimes, you don’t need a massive 50% rating to tip the scale. Since you are applying percentages to a small “healthy” remainder, small ratings matter.

• Scars: Painful or unstable scars (10%).
• Tinnitus: Almost always rated at 10%.
• Rhinitis/Sinusitis: Common under the PACT Act (0%, 10%, or 30%).

FAQ: Rounding and VA Math