If you have disabilities that affect both sides of your body — like both knees, shoulders, or legs — the VA uses a special rule called the Bilateral Factor to calculate your rating.
Most vets don’t even know it exists.
🦵 What’s the Bilateral Factor?
It’s a bonus percentage the VA applies on top of your combined rating when:
- Both arms OR both legs are affected
- The conditions contribute to your overall disability
- They’re rated separately
💡 Example:
- Left shoulder = 20%
- Right shoulder = 10%
- → Bilateral factor adds ~4% bonus
- → Could push you from 76% to 80% (rounded)
That means higher monthly pay — and closer to 100%.
📈 Why It’s Overlooked
The VA is supposed to apply it automatically, but sometimes:
- Conditions aren’t coded clearly
- Ratings are grouped wrong
- The factor is missed in calculation