Bilateral Factor
VA Terminology Definition
Plain English Definition
An extra 10% added to your combined rating when you have the same type of disability affecting both sides of your body (both knees, both arms, etc.).
Why This Matters
The bilateral factor recognizes that having disabilities on both sides makes daily function harder. It's applied before your combined rating is calculated.
Example
If you have 20% for left knee arthritis and 10% for right knee arthritis, the VA combines those (28%), adds 10% bilateral factor (28 x 1.1 = 30.8), then combines with your other ratings.