Why VA Ratings Don't Add Up

50% + 30% ≠ 80%. It equals 65% → rounds to 70%. The VA uses 'whole person' math: each rating applies to remaining healthy %, not the original 100%.

This means diminishing returns — going from 0% to 50% is a 50-point jump, but adding 30% more only gets you to 70% (20-point effective jump). Strategically: small ratings still matter. Three 10% ratings combine to 27% → rounds to 30%, crossing the dependent additions threshold.