Your Rating, Your Rights: Mastering the VA's Combined Ratings Schedule
Wed Jan 21 2026
In this episode of the DAV Podcast, host Jonathan Kaupanger dives into the "Sudoku from Hell"—the VA's complex Schedule for Rating Disabilities—to help veterans and their families make sense of "VA Math." Joined by Andrew Clark, DAV's Assistant National Service Director, the discussion pulls back the curtain on the Combined Ratings Table and the "whole person theory," explaining why multiple disability ratings don't always add up to the 100% veterans might expect. From navigating the frustrations of diminishing returns to identifying "clear and unmistakable errors" and filing for secondary conditions, this episode provides essential insights and practical advice on how DAV service officers can help you secure the benefits you've earned.
Here's more info on the Combined Ratings Table: https://youtu.be/9vaKqZZyg8Q?si=lCOzU6H2OF88VjvH
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In this episode of the DAV Podcast, host Jonathan Kaupanger dives into the "Sudoku from Hell"—the VA's complex Schedule for Rating Disabilities—to help veterans and their families make sense of "VA Math." Joined by Andrew Clark, DAV's Assistant National Service Director, the discussion pulls back the curtain on the Combined Ratings Table and the "whole person theory," explaining why multiple disability ratings don't always add up to the 100% veterans might expect. From navigating the frustrations of diminishing returns to identifying "clear and unmistakable errors" and filing for secondary conditions, this episode provides essential insights and practical advice on how DAV service officers can help you secure the benefits you've earned. Here's more info on the Combined Ratings Table: https://youtu.be/9vaKqZZyg8Q?si=lCOzU6H2OF88VjvH