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VA disability rates 2026 + VA disability calculator

Direct answer: In 2026 a 100% VA disability rating pays $3,938.58 a month for a veteran alone; 10% pays $180.42, 50% $1,132.90 and 70% $1,808.45 (tax-free; rates effective Dec. 1, 2025). A 3.6% raise for Dec. 1, 2026 needs an act of Congress first.

By the numbers: Social Security announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for 2027, the percentage the pending VA COLA bills would apply to disability compensation from Dec. 1, 2026. Source: SSA, Oct. 14, 2026

“Under federal law, the cost-of-living adjustments to VA's compensation and pension rates are the same percentage as for Social Security benefits.” — VA: Compensation benefit rates

Updated 2026-10-17

Quick Q&A
How much is 100% VA disability in 2026?

$3,938.58 a month ($47,262.96 a year) for a veteran with no dependents, effective Dec. 1, 2025. With a spouse it's $4,158.17, and with a spouse and one child $4,318.99. Each extra child under 18 adds $109.11 and each child 18-23 in school adds $352.45 (VA rate tables).

What will VA disability pay in 2027?

VA hasn't published 2027 rates. Social Security's COLA is 3.6%, and VA uses the same percentage once Congress passes the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2026 (S. 4487 / H.R. 8552), which would take effect Dec. 1, 2026. As of Oct. 17, 2026 neither bill had passed. If 3.6% applies, 100% for a veteran alone would be about $4,080.37 (our estimate).

How is a combined VA disability rating calculated?

VA uses the whole-person method in 38 CFR 4.25, not addition. It starts with your highest rating and applies each next rating to what's left: 50% and 30% make 65, which rounds to 70%. Adding a 10% makes 69, still 70%. VA rounds once, at the end, to the nearest 10 (5s round up).

What is 70% VA disability pay in 2026?

$1,808.45 a month for a veteran alone, $1,961.45 with a spouse, and $2,074.45 with a spouse and one child. VA's example: spouse, three children under 18 and a spouse on Aid and Attendance is $2,367.45.

Do dependents increase VA disability pay at 10% or 20%?

No. At 10% ($180.42) and 20% ($356.66) the rate is the same with or without a spouse, child or parent. Added amounts for dependents start at a 30% combined rating.

Is VA disability compensation taxable?

No. VA calls disability compensation a tax-free monthly payment, and IRS Publication 525 says not to include in income any veterans' benefits paid under a law, regulation or administrative practice administered by VA.

What is the bilateral factor in VA math?

When both arms or both legs (or paired skeletal muscles) have compensable ratings, VA combines those ratings, then adds 10% of that value before combining with the rest (38 CFR 4.26). Example: 60%, 20% and two bilateral 10%s become 60, 21 and 20, which combine to 74 and round to 70%.

As of Oct. 17, 2026 · 2026 VA rates (effective Dec. 1, 2025)

VA disability rates 2026: the short version

2026 VA disability pay: $180.42 a month at 10% up to $3,938.58 at 100% for a veteran alone, tax-free, more with dependents at 30% and above. Social Security's 3.6% COLA is set for 2027, but VA's raise for Dec. 1, 2026 still needs Congress to pass the COLA act; VA hasn't published 2027 rates.

The math:

  • VA math, not addition: 50% + 30% + 10% = combined value 69, rated 70%: $1,808.45 a month alone, $1,961.45 with a spouse.
  • Bilateral factor: 60%, 20% and 10% on each knee = 60, 21, 20 = 74, rated 70% (38 CFR 4.26 example).

Sources: VA 2026 rates · 38 CFR 4.25 · SSA Oct. 14, 2026

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Your roadmap

  1. Get your ratings from your decision letter or VA.gov (signed in).
  2. Run VA math below: highest rating first, round only at the end.
  3. Add your dependents (spouse, children, parents) if you're at 30% or higher; VA pays them only if they're on your award, so add them on VA.gov if they aren't.
  4. Watch for the COLA: once Congress passes it, VA posts new tables, effective Dec. 1. You don't need to apply.

