How VA Disability Compensation Rates Work
Reading the rate tables by percentage and dependents
VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly payment to veterans who have a disability that was caused or made worse by their military service. The amount you receive is not based on your income or your former rank. Instead, it is driven by two things: your combined disability rating and the dependents you support. Once you understand how those two factors interact, the official rate tables stop looking intimidating and start making sense.
This guide explains the mechanics behind the numbers so you can confidently read any year's rate chart. We use illustrative figures only. For the exact dollar amounts in effect right now, always check the official source at VA.gov.
What Your Rating Percentage Means
The VA assigns each service-connected condition a rating in 10% increments, from 0% up to 100%. A rating represents how much the VA believes that condition reduces your overall ability to function and earn a living. A 0% rating means the condition is service-connected and documented but is not currently severe enough to warrant a monthly payment. Payments begin at the 10% level.
Crucially, the relationship between rating and dollars is not linear. The jump from 90% to 100% is far larger than the jump from 10% to 20%. This is intentional: the highest ratings reflect a substantial loss of earning capacity, and the law compensates that loss more steeply.
How Multiple Conditions Combine
If you have more than one service-connected condition, the VA does not simply add the percentages together. It uses "VA math," a combined-ratings formula that treats each disability as acting on the portion of you that remains healthy. Two 50% conditions do not equal 100%; they combine to 75%, which the VA then rounds to the nearest 10%.
- Start with your highest single rating.
- Apply the next rating to the remaining "healthy" percentage, not to the full 100%.
- Continue for each additional condition, then round the final figure to the nearest 10%.
Because this arithmetic surprises most people, it is worth running your own numbers. Our VA Combined Rating Calculator does the rounding and ordering for you so you can see how adding a new condition might (or might not) push you into the next bracket.
How Dependents Change the Payment
At a rating of 30% or higher, the VA increases your monthly payment for qualifying dependents. Below 30%, the rate is the same regardless of family size. Qualifying dependents generally include:
- A spouse
- Unmarried children under 18
- Children between 18 and 23 who are enrolled in school full time
- Dependent parents you financially support
- An additional amount if your spouse requires Aid and Attendance
The rate tables on VA.gov are organized in columns for these situations: veteran alone, veteran with spouse, veteran with spouse and one child, and so on. Each added dependent raises the monthly figure by a set amount that grows with your rating tier.
Reading the Rate Table (Illustrative Example)
The table below uses illustrative figures for a veteran with no dependents to show the shape of the curve. These are examples, not the live 2026 amounts. Confirm current dollars at VA.gov before relying on any number.
| Rating | Example Monthly | Example Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $175 | $2,106 |
| 20% | $346 | $4,151 |
| 30% | $537 | $6,446 |
| 40% | $774 | $9,290 |
| 50% | $1,102 | $13,228 |
| 60% | $1,395 | $16,744 |
| 70% | $1,757 | $21,085 |
| 80% | $2,042 | $24,503 |
| 90% | $2,296 | $27,551 |
| 100% | $3,607 | $43,281 |
Example: Suppose a veteran is rated at 50% with a spouse and one child. To read the table, the veteran would not use the "veteran alone" column. Instead, they would find the 50% row and move to the "with spouse and one child" column. Say that column shows roughly $1,300 per month in a given year. If a second school-age child is added, the veteran also applies the per-additional-child amount listed in a separate line of the table, raising the total further. The rating sets the row; the dependents set the column.
Why the Rates Change Each Year
VA disability rates are adjusted annually by a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). This is the same COLA percentage applied to Social Security benefits, and it is tied to inflation. When inflation is higher, the COLA is larger and your payment rises more; in low-inflation years the increase is small. The adjustment normally takes effect on December 1 and appears in the payment you receive at the end of December. This is exactly why you should never memorize a dollar figure: the row you used last year is almost certainly a slightly different number today.
Where to Verify Current Figures
Use the authoritative government sources rather than third-party charts when money is on the line:
- VA.gov disability compensation rates for current monthly amounts by rating and dependents.
- DFAS.mil for questions about how a payment is processed or offset against military retired pay.
- Your VA regional office or an accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) for help with claims and dependency changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VA disability compensation taxable?
No. VA disability compensation is not taxed at the federal or state level, and you do not report it as income on your tax return.
Do dependents increase my payment at every rating?
No. The dependent increase only applies at ratings of 30% and above. At 10% and 20%, the payment is the same whether or not you have dependents.
Why doesn't 50% plus 50% equal 100%?
The VA uses a combined-ratings formula, not simple addition. Each new condition is applied only to the remaining healthy percentage, so combined ratings rise more slowly than the raw sum. Run the numbers with our VA Combined Rating Calculator.
How do I add a dependent to my award?
You report dependents to the VA, typically through VA.gov or VA Form 21-686c. Adding a spouse or child can increase your monthly payment, and removing one (for example, after a divorce) can decrease it, so keep your dependency status current to avoid overpayments.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not official VA guidance. Rates and rules change; verify current figures with VA.gov, DFAS.mil, or your finance office before making decisions.