2026 VA Disability Rates
2026 VA disability pay rates, which are effective December 1, 2025, have an estimated year over year increase of 2.5% based on the latest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) projections. Use the charts provided on this page to determine your eligibility and expected monthly payout for your approved VA disability claim based on the 2.5% COLA increase.
| 10% – 20% (No Dependents) | |
|---|---|
| Percentage | Rate |
| 10% | $179.90 |
| 20% | $355.62 |
| 30% – 60% Without Children | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dependent Status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
| Veteran Alone | $550.86 | $793.51 | $1,129.59 | $1,430.83 |
| Veteran with Spouse Only | $616.46 | $880.64 | $1,238.24 | $1,562.03 |
| Veteran with Spouse & One Parent | $668.73 | $950.34 | $1,325.37 | $1,666.58 |
| Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents | $721.01 | $1,020.04 | $1,412.49 | $1,771.13 |
| Veteran with One Parent | $603.13 | $863.21 | $1,216.72 | $1,535.38 |
| Veteran with Two Parents | $655.41 | $932.91 | $1,303.84 | $1,639.93 |
| Additional for A/A spouse | $59.45 | $79.95 | $100.45 | $119.93 |
| 70% – 100% Without Children | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dependent Status | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
| Veteran Alone | $1,803.17 | $2,096.01 | $2,355.41 | $3,927.08 |
| Veteran with Spouse Only | $1,955.89 | $2,270.26 | $2,552.21 | $4,146.03 |
| Veteran with Spouse and One Parent | $2,078.89 | $2,410.69 | $2,710.06 | $4,321.76 |
| Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents | $2,201.89 | $2,551.11 | $2,867.91 | $4,497.48 |
| Veteran with One Parent | $1,926.17 | $2,236.44 | $2,513.26 | $4,102.81 |
| Veteran with Two Parents | $2,049.17 | $2,376.86 | $2,671.11 | $4,278.53 |
| Additional for A/A spouse | $140.43 | $160.93 | $180.40 | $200.82 |
| 30% – 60% With Children | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dependent Status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
| Veteran with Child Only | $593.91 | $851.94 | $1,202.37 | $1,517.95 |
| Veteran with Spouse and Child | $664.63 | $945.21 | $1,319.22 | $1,658.38 |
| Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and Child | $716.91 | $1,014.91 | $1,406.34 | $1,762.93 |
| Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and Child | $769.18 | $1,084.61 | $1,493.47 | $1,867.48 |
| Veteran with One Parent and Child | $646.18 | $921.64 | $1,289.49 | $1,622.50 |
| Veteran with Two Parents and Child | $698.46 | $991.34 | $1,376.62 | $1,727.05 |
| Add for Each Additional Child Under Age 18 | $31.78 | $43.05 | $54.33 | $64.58 |
| Each Additional Schoolchild Over Age 18 | $104.55 | $140.43 | $175.28 | $210.13 |
| Additional for A/A spouse | $59.45 | $79.95 | $100.45 | $119.93 |
| 70% – 100% With Children | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dependent Status | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
| Veteran with one Child (no spouse and no parents) | $1,904.64 | $2,212.86 | $2,486.61 | $4,073.50 |
| Veteran with Spouse and Child (no parents) | $2,068.64 | $2,399.41 | $2,696.73 | $4,306.38 |
| Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and One Child | $2,191.64 | $2,539.84 | $2,854.58 | $4,482.11 |
| Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and Child | $2,314.64 | $2,680.26 | $3,012.43 | $4,657.84 |
| Veteran with One Parent and Child | $2,027.64 | $2,353.29 | $2,644.46 | $4,249.23 |
| Veteran with Two Parents and Child | $2,150.64 | $2,493.71 | $2,802.31 | $4,424.96 |
| Add for Each Additional Child Under Age 18 | $75.85 | $86.10 | $97.38 | $108.79 |
| Each Additional Schoolchild Over Age 18 | $244.98 | $280.85 | $315.70 | $351.42 |
| Additional for A/A spouse | $140.43 | $160.93 | $180.40 | $200.82 |
About 2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates
Your 2026 VA disability compensation is a monthly tax-free payment from the Department of Veterans Affairs paid to former military service members who sustained an illness or injury during their time in service. Veterans with preexisting conditions exacerbated by their time in service, or who develop service-connected disabilities following their time in service, may also apply for benefits. Veterans may also receive additional benefit due to extenuating circumstances, including their number of dependents, loss of limb or other severe injury, or by having a disabled spouse.