VA disability rates 2026: veteran alone

Rating2026 monthly (official)2026 yearly2025 monthly2027 if 3.6% passes (estimate)
10%$180.42$2,165.04$175.51about $186.92
20%$356.66$4,279.92$346.95about $369.50
30%$552.47$6,629.64$537.42about $572.36
40%$795.84$9,550.08$774.16about $824.49
50%$1,132.90$13,594.80$1,102.04about $1,173.68
60%$1,435.02$17,220.24$1,395.93about $1,486.68
70%$1,808.45$21,701.40$1,759.19about $1,873.55
80%$2,102.15$25,225.80$2,044.89about $2,177.83
90%$2,362.30$28,347.60$2,297.96about $2,447.34
100%$3,938.58$47,262.96$3,831.30about $4,080.37

2026 = VA rates effective Dec. 1, 2025 (paid through Nov. 30, 2026). 2025 = effective Dec. 1, 2024. The 2027 column is our arithmetic, not VA's table: 2026 x 1.036, rounded to the cent. VA's 2025-to-2026 change followed the same method exactly (2025 x 1.028 = every 2026 rate above). Sources: VA 2026 rates · VA 2025 rates · SSA Oct. 14, 2026.

2026 rates with dependents (30% to 100%)

Find your family situation, then your combined rating. Dependents only change the rate at 30% and above.

Dependent status30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
Veteran alone$552.47$795.84$1,132.90$1,435.02$1,808.45$2,102.15$2,362.30$3,938.58
With spouse$617.47$882.84$1,241.90$1,566.02$1,961.45$2,277.15$2,559.30$4,158.17
With 1 child$596.47$853.84$1,205.90$1,523.02$1,910.45$2,219.15$2,494.30$4,085.43
With spouse + 1 child$666.47$947.84$1,322.90$1,663.02$2,074.45$2,406.15$2,704.30$4,318.99
Spouse + 1 parent$669.47$952.84$1,329.90$1,671.02$2,084.45$2,417.15$2,717.30$4,334.41
Spouse + 2 parents$721.47$1,022.84$1,417.90$1,776.02$2,207.45$2,557.15$2,875.30$4,510.65
1 parent$604.47$865.84$1,220.90$1,540.02$1,931.45$2,242.15$2,520.30$4,114.82
2 parents$656.47$935.84$1,308.90$1,645.02$2,054.45$2,382.15$2,678.30$4,291.06
Spouse + child + 1 parent$718.47$1,017.84$1,410.90$1,768.02$2,197.45$2,546.15$2,862.30$4,495.23
Spouse + child + 2 parents$770.47$1,087.84$1,498.90$1,873.02$2,320.45$2,686.15$3,020.30$4,671.47
Child + 1 parent$648.47$923.84$1,293.90$1,628.02$2,033.45$2,359.15$2,652.30$4,261.67
Child + 2 parents$700.47$993.84$1,381.90$1,733.02$2,156.45$2,499.15$2,810.30$4,437.91

Added monthly amounts (2026)

Add for30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
Each additional child under 18+$32+$43+$54+$65+$76+$87+$98+$109.11
Each additional child 18-23 in school+$105+$140+$176+$211+$246+$281+$317+$352.45
Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance+$61+$81+$101+$121+$141+$161+$181+$201.41

“With 1 child” rates already include one child; add the amounts above for each additional child. Source: VA 2026 rates (worked example: 70%, spouse, 3 children under 18, spouse on Aid and Attendance = $2,074.45 + $76 + $76 + $141 = $2,367.45).

2027 COLA: where the 3.6% raise stands

How VA math works (combined ratings)

  1. Put your ratings in order, highest first.
  2. Combine the first two with the whole-person method: a 50% disability leaves you 50% “efficient”; a further 30% takes 30% of what's left (15), so 50 + 15 = 65. That's the number in VA's combined ratings table.
  3. Combine that value with the next rating, and so on (65 with 10 = 69).
  4. Round once at the end to the nearest 10; values ending in 5 round up (65 → 70, 69 → 70, 64 → 60).
  5. Bilateral factor: when both arms or both legs have compensable ratings, combine those first, then add 10% of that value (10% + 10% = 19, plus 1.9 = 21), and treat it as one rating. VA uses whichever grouping gives the higher result.

Sources: 38 CFR 4.25 · 38 CFR 4.26 · VA combined ratings. Our formula reproduces every cell of Table I in 38 CFR 4.25.

Full combined ratings table (38 CFR 4.25, Table I)

Find the higher value in the left column and the next rating across the top.

