VA Disability Lifetime Value Calculator
See what your 2026 monthly compensation adds up to over time. Project your lifetime total with estimated cost-of-living growth, and compare it to a hypothetical invested scenario.
Your situation
Estimated 30-year lifetime value
$952,750.00
Starting from $1,808.45/month at the 70% rate, with an estimated 2.5%/year COLA. Tax-free.
If invested instead (~7% avg. return)
$2,845,640.00
Hypothetical only, not a guarantee. See the FAQ below for what this assumes.
Lifetime value by horizon
$1,808.45/month at the 70% rate, projected with estimated 2.5% annual COLA growth.
| Years | Total compensation | If invested (~7%) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | $114,070.00 | $139,913.00 |
| 10 | $243,129.00 | $354,534.00 |
| 15 | $389,148.00 | $676,353.00 |
| 20 | $554,355.00 | $1,151,256.00 |
| 25 | $741,271.00 | $1,843,960.00 |
| 30 | $952,750.00 | $2,845,640.00 |
Common questions about lifetime value
- How long does VA disability compensation last?
- For as long as your rating stays in effect. The VA can schedule re-examinations for many ratings and may reduce a rating if a condition improves, but a rating in effect for 20 years or more generally can't be reduced below its current level except in cases of fraud (38 CFR 3.951), and some ratings are designated permanent and not subject to future review.
- Does VA disability compensation increase over time?
- Usually, yes. Congress typically applies an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) tied to Social Security's COLA, though the exact percentage varies every year — it has ranged from under 1% to over 8% in the past two decades. This calculator applies a 2.5% long-run average estimate to project future totals; your actual future payments will track whatever COLA is announced each year.
- Is VA disability compensation taxable?
- No. VA disability compensation is not taxable at the federal or state level and isn't counted as income for most purposes, such as mortgage qualification or SSI/SSDI limits.
- What does the "if invested" projection assume?
- It's a hypothetical, not a guarantee. It assumes you invest the full COLA-adjusted amount every year and earn a 7% average annual return, roughly in line with long-term diversified stock-market averages, which is never assured. The VA doesn't invest your payments for you — this scenario is here for planning discussion only, not financial advice.
- Does this include Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)?
- No. SMC covers specific circumstances like loss of use of a limb or a need for aid and attendance, and isn't included in this or Vetrify's other public calculators. If SMC applies to you, your real lifetime compensation will be higher than this estimate.
Not sure about your combined rating?
If you have multiple service-connected conditions, calculate how they combine before projecting their lifetime value.
Open combined rating calculatorSee it across your full claim
Vetrify maps your service and conditions, suggests secondary conditions you may be missing, and organizes your evidence packet, all free to start.
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