2026 VA Disability Pay Chart
Look up monthly VA disability compensation at every rating tier with dependent breakdowns. Official 2026 rates (effective December 1, 2025).
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Get the full 2026 VA disability pay table in your inbox for quick reference, every rating tier, alone and with a spouse.
Up to
$4,318.99
per month at 100% with a spouse and child
2026 COLA
+2.8%
effective December 1, 2025
Tax status
100% tax-free
federal and state, in every state
The 2027 VA disability increase
VA is required by law to match the percentage of the cost-of-living adjustment made to Social Security benefits, so the 2027 increase in VA disability compensation will be the same percentage Social Security announces. Social Security sets it from consumer price data; the September 2026 figures are scheduled for release on October 14, 2026.
VA has not published its 2027 rate table yet, so every amount on this page is a 2026 rate. VA's new rates typically take effect December 1 and are first paid in the December 2026 benefit, deposited Thursday, December 31, 2026.
Sources: VA.gov compensation rates; Social Security: cost-of-living adjustment; BLS: CPI release schedule
Monthly pay across the 2026 rating scale
Tap a bar for that tier's full breakdown.
Monthly compensation, single veteran with no dependents. 2026 rates. Hover or tap a bar for the exact amount.
| Rating | Veteran alone (no dependents) | With spouse | With 1 child (no spouse) | With spouse and 1 child |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $180.42 | $180.42 | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $356.66 | $356.66 | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $596.47 | $666.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $853.84 | $947.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $1,205.90 | $1,322.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $1,523.02 | $1,663.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $1,910.45 | $2,074.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $2,219.15 | $2,406.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $2,494.30 | $2,704.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $4,085.43 | $4,318.99 |
| Rating | Each additional child under 18 | Each additional child over 18 in a qualifying school program | Each dependent parent | Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | $32.00 | $105.00 | $52.00 | $61.00 |
| 40% | $43.00 | $140.00 | $70.00 | $81.00 |
| 50% | $54.00 | $176.00 | $88.00 | $101.00 |
| 60% | $65.00 | $211.00 | $105.00 | $121.00 |
| 70% | $76.00 | $246.00 | $123.00 | $141.00 |
| 80% | $87.00 | $281.00 | $140.00 | $161.00 |
| 90% | $98.00 | $317.00 | $158.00 | $181.00 |
| 100% | $109.11 | $352.45 | $176.24 | $201.41 |
VA publishes these as monthly amounts. For a household with more dependents, VA adds the second table's amounts to the first table's row; the VA disability pay calculator does that sum for you. The rates are also published as a JSON file on our open data page.
Which VA health care priority group does a rating place you in?
- 50% or more: A veteran with this rating who applies for VA health care is placed in priority group 1, the first in its order of priority, as is a veteran whose rating is based on unemployability. (38 C.F.R. § 17.36(b))
- 30% or 40%: A veteran with this rating who applies for VA health care is placed in priority group 2, unless they qualify for a higher group. (38 C.F.R. § 17.36(b))
- 10% or 20%: A veteran with this rating who applies for VA health care is placed in priority group 3, a group that also includes former prisoners of war and Purple Heart recipients, unless they qualify for a higher group. (38 C.F.R. § 17.36(b))
Military retirees: CRDP or CRSC?
- A military retiree entitled to retired pay who has a combat-related disability that VA compensates can apply to their branch of service for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC); DFAS says the VA rating must be at least 10%. (10 U.S.C. § 1413a; DFAS: Combat-Related Special Compensation)
- A military retiree entitled to retired pay whose service-connected disabilities are rated 50% or more can be paid both retired pay and VA compensation (Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay, CRDP), except a member retired for disability under chapter 61 with fewer than 20 years of service; a chapter 61 retiree with 20 or more years is paid concurrently only the retired pay they would have received had they not been retired for disability. (10 U.S.C. § 1414; DFAS: Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay)
- A retiree who qualifies for both CRDP and CRSC receives one or the other, not both, and can change between them in an annual open season. (10 U.S.C. § 1414(d))
2026 payment dates
See exactly when each month's deposit arrives, including the months paid early because of weekends and holidays.
2026 special monthly compensation (SMC) rates
VA's SMC tables for every household, and the statute's text for each level from SMC-K to SMC-S.
How VA disability pay works
- Tax-free. VA disability compensation is not taxed federally or in any state.
