For Veterans
Darin Weidauer is a retired U.S. Air Force officer. This part of the site is for the things veterans ask about that nobody explains clearly — starting with the VA's rating arithmetic.
Most of what is written about VA disability ratings either oversimplifies the maths or reproduces it without explaining why it works that way. The result is a lot of veterans who believe the system is rigged against them, when what is actually happening is a straightforward rule nobody bothered to describe.
We are not accredited by VA and cannot touch your claim. What we can do is explain the arithmetic properly, and point you at the people who can help.
What we can and cannot do
ECOS Insurance Solutions is an insurance agency. We are not accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and we cannot help you prepare, file or argue a claim — federal law reserves that for VA-accredited attorneys, claims agents and representatives of recognised veterans service organisations. A VSO will do it for free. This page exists to explain arithmetic, and nothing more.
What is here
VA Disability Calculator
Work out your combined rating, and — more usefully — see exactly why the VA's arithmetic produces the number it does. Two ratings of 50% and 30% do not make 80%, and once you see why, the whole system stops feeling arbitrary.
Shows the step-by-step arithmetic, the bilateral factor, what single rating would take you to 100%, and how Permanent and Total works.
The people who can actually act on this
A veterans service organisation will represent you at no charge. VA publishes a search for accredited attorneys, claims agents and VSO representatives. Be wary of anyone offering to file for you in exchange for a share of your back pay.