2026 VA Disability Compensation

20% VA Disability Pay

A 20% rating indicates a measurable degree of service-connected impairment with documented functional impact. Use this page to look up exact monthly VA disability pay for the chosen rating, with adjustments for a spouse, children, and dependent parents.

20% — single veteran, no dependents

$356.66

$4,279.92/year · tax-free · effective December 1, 2025

20% Pay by Household (2026)

Monthly compensation amounts. Dependent additions apply at 30% and above.

Single (no dependents)$356.66
With spouse$356.66
With spouse + 1 child$356.66
With spouse + 2 children$356.66
Single + 1 child (no spouse)$356.66

Lower tier

10% VA pay

$180.42 /mo single

Higher tier

30% VA pay

$552.47 /mo single

Common questions about 20% VA disability pay

What's the 20% VA disability pay rate for 2026?
For 2026 (effective December 1, 2025), a single veteran rated 20% receives $356.66 per month, or $4,279.92 per year. VA disability compensation is tax-free at the federal and state level.
How much does a 20% rated veteran with a spouse and one child receive?
A veteran rated 20% with a spouse and one child receives $356.66 per month under the 2026 VA rates. Note: dependent additions only apply at 30% and above; below that, the base single rate applies regardless of dependents.
Is 20% the same as a "combined" rating?
20% can be either a single condition rating or a combined rating across multiple conditions. The VA combines individual ratings using the official combined-ratings formula in 38 CFR 4.25, then pays at the nearest 10% tier (95%+ rounds up to 100%).
Will my 20% rate change in 2027?
The VA adjusts disability rates each year based on the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), typically effective December 1. The next COLA will be applied to the January 2027 payment.

Combine multiple conditions

If you have multiple service-connected conditions, the VA combines them using the official combined-ratings formula. Use our combined rating calculator to see what tier you'd land on.

Open combined rating calculator