VA Disability Rates Calculator
| Rating | Veteran alone /mo | With spouse /mo | Per year (alone) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $180.42 | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $356.66 | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
VA disability compensation pays a monthly amount set entirely by your combined rating - the 2026 rates below took effect December 1, 2025, and they run from $180.42 a month at 10% to $3,938.58 a month at 100%. Pick a rating and dependent status to see the monthly figure and what it totals per year; the table shows the full ladder for veterans alone or with a spouse.
The number that surprises people is not on this ladder: combined ratings are not added. VA stacks each disability against what is left over - a veteran with one 50% condition and one 30% condition is 50% plus 30% of the remaining half, which is 65%, rounding to 70%. That rounding rule is why two conditions sometimes pay less than the sum of their parts, and why the 100% tier is so much larger than 90%: it is a different program tier, not just another 10%.
How to use
- Pick your combined rating (10-100% in steps of 10, as VA assigns it) and whether you have a dependent spouse.
- Read the monthly payment and the annual total - the figures are the December 1, 2025 rates that govern calendar 2026 payments.
- Use the table for the full ladder, including the spouse column for ratings of 30% and above (10% and 20% pay the same with or without dependents).
Frequently asked questions
What is the VA disability pay at 100%?
$3,938.58 per month for a veteran alone, effective December 1, 2025 - $47,262.96 a year, tax-free. With a dependent spouse it rises to $4,158.17 a month, and add-ons stack for children, a spouse receiving Aid and Attendance, or dependent parents on the VA's fuller tables.
How does VA combine multiple disability ratings?
Subtractively, not additively: order your ratings, then each new condition disables only the percentage that is left. Two 50% conditions combine to 75%, which rounds to 80%; a 50% and a 30% make 65%, which rounds to 70%. Every combined result rounds to the nearest 10%, which is the step most veterans feel as unfairness - the fix is knowing the math, not arguing with it.
Do 10% and 20% ratings pay more with dependents?
No - VA pays a flat $180.42 at 10% and $356.66 at 20% whether you are single or married with children. The dependent columns begin at 30%, which is also where the spouse, parent and child add-ons start compounding.
Is VA disability compensation taxable?
No - VA disability benefits are exempt from federal income tax and most state income tax, which makes the after-tax value of a 100% rating comparable to a taxable salary well above its face value. Military retirement pay is taxed; VA disability is not - veterans who retire with both see the distinction on every pay stub.
When do VA disability rates increase?
Every December 1, by the same Social Security COLA percentage - the annual cost-of-living adjustment applies to both programs. The table on this page is the one governing payments from December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026; the next adjustment lands in mid-October, when the COLA is announced.