2026 VA Disability Calculator
Select a combined disability rating and dependent status to see 2026 monthly tax-free VA compensation.
Last updated: October 2026
Dependency add-ons apply at ratings of 30% and above.
How VA disability compensation works
VA disability compensation is a monthly tax-free payment to veterans with service-connected disabilities. The amount depends on your combined disability rating (10% to 100% in 10% steps) and, for ratings of 30% or higher, your dependent status. At 10% and 20%, the rate is the same whether or not you have dependents: $180.42 and $356.66 per month respectively in 2026.
Rates are adjusted each year for inflation through the same cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that applies to Social Security. The 2026 rates reflect a 2.8% COLA effective December 1, 2025.
How the VA combines multiple ratings
The VA does not simply add your ratings together. Instead, it applies each rating to your remaining "efficiency" using the combined-ratings formula: combined = 1 minus (1 minus a) times (1 minus b). In plain terms, a 30% disability leaves you 70% efficient, and a second 20% disability takes 20% of that remaining 70% (14%), for a combined 44%, which rounds to 40%. Three or more ratings combine the same way, applied one at a time from highest to lowest. Because of this math, two moderate ratings are worth less than their sum, which surprises many veterans the first time they see it.
Worked example
Take a veteran with a 70% combined rating who is married with one child. The 2026 VA rate for 70% with a spouse and child is $2,074.45 per month, tax-free. Over a year, that is $2,074.45 x 12 = $24,893.40. The same 70% rating for a veteran alone pays $1,808.45 per month, so the spouse-and-child add-on is worth $266.00 per month, or $3,192 per year. If the rating were instead 20%, dependents would add nothing and the payment would be $356.66 per month.
What the monthly check does not show
The compensation payment is only part of VA disability benefits. Higher ratings can also bring VA health care priority, property tax exemptions in many states, commissary and exchange privileges, and eligibility for programs like VA home loan funding fee exemptions. None of those are captured in a monthly dollar figure, so use this calculator for the payment estimate and check with the VA or your state veterans agency for the full benefit picture.
Frequently asked questions
Is VA disability compensation taxable?
No. VA disability compensation is tax-free at the federal level, and most states do not tax it either. The figures on this page are the amounts you keep.
How much does the VA pay for a 70% rating in 2026?
In 2026, a 70% rating pays $1,808.45 per month for a veteran alone and $1,961.45 per month for a veteran with a spouse, tax-free. With a spouse and child it is $2,074.45.
Do dependents increase VA disability pay?
Only at ratings of 30% or higher. At 10% and 20%, the rate is the same regardless of dependents. At 30% and above, the VA adds amounts for a spouse, children, and dependent parents.
How does the VA combine multiple disability ratings?
The VA does not add ratings. It applies each rating to your remaining efficiency: a 30% rating plus a 20% rating combines to 44%, which rounds to 40%. Ratings are combined highest to lowest.
What was the 2026 VA COLA increase?
VA disability compensation rose 2.8% effective December 1, 2025, which is the increase reflected in the 2026 monthly rates on this page.
What is the 100% VA disability rate for 2026?
In 2026, a 100% rating pays $3,938.58 per month for a veteran alone and $4,158.17 per month for a veteran with a spouse, tax-free.
Can I work while receiving VA disability compensation?
Generally yes. VA disability compensation is not reduced by employment income, with the main exception being individual unemployability (TDIU), which has earnings limits.
Does this calculator file my VA claim?
No. This calculator only estimates the monthly payment for a given rating. Claims are filed with the VA directly, and only the VA determines your official combined rating.
What if my rating is not a multiple of 10?
The VA rounds combined ratings to the nearest 10% (with .5 rounding up) before assigning a payment rate, so select the rounded rating above.
Are VA disability payments affected by military retirement pay?
Under concurrent receipt rules, most retirees with a 50%+ VA rating now receive both full retirement pay and full VA compensation. Those rated below 50% may still face an offset. Check current DFAS guidance for your situation.