If you’ve been disabled in service to your country, you’re due compensation. Unfortunately, receiving that compensation isn’t always simple. The VA’s disability system makes use of a percentage-based system that evaluates exactly how disabled you are and what degree of compensation you’re allowed.
That’s where a VA disability calculator comes in. They allow you to simply enter your information and get an understanding of what your payments will be. While they aren’t a replacement for proper representation, they can be a great way to get a grip on your situation and start the process of a claim or to dispute the verdict regarding your claims.
In either case, they’re designed to make your life easier. These calculators strip down complex math into simple buttons. Here’s everything you need to know.
Conditions That Aren’t Factored
VA coverage only applies to disabilities that are a result of your time in the service. That means that pre-existing conditions and injuries you may have received outside of the armed forces won’t factor towards your payment.
They may, however, subtract from the total amount of compensation that you might otherwise receive. Since the VA recognizes disabilities based on a scale of 0 to 100%, anyone who enters the service with any percentage of disability measured will be unable to receive a full 100% if they’re fully disabled.
The Math Behind VA Disability Math
You might be wondering how complicated the math can be, but we can assure you that a calculator makes it much easier. The most important complication here is that any disability registered after the first is calculated in proportion to its impact on the non-disabled part of the body, rather than being registered by its impact on the entire body.
Understandably, things can get complicated very quickly, but the VA fortunately only evaluates disability claims in increments of ten. If you’re beneath a percentage, you’ll be rounded up to the next threshold for payments.
While the level of your disability is the largest factor in determining your disability status, you could receive more if you have dependents. Veterans with a disability rating of 30% or higher may have their payment threshold raised to compensate for any listed dependents. These payouts scale as you add on more dependents.
How a Disability Calculator Can Simplify Things
Fortunately, it doesn’t need to be that complicated. A VA disability calculator builds the math into their interface, so all you have to do is enter the percentage for each of your disabilities to figure out your total disability rating. Using the calculator is easy too.
The calculator offers different tabs for each body part. Simply click on the ones to which you have applicable disabilities, and then choose the percentage level. If you know the ratings assigned for each body part, it can provide accurate results. But it can also be a way to get an estimate if you haven’t been formally assessed.
You can leave any body parts without disabilities untouched in the calculator. You’ll also find an option to list any dependents. A decently-built tool like Berry Law’s VA disability calculator will show you both your expected percentage and your expected monthly payout based off of the VA’s current regulations.
A Calculator is Not the Final Word
VA disability math is complicated in such a way that a very minor change to how your disabilities are evaluated can have a dramatic impact on how much you get back from Veteran Affairs. Use the calculator as a tool for evaluating your situation, but don’t assume it’s your last and only form of recourse. A good attorney can help you get what you deserve for your service.