About VetDisabilityCalc
What this site does
VetDisabilityCalc is a free reference site for the U.S. veterans disability compensation system. The core tool is a calculator that implements 38 CFR 4.25 — the "combined ratings table" the VA uses to combine multiple service-connected ratings into a single percentage. Surrounding the calculator are condition-by-condition rating guides, monthly compensation tables updated annually for the December COLA, and a directory of the 56 Veterans Affairs Regional Offices (VAROs).
Everything on the site is reference material. We are not a claims-prep service, we do not file claims on a veteran's behalf, and we do not collect personal information that could be used to identify a specific claim or claimant.
Who operates the site
VetDisabilityCalc is an independent reference site. No one who works on it is a U.S. military veteran, a VA employee, or a VA-accredited representative.
Because we are not veterans, we do not write in a "lived-experience" voice and we do not publish personal stories or anecdotes about military service or the VA claims process. The content is built entirely from public-record source material — the Code of Federal Regulations, VA.gov, the VA Office of General Counsel directory, and published VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities decisions.
Editor
The editor of VetDisabilityCalc is Shirley Chia, responsible for research, writing, and editing of every page on the site. She is not a U.S. military veteran, not a VA employee, and not a VA-accredited attorney, claims agent, or VSO representative. The editor profile page documents scope, methodology, and the per-article research process.
Editorial standards
- Citations. Every rating criterion, dollar figure, deadline, and percentage on this site is sourced to 38 CFR (Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations), VA.gov, or a specific VA Adjudication Procedures Manual (M21-1) section. We cite the section number in the body of the page so you can verify against the official source.
- COLA updates. Compensation tables are updated annually each December when the Cost-of-Living Adjustment takes effect (38 USC 5312). We commit to publishing the new tables within 30 days of the official VA release.
- Corrections. If we publish an incorrect figure or stale citation, we correct it within five business days of verification and add a dated correction note to the page footer.
- No paid placement. Article content is not influenced by advertising or affiliate partners. We do not accept paid guest posts, paid backlinks, or pay-to-be-included listings.
- No claims preparation. Per 38 USC 5904 and 38 CFR 14.636, only individuals accredited by the VA Office of General Counsel may prepare, present, or represent VA claims. We are not accredited and we do not perform any of these activities. See our full disclaimer.
Data sources
The calculator and rate tables draw on the following public sources:
- 38 CFR Part 3 (Pension, Compensation, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) — eligibility, dependent rules, effective dates.
- 38 CFR Part 4 (Schedule for Rating Disabilities) — rating criteria for every diagnostic code.
- VA.gov Disability Compensation pages — published monthly rate tables (updated annually with the December COLA).
- VA Office of General Counsel Accreditation Search — the official list of accredited attorneys, claims agents, and VSO representatives.
- VA Adjudication Procedures Manual (M21-1) — for the agency's internal procedure on combined ratings, bilateral factor, and the staged-rating rules.
How the site makes money
The site is free for users and we do not collect payment of any kind from veterans or their families. Revenue comes from two sources: display advertising served by Google AdSense (subject to the constraints in our privacy policy), and, in some sections, affiliate links to third-party services (legal directories, claims-coaching companies, and similar). Affiliate links are clearly labeled at the bottom of articles where they appear. We never receive payment for a positive review, and a negative assessment of a paid partner can and does appear on the site when warranted.
Related pages
For the legal terms that govern your use of the site, see our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimer. To reach the site for a correction or partnership inquiry, see the CCPA / privacy contact section of our privacy policy.