It is important to note that this benefit is not permanent, and it may be subject to review. On a wider scale, the VA may change its rating schedule at any time, but it may also reexamine your individual claim to judge whether your disability has improved or worsened, thus affecting your benefit amount. In case of the latter, you would want to initiate the review yourself to ensure they receive a higher benefit for a worse disability.
How VA Disability Compensation is Determined
You must first apply for disability compensation with the VA. It is not an automatic benefit received upon retirement, nor is it guaranteed. Veterans are responsible for arranging an appointment with the VA immediately upon retirement or within a specified timeframe thereafter.
The amount you receive from VA disability compensation is determined by a number of factors, including your assigned disability rating as described below, the severity of your disability, and your number of dependents.
The VA Disability Rating System Explained
The VA uses a disability rating system to assign a percentage to the severity of your disability, using a scale that measures from 0-100% and rises incrementally by 10%. This rating then determines your benefit amount. The VA determines your rating through an internal review of your health and medical history, going over a combination of service treatment records, VA medical records, and private medical records that are directly related to your disability. Your rating will be based on a single diagnostic code per condition, even should that condition meet more than one diagnostic code.
If you have more than one disability, you can use the combined-rating system to find your benefit amount.
Compensation for Service-Connected Disability
A service-connected disability, as described above, and examples of which include chronic back pain, hearing loss or tinnitus, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or traumatic brain injury (TBI), among others, may not manifest until after active service has ended, placing veterans outside the normal timeframe for applying for disability compensation. Should that be the case, you may need to bolster your claim for disability compensation with additional documentation on top of medical records.
Assistance with Claims and Appeals
Veterans may work with an accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Services Officer (VSO) to file your claim or appeal. These professionals are trained and certified in the VA’s claims and appeals processes, making them well-equipped to answer your questions, meet your needs, and get you the disability compensation you deserve.
VA Disability Group PLLC is ready to take on your claim to get you the compensation you qualify for. Contact us online or call us at 1-844-838-5297 to request a consultation now.
The 2026 VA disability pay rates will be based on the projected Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), which is expected to range between 2.5% to 3.0%. Exact rates won’t be finalized until October 2025, but veterans can expect a slight increase from 2025 based on inflation trends.
The Social Security Administration typically announces the COLA for the upcoming year in October. Once that’s released, the VA adjusts disability compensation rates accordingly, with the new rates taking effect on January 1, 2026.
Annual increases are tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). If the CPI-W rises due to inflation, the COLA ensures that VA benefits maintain their purchasing power.
Yes. If there is a COLA adjustment, your monthly compensation will automatically increase starting with your January 2026 payment. No action is required on your part.
If projections hold and the COLA is around 2.5%, a veteran currently receiving $3,831.30 per month (2025 rate) could see an increase of about $95.78, for a total of approximately $3,927.08/month in 2026. Exact figures will be finalized later in the year.
Yes. Veterans with disability ratings of 30% or higher receive additional compensation for dependents, such as a spouse, children, or dependent parents. The 2026 rate increase would apply to both the base amount and the added dependent compensation.
Yes. Any change in your disability rating that takes effect in 2026 will be paid out using the 2026 compensation rates, including any COLA increase that applies.
No. VA disability compensation is not considered taxable income by the federal government and is not reported on your tax return, regardless of the year.
To estimate your 2026 benefits, take your current monthly payment and multiply it by the projected COLA increase (e.g., 2.5% = 1.025). For example, if you receive $1,000/month in 2025, a 2.5% COLA would bring it to approximately $1,025/month in 2026.
The official 2026 VA disability pay chart will be available on our website shortly after the COLA announcement in October 2025. We will also update the official numbers once announced on December 1, 2025 to match the VA’s website.
