How does VAC combine multiple disability assessments?
Veterans Affairs Canada uses a combined-values method similar to whole-person impairment. Each additional condition is assessed against the capacity remaining after prior conditions, so multiple assessments never simply add up and cannot exceed 100 percent.
Does VAC add my disability percentages together?
No. If you have a 40 percent and a 20 percent assessment, VAC combines them so the 20 percent applies only to the remaining 60 percent, producing 52 percent rather than 60 percent. This mirrors the US VA approach.
What does my combined assessment determine?
Your combined disability assessment percentage determines your Pain and Suffering Compensation entitlement. A higher combined percentage increases both the monthly amount and the lump-sum equivalent, up to the maximum at 100 percent.
Can several minor conditions add up to a full award?
Because of the combined-values method, many small assessments diminish as they stack against a shrinking remaining base. Numerous minor conditions can raise your combined percentage but rarely reach 100 percent without at least one major assessment.