The math the Department of Veteran Affairs uses to tally a veteran’s disability rating is more complicated than rocket science. A person would think that it is simple adding of the various disability ratings. This is not the case. This is a rough example of VA math: 50% PTSD…total of 100 as starting point…50% of 100 is 50. So far, so good. The veteran is now rated at 50% disabled. 20% for feet…Now the starting point is 50 since that is what is left after the initial disability rating. 20% of 50 is 10 so now the original rating of 50% disability has 10 added to it. The veteran’s rating is now 60%. Continuing 20% for hearing loss…the new beginning number is now 50+10=60% from the initial total or a remaining 40. The new rating of 20% of now 40 is 8% changing the veteran’s total overall disability rating to 58% and not a running total of 50+20+20=92% Now the veteran has 20% for skin issues. Being generous we move 58% to 60. That would leave 40 from the initial 100. 20% of 40 is 8 but let us round it up to 10. The veteran is now 70% total disability even though the running total is 110. The veteran might have numerous issues but if they are all given a low rating, regardless of the impact or running total tally, that veteran might never get to 100 even if his running tally is over 100. Why the VA uses this math no one has figured out. But, it needs to stop and 100 be 100%.
Respectfully
Dr. Robert Baize
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