- Annual COLA. Rates adjust each year by the cost-of-living adjustment, typically effective December 1; the first payment at a new rate is the December benefit, deposited before January 1.
- Dependents at 30%+. Added amounts for a spouse, each child, and each dependent parent only apply once the rating reaches 30%.
- Pay at nearest 10%. The VA combines individual ratings into a single percentage, then pays at the nearest 10% tier. 95%+ rounds to 100%.
Common questions about 2026 VA disability pay
- How much is VA disability pay in 2026?
- Between $180.42/month at 10% and $3,938.58/month at 100% for a single veteran. With a spouse and one child, the 100% rate rises to $4,318.99/month. All amounts are tax-free.
- When did the 2026 VA disability rates take effect?
- December 1, 2025, after a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Because December benefits are paid at the start of January, the first deposit at the new rates arrived on December 31, 2025.
- Is VA disability compensation taxable?
- No. VA disability compensation is completely tax-free at both the federal and state level. Taxes and income limits are separate questions, though: means-tested programs such as SSI do count VA compensation as income, while SSDI (which isn't means-tested) is unaffected.
- How do dependents change my monthly payment?
- At a 30% rating or higher, the VA adds monthly amounts for a spouse, each child, and each dependent parent. Below 30%, the base rate applies regardless of dependents. Use the pay calculator to see your exact household amount.
- When does the VA deposit disability payments?
- On the first business day of each month, covering the previous month's benefits. If the 1st falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deposit moves up to the last business day before it, see our full payment schedule for every date this year.
- How do I get a higher VA disability rating?
- You can file for an increase if a condition has worsened, or claim additional conditions, including secondary conditions caused or aggravated by ones already service-connected. Because of the VA's combined-ratings math, adding conditions is often what moves a rating to the next 10% tier.
- How much will VA disability go up in 2027?
- VA is required by law to match the percentage of the cost-of-living adjustment made to Social Security benefits, so the 2027 increase in VA disability compensation will be the same percentage Social Security announces. Social Security sets it from consumer price data; the September 2026 figures are scheduled for release on October 14, 2026.
- When do the 2027 VA disability rates start?
- VA's new rates typically take effect December 1 and are first paid in the December 2026 benefit, deposited Thursday, December 31, 2026.
Payment timing details are on the 2026 payment schedule.
Service-connected disabilities, by VA's count
How many of each were service-connected among veterans receiving compensation as of September 30, 2025, from the VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025). It counts disabilities, not veterans. Each links to how VA rates it.
- Tinnitus (3,583,295)
- Limitation of Flexion of the Leg (Knee) (2,312,985)
- Paralysis of the Sciatic Nerve (2,026,583)
- Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain (1,791,869)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (1,760,497)
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss (1,690,837)
- Arm, Limitation of Motion (1,385,549)
- Scars Without Underlying Soft Tissue Damage (Not of the Head, Face, or Neck) (1,323,340)
- Migraine (1,300,172)
- Ankle, Limitation of Motion (1,273,110)
- Hypertension (845,750)
- Rhinitis, Allergic or Vasomotor (819,645)
- Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine (789,092)
- Sleep Apnea Syndromes (763,763)
- Erectile Dysfunction, With or Without Penile Deformity (675,632)
- Flatfoot, Acquired (600,665)
- Dermatitis or Eczema (596,075)
- Knee, Other Impairment of (556,186)
- Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS) (542,744)
- Hiatal Hernia (518,630)
- Femoral (Anterior Crural) Nerve Paralysis (474,276)
- Diabetes Mellitus (445,840)
- Foot Injuries, Other (365,775)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (357,156)
- Hemorrhoids (356,424)
- Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) (266,518)
- Residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) (162,949)
- Varicose Veins (72,271)
- Chronic Conjunctivitis (Nontrachomatous) (53,939)
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) (38,073)
- Malaria (18,680)
Calculate your combined rating
Have multiple service-connected conditions? Use our combined-rating calculator to see what tier you'd land on.
Open combined rating calculatorRated lower than you should be?
The difference between rating tiers is real money every month, for life. Vetrify maps your service history and conditions, finds secondary conditions you may be missing, and organizes the evidence to support the rating you've earned.
- Find conditions you can claim
- See your projected rating and pay
- Build an organized evidence packet
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