2026 COMPENSATION RATES

What Your Service Connection Is Worth

Current 2026 VA disability compensation rates (effective Dec 1, 2025, with the 2.8% COLA increase). Tax-free monthly payments based on your rating and dependents.

$3,938.58

Veteran alone @ 100%

47,262.96 / year

$4,158.17

With spouse @ 100%

$49,898.04 / year

$2,130.13

70% to 100% increase

per month, veteran alone

2.8%

2026 COLA increase

Effective Dec 1, 2025

VETERAN ALONE

Rates for Veteran with No Dependents

Monthly tax-free compensation by disability rating. Note: 10% and 20% are flat rates regardless of dependents.

Rating

Monthly

Annually

10%

$180.42

$2,165.04

20%

$356.66

$4,279.92

30%

$552.47

$6,629.64

40%

$795.84

$9,550.08

50%

$1,132.90

$13,594.80

60%

$1,435.02

$17,220.24

70%

$1,808.45

$21,701.40

80%

$2,102.15

$25,225.80

90%

$2,362.30

$28,347.60

100%

$3,938.58

$47,262.96

WITH SPOUSE

Rates for Veteran with Spouse

Additional dependent compensation applies at 30% and higher. 10% and 20% remain flat rates.

Rating

Monthly

Annually

30%

$617.47

$7,409.64

40%

$882.84

$10,594.08

50%

$1,241.90

$14,902.80

60%

$1,566.02

$18,792.24

70%

$1,961.45

$23,537.40

80%

$2,277.15

$27,325.80

90%

$2,559.30

$30,711.60

100%

$4,158.17

$49,898.04

Additional amounts to add: each child under 18 (+$102 to $110/mo at 30% or higher), each additional school-age child (+$331 to $356/mo), spouse with Aid & Attendance (+$61 to $201/mo). Each dependent parent (+$50 to $176/mo). See VA.gov for full dependent tables.

REAL-WORLD MATH

What a Rating Increase Is Worth

A single rating bump can mean tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime. Here’s what common rating changes look like in tax-free annual income.

30% → 50%

+$580 / month

$6,965 / year

Veteran alone, monthly rate $552.47 to $1,132.90

50% → 70%

+$676 / month

$8,107 / year

Veteran alone, monthly rate $1,132.90 to $1,808.45

70% → 100%

+$2,130 / month

$25,562 / year

Veteran alone, monthly rate $1,808.45 to $3,938.58

TDIU APPROVAL

Pays at 100% rate

Even if your schedular rating is below 100%, TDIU is paid at the 100% rate, up to $49,898.04 / year with a spouse.

THE MATH

One Strong Nexus Letter Could Be Worth Tens of Thousands.

The numbers above are tax-free, lifetime, and adjust annually with COLA. A successful claim that moves you from 90% to 100% is worth $18,915 per year. Over 30 years, that’s $299,000-plus.

A $549 nexus letter is about 0.21% of that lifetime value. And if your records support a stronger claim than you’re currently filing, you may be leaving thousands of dollars per year on the table, every year, because your medical evidence isn’t framed in the language the VA actually responds to.

STOP LEAVING MONEY ON THE TABLE

Get the medical evidence your claim needs to support the rating you deserve.

Or start with a Free Case Review

Important: These rates are reproduced from official VA-published data and reflect 2026 amounts effective Dec 1, 2025. VA compensation amounts are determined solely by the VA based on your disability rating and dependent status. No medical provider can guarantee a specific rating or compensation outcome. The figures above are informational only. For the most current official rates, visit va.gov/disability/compensation-rates.

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