Quick Answer: The VA rounds your combined disability value to the nearest 10% under 38 CFR § 4.25. Values ending in 5 or higher round up; values ending in 4 or lower round down. A raw combined value of 74% becomes 70% (losing $354/month), while 75% becomes 80% — making the single decimal point between them worth potentially thousands of dollars annually.
The Official VA Rounding Rule
Under 38 CFR § 4.25, after combining all disability ratings using the Whole Person method, the VA converts the final decimal value to the nearest 10%:
- 0–4 at the end → Round down (e.g., 64% → 60%)
- 5–9 at the end → Round up (e.g., 65% → 70%)
The VA does not round to the nearest 5% — only to the nearest 10%.
The Dollar Impact of Rounding
| Raw Combined Value | Official Rating | Monthly Pay (2026, No Deps) |
|---|---|---|
| 64% | 60% | $1,361.88 |
| 65% | 70% | $1,716.28 |
| 74% | 70% | $1,716.28 |
| 75% | 80% | $1,995.01 |
| 84% | 80% | $1,995.01 |
| 85% | 90% | $2,241.91 |
A raw combined value of 65% vs 64% means $354/month more — $4,248/year — for life. The rounding threshold matters enormously.
How to Use Rounding Strategically
If your combined value is hovering just below a rounding threshold (e.g., 73%), adding a secondary condition or getting an increased rating on an existing condition could push you above 75% — triggering an upward round to 80%. An accredited VSO can calculate your exact combined value and identify which conditions, if successfully claimed or increased, would push you above the next rounding threshold.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at exactly 95%?
A raw combined value of 95% rounds up to 100% — the maximum schedular rating. If your combined value reaches 95% or higher, you receive a 100% schedular rating and the full $3,737.85/month compensation rate (2026, no dependents).
Does the bilateral factor affect rounding?
Yes. The bilateral factor is applied before rounding, so it can push a raw combined value from just below a rounding threshold to just above one. This is why bilateral conditions are worth filing even when individual ratings seem small.