40% VA Disability Pay

What a 40% VA rating can open

Each rule applies at this combined rating, subject to the other conditions its source sets; the citation is the rule.

• VA pays additional compensation for a spouse, children, and a parent who depends on the veteran for support. (38 U.S.C. § 1115)
• 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))
• The VA home loan funding fee may not be collected from a veteran who is receiving VA disability compensation. (38 U.S.C. § 3729(c)(1))
• 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)

Common conditions the schedule can rate at 40%

Each of these can be rated 40% under its own diagnostic code. A single rating is one input: VA pays on the combined rating, after all separate ratings are combined under 38 CFR 4.25. Ordered by how many service-connected disabilities of each kind veterans receiving compensation have, from the VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025).

• Paralysis of the Sciatic Nerve
• Lumbosacral or Cervical Strain
• Arm, Limitation of Motion
• Hypertension
• Degenerative Arthritis of the Spine
• Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS)
• Femoral (Anterior Crural) Nerve Paralysis
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Residuals of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Varicose Veins
• Chronic Conjunctivitis (Nontrachomatous)
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

Common questions about 40% VA disability pay

What's the 40% VA disability pay rate for 2026?

For 2026 (effective December 1, 2025), a single veteran rated 40% receives $795.84 per month, or $9,550.08 per year. VA disability compensation is tax-free at the federal and state level.

How much does a 40% rated veteran with a spouse and one child receive?

A veteran rated 40% with a spouse and one child receives $947.84 per month under the 2026 VA rates.

Is 40% the same as a "combined" rating?

40% 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 40% rate change 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. 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.

When is the 40% payment deposited each month?

On the first business day of the month, covering the previous month's benefits. When the 1st falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deposit arrives on the last business day before it. A few months each year are paid "early" for that reason.