Higher value102030405060708090
19273543516068768492
20283644526068768492
21293745536168768492
22303845536169778492
23313846546269778592
24323947546270778592
25334048556370788593
26334148566370788593
27344249566471788593
28354250576471788693
29364350576572798693
30374451586572798693
31384552596672798693
32394652596673808693
33404653606773808793
34414754606774808793
35424855616874818794
36424955626874818794
37435056626975818794
38445057636975818894
39455157637076828894
40465258647076828894
41475359657176828894
42485459657177838894
43495460667277838994
44505561667278838994
45515662677378848995
46515762687378848995
47525863687479848995
48535864697479849095
49545964697580859095
50556065707580859095
51566166717680859095
52576266717681869095
53586267727781869195
54596368727782869195
55606469737882879196
56606569747882879196
57616670747983879196
58626671757983879296
59636771758084889296
60646872768084889296
61656973778184889296
62667073778185899296
63677074788285899396
64687175788286899396
65697276798386909397
66697376808386909397
67707477808487909397
68717478818487909497
69727578818588919497
70737679828588919497
71747780838688919497
72757880838689929497
73767881848789929597
74777982848790929597
75788083858890939598
76788183868890939598
77798284868991939598
78808285878991939698
79818385879092949698
80828486889092949698
81838587899192949698
82848687899193959698
83858688909293959798
84868789909294959798
85878890919394969799
86878990929394969799
87889091929495969799
88899092939495969899
89909192939596979899
90919293949596979899
91929394959696979899
92939494959697989899
93949495969797989999
94959596969798989999

100% pay without a 100% rating: Individual Unemployability

VA can pay at the 100% rate if your service-connected disabilities keep you from holding a steady job that supports you (odd jobs don't count) and either one disability is rated 60% or more, or you have two or more with one at 40% or more and a combined rating of 70% or more. In some cases VA allows it at a lower rating. You apply with VA Form 21-8940 (VA TDIU). Special monthly compensation (SMC) can pay more than the 100% rate for certain losses; see VA's SMC rate tables.

Facts and arithmetic only. VaultRubric isn't VA and doesn't decide ratings or pay. Your award letter is the final word; rates for special monthly compensation, DIC and VA pension are different. 2027 amounts on this page are estimates until VA publishes its table.

Sources & as-of dates

FAQ

How much is 100% VA disability in 2026?

$3,938.58 a month ($47,262.96 a year) for a veteran with no dependents, effective Dec. 1, 2025. With a spouse it's $4,158.17, and with a spouse and one child $4,318.99. Each extra child under 18 adds $109.11 and each child 18-23 in school adds $352.45 (VA rate tables).

What will VA disability pay in 2027?

VA hasn't published 2027 rates. Social Security's COLA is 3.6%, and VA uses the same percentage once Congress passes the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2026 (S. 4487 / H.R. 8552), which would take effect Dec. 1, 2026. As of Oct. 17, 2026 neither bill had passed. If 3.6% applies, 100% for a veteran alone would be about $4,080.37 (our estimate).

How is a combined VA disability rating calculated?

VA uses the whole-person method in 38 CFR 4.25, not addition. It starts with your highest rating and applies each next rating to what's left: 50% and 30% make 65, which rounds to 70%. Adding a 10% makes 69, still 70%. VA rounds once, at the end, to the nearest 10 (5s round up).

What is 70% VA disability pay in 2026?

$1,808.45 a month for a veteran alone, $1,961.45 with a spouse, and $2,074.45 with a spouse and one child. VA's example: spouse, three children under 18 and a spouse on Aid and Attendance is $2,367.45.

Do dependents increase VA disability pay at 10% or 20%?

No. At 10% ($180.42) and 20% ($356.66) the rate is the same with or without a spouse, child or parent. Added amounts for dependents start at a 30% combined rating.

Is VA disability compensation taxable?

No. VA calls disability compensation a tax-free monthly payment, and IRS Publication 525 says not to include in income any veterans' benefits paid under a law, regulation or administrative practice administered by VA.

What is the bilateral factor in VA math?

When both arms or both legs (or paired skeletal muscles) have compensable ratings, VA combines those ratings, then adds 10% of that value before combining with the rest (38 CFR 4.26). Example: 60%, 20% and two bilateral 10%s become 60, 21 and 20, which combine to 74 and round to 70%.

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