Ever feel like your VA rating doesn’t add up?
You’re not alone—and you’re definitely not crazy.
SGT Joseph “Joe” Smith knows the feeling all too well. After losing his brother and returning from combat, he didn’t just face emotional wounds—he faced a confusing wall of numbers, percentages, and “combined ratings” that made no sense. A 70% disability rating and a 30% rating doesn’t equal 100%? What?
That’s when Joe went to work.
He studied the system, talked to other vets, ran the numbers, and finally cracked the formula. It wasn’t broken—it was just funky. And that’s how the phrase “Funky VA Math” was born. Not a joke—just a brutally honest look at how the VA actually calculates your combined disability rating.
Here’s a hint: It’s not additive.
The VA uses a formula that ranks conditions in order of severity and reduces the remaining “healthy” percentage as each new rating is applied. It’s more like layers than stacking blocks.
Why does it matter?
Because understanding the math puts the power back in your hands.
It helps you prepare stronger claims, ask better questions, and avoid the trap of misunderstanding your benefits.
This is why FTV|BTV Magazine exists. In every issue, we break it down—plain talk, real examples, straight answers because you deserve to know what’s going on with your own case.
If you’re scratching your head over your own rating—or trying to help someone else figure theirs out—start here.
Joe’s journey from confusion to clarity began with the math.
Let it start there for you, too.
Visit our website to sign up for the newsletter and check out Issue #1: Survivor.
And don’t miss Issue #2: The BDD Process, where Joe walks through a full VA Math example—step by step, with visuals to make it crystal clear.
One step at a time. One number at a time. We’ve got